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Usability is a term which applies
to both software and other consumer products. This section talks about
software as an example, but the same principles apply to other products
too. For information about consumer product design you might also want
to go to our section on product
design. |
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The world is now flooded with new
software aimed at the ever increasing home and business information technology
market. Many software developers are beginning to see that the "usability"
of their product may be its main competitive edge, and may be a key way
to retain customers long term. In particular, with the home PC market increasing,
formal training in the use of software is often not practical, and the
success of the product depends on how easy it is for a new user to "pick
up" and use. |
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Usability is often considered to
be about interfaces - perhaps to do with the "look" of the interface, the
use of colour, positioning of buttons, and so on. However, it is really
much more than this. We need to think about what makes software satisfying,
easy to use and actually useful. The usability of a product is really the
extent to which it supports the users' tasks and goals. Can they locate
the functions they need, when they need them? Can they quickly learn to
use the software when it is new, and still find it satisfying and efficient
when their own proficiency has increased? Usability is mix of:
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Functionality - providing the features that users want and need to achieve
their goals.
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User friendliness - presenting these features in a way which is easy to
understand, use and learn.
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Clearly there are elements of interface
"look and feel" in this - but the real leaps in usability are to be made
by understanding the needs of users and their various types of goals. We
need to know what users' expectations are, and what they want to achieve.
Software should allow users to achieve their goals easily, efficiently
and without frustration. |
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We can help you to improve and evaluate
the usability of your products. Ergonomics (also known as Human Factors)
concentrates on the needs of the people in the "system". We can show you
how to make your design process user-centred, and therefore to improve
the usability of your products. Most importantly we can help you to evaluate
and improve the usability of new products before they hit the market -
thereby cutting down on costly mistakes that could damage your reputation. |
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Please feel free to contact
us if you feel the way we work
can be of benefit to you. |
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We understand the importance
of confidentiality in software and product design and will treat all the
information you give us accordingly. If you would like to chat over a project
please give us a call, or send an email, and everything you tell us will
be kept completely confidential. |
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"We must beware of needless innovation, especially when
guided by logic."
- Winston Churchill |
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