What is usability

It is common to hear people comment on whether or not a website or product is 'user friendly'. Usability testing utilizes effective techniques to discover the underlying reasons why people can
or can't use a product the way the designers intended.

There are a variety of techniques that can be employed depending on the time and resources available for testing to discover usability problems and to find ways of improving the product. Nielsen (2003) defines usability by five quality components:

  • Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
  • Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
  • Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
  • Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
  • Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?

(From Nielsen, J. Usability 101: Introduction to Usability.)

Click here for a list of the usability services CUG offers.

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