Usability defined

By Kristoffer Bohmann, Bohmann Usability

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Usability defined. User interfaces have high levels of usability when users can achieve their goals. The specific goals depend on the context. Users buying a radio must, as a minimum, be able to find the radio and complete the ordering process. Identifying such user goals is a key component in the work done by usability professionals. The more demanding and relevant user goals a site supports, the more likely is it that the site will be the preferred choice.

Highly targeted sites also need to take the intended user into account. If you are a bank and your intended users are elderly people above sixty you want to be sure these users can use your system (while it is irrelevant if teenagers can use the system since they are not intended users).

A surprisingly high number of users are not able to complete key tasks in usability studies. Task failure typically occur because site structures, instructions/wording, and links are missing or unclear. Users simply don't understand what they can and should do. They don't get the message.

More advanced calculations and metrics can be taken into consideration in later phases of usability studies. For instance, it is often necessary to optimize task performance time and user satisfaction on ecommerce sites to stay competitive. But first users must be able to achieve their goals.

Kristoffer Bohmann

Usability defined

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