WHY USABILITY IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU?

Webnauts · 11-09-2003, 08:02 PM

What is usability?

Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a product or system — whether a web site, software application, mobile technology, or any user-operated device.

According to Usability Expert Jakob Nielsen: "On the Web, usability is a necessary condition for survival. If a web site is difficult to use, people leave. If the homepage fails to clearly state what a company offers and what users can do on the site, people leave. If users get lost on a web site, they leave. If a web site's information is hard to read or doesn't answer users' key questions, they leave. Note a pattern here? There's no such thing as a user reading a web site manual or otherwise spending much time trying to figure out an interface. There are plenty of other web sites available; leaving is the first line of defense when users encounter a difficulty."

(More: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html)

Is your web site usable?
There are several definitions for usability, but basically the following 6 characteristics can be considered usable:

- Quick and easy to learn
- Efficient to use
- Allows rapid recovery from errors
- Easy to remember
- Usage is enjoyable
- Aesthetically pleasing

Does your product or website have the above characteristics?

Usability increases benefits for both parties: the User (potential customers) and the Provider (you).

Users benefits:
- Users are satisfied, not frustrated, with the product or website
- They enjoy interacting with the website or product
- They achieve their goals effectively and efficiently
- They cultivate confidence and trust in the product or website

If your users are satisfied, they will become loyal, and may even recommend your product or service to others.

Providers benefits:
As a provider, you may benefit from usability in many ways, including:
- Reduced development time and costs
- Reduced support costs
- Reduced user errors
- Reduced training time and costs
- Return on Investment

Misconceptions About Usability:
”Misconceptions about usability's expense,” Jakob Nielsen says, “the time it involves, and its creative impact prevent companies from getting crucial user data, as does the erroneous belief that existing customer-feedback methods are a valid driver for interface design.” (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030908.html)

Usability Can Save Your Company!
John S. Rhodes, Editor and Webmaster at WebWord.com, says: "Data indicate that usability offers a better return on investment than almost any other business action. When times get rough, usability shines. The benefits are huge. Usability is a weapon that can save you money, improve your competitive position, and improve customer loyalty. Now is the time to invest in the research." (More: http://webword.com/moving/savecompany.html)

By making your web site accessible and usable, you make your visitors happier and your wallet more comfortable!

**John Scott** · 11-09-2003, 08:03 PM

Welcome back to the forum, Webnauts.

Webnauts · 11-09-2003, 08:04 PM

Thanks John. By the way I love the design/style configuration of your forum here.

**John Scott** · 11-09-2003, 08:07 PM

Thanks much.

Updated your user rank - "Preferred Member".

Webnauts · 11-09-2003, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnScott

Thanks much.

Updated your user rank - "Preferred Member".

Thanks again John!

**LazyJim** · 11-10-2003, 04:40 AM

I have to disagree on a small point.

Quote:

Is your web site usable?
...
- Usage is enjoyable
- Aesthetically pleasing

Usability is the ability to use.
The very basic requirements of a good user experience should be fulfilled by usability - usability does not add value to the user experience, it can only take away the bad experience caused by bad usability.

Aesthetics and enjoyment are almost completely independent of usability. You can look good without being any use, but enjoyment is often marred by lack of usability.

So basically, I think good usability should be a prerequisite to good experience.

Webnauts · 11-10-2003, 04:55 AM

You mean if I take out:

- Usage is enjoyable
- Aesthetically pleasing

Then my post is correct? Hm...

**LazyJim** · 11-10-2003, 05:12 AM

Well that's what I think.

I mean USE-ABILITY - ability to use, like I said.
Obviously a user will have a better experience on a site with good usability than on a site with bad usability, beet I feel that just gets you up to ground level - the basis - then you can build on top of that, adding value to the experiecne through aesthetics and interaction and entertainment and stuff.

Webnauts · 11-10-2003, 05:18 AM

Lazy Jim, are you a Jakob Nielsen fan?

**LazyJim** · 11-10-2003, 07:10 AM

I agree with a lot of what he says, and I'm very glad he's put the effort in to reprasent certain aspects of web design that would otherwise be far less well-known.

So I spose you cuold call me a fan yes.

**LazyJim** · 11-10-2003, 07:23 AM

btw Just thought I should point out that ALL CAPS thread title are less-usable than lower-case or title-case, and it's also concidered SHOUTING!

Jazzee · 11-10-2003, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LazyJim

btw Just thought I should point out that ALL CAPS thread title are less-usable than lower-case or title-case, and it's also concidered SHOUTING!

I often skip over threads with ALL CAPS.

PhilC · 11-14-2003, 04:43 PM

I know very little about usability but I think I'd go with LJ on this one. It's easy to lump various aspects of user experience into one overall heading, and call it usability, but that would be a misuse of the word. Usability is surely about the way that a person uses something - in this case, a website.

For instance, you can have an item (say, a washing machine) that is very easy and straight forward to use, but it's aesthetic design is awful. From a usability viewpoint, it is perfect; from an aesthetic viewpoint, it is lousy. So it doesn't sell. As a layman, it seems to me that a website needs to fulfil several things - usability being one of them.

**LazyJim** · 11-14-2003, 06:11 PM

Yes, If you think about design in other contexts, or generic design, aesthitics has nothing to do witht he usability.
Erganomics must be concidered for usability, normally this involves user-testing and anthropometrics in order to make the product fit in the users' hands for example, or to create enough grip on a handle.
Anthopometric data for web design has probably been collected too, or we can use old data, for example, the minimum readable size of text on a piece of paper when viewed at one metre, would be useful. Along with the sizes in CM if x pixels on all monitor-size and resolution combinations, this could be used to ensure text is always readable!

I remember testing the average maximum distance from a piece of paper with a dot on could be seen by the human eye in Primary School! So if I could do these tests under 12 years old I'm sure there must be some relevant data around for design in the context of web sites!

dkcy · 11-23-2003, 04:52 AM

Anyone is fan of Alan Cooper?