Usability @ OSU Libraries

presented by the u-team

Usability: defined

Usability is about building products or web sites based on user experience, input and feedback. The product or site is built with the users' needs and goals taking center stage. Usability reduces confusion and makes the product or site easy for users to accomplish their tasks. The payoff is in lower support costs and a better user experience.

5 attributes of usability

Learnability

Efficiency

Memorability

Errors

Satisfaction

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?

Efficiency

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?

Usability Methods

The word "usability" also refers to methods for improving ease-of-use during a web site’s design process.

Usability can be measured objectively through

performance errors and productivity, and subjectively through user preferences and interface characteristics.

Some usability methods

Ethnographic Studies

Scenarios and Personas

Task Analysis

Heuristic Evaluation

Card Sorting

Think-Aloud User testing

Think-Aloud user testing

A method used to gather data in usability testing (not focus groups!).

Participants are asked to think aloud as they perform a set of specified tasks.

This enables observers to see first-hand the process of task completion.

Think-Aloud demo

Task: Susan needs to find good task that shows dramatic change in redesign

Volunteers??

Applying user testing

Screen shot of redesign and talk about using the results from tests

Questions for us?

U-Team services

Usability Education Consultations Usability Testing

Comparative testing Formal usability study In-house testing Data analysis

Current Members: Alison Bobal, Kim Griggs, Susan McEvoy, Jane Nichols, Elizabeth Nielsen & Loretta Rielly

Explore more!

Check out the u-team wiki page.

Jakob Nielsen’s Usability 101

LITA Regional Institute User Centered Design Workshop January 19, 2006