What is Usability?
Usability is the overall measurement of the satisfaction a user feels in interactions with an application. Ensuring that users have an engaging and useful experience is a powerful way to increase a customer's use of applications and technologies.
Usability includes a combination of factors that affect the user's experience with the application or system:
Ease of Learning
Efficiency of Use
Memorability
Error Frequency and Severity
Overall Level of Satisfaction
Why is Usability and User Experience important to USDA's eGovernment iniatives?
At USDA time, effort, and expense are being put forth in the response to the President's call for the expansion of electronic government. These efforts would be wasted if specific attention were not devoted to usability design. A poor user experience, and the inability of users to locate desired information leads to wasted time, reduced productivity, increased frustration, and a loss of repeat visitors.
However, if eGovernment initiatives are effectively implemented the USDA has the opportunity to create a stronger relationship with citizens, business partners, and employees by providing improved electronic access to information, programs, and services. A focus on creating a positive user experience will result in more successful reception of eGovernment efforts.
What steps are involved in usability engineering?
Planning
Collecting Data from Users
Developing Prototypes
Selectively Collecting, Writing, and Revising Content
Conducting Usability Tests
Continuing Post-Implementation Revision
What are good usability references?
www.usability.gov
www.humanfactors.com
www.useit.com
www.usableweb.com
Web-Site Usability, Jakob Nielsen and Donald A. Norman, InformationWeek
Mazed and Confused, Sari Kalin, CIO WebBusiness
Usability Glossary, Usability First
User Testing, Seth Gordon, CNET Builder.com
USDA User Group Information
A repository for usability information specific to USDA audience groups.
