ISO 13407 Human-Centered Design Process is a standard established by the International Standards Organization. ISO 13407 is related to processes be involved in designing products.
The standard specifies an important cycle of these 4 activities:
1 specify the context of use
2 specify the user and organizational requirements
3 produce design solutions
4 evaluate designs against requirements.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Eight types of usability inspection methods
There are eight common types of usability inspection methods. These methods are:
1 Cognitive walkthrough
2 Consistency inspection
3 Feature inspection
4 Formal usability inspection
5 Heuristic evaluation
6 Heuristic estimation
7 Pluralistic walkthrough
8 Standards inspection.
Cognitive walkthrough.
This entails detailed procedure to simulate a user's problem-solving process at each step through the user interface. This method checks if the simulated user's goals and memory content can be assumed to lead to the next correct action.
Feature inspection.
There is a list of sequences of features used to accomplish typical tasks, checks for long sequences, cumbersome steps. There are steps that would not be natural for users to try, and steps that require extensive knowledge/experience in order to evaluate a proposed feature set.
Consistency inspection.
Web designers are involved with multiple other projects inspect the user interface to see whether it does things in the same way as other user interface designs.
Formal usability inspection.
This involves combination of individual and group inspections in a six-step procedure with strictly defined roles to inspect. Formal usability inspection has elements of both heuristic evaluation and a simplified form of cognitive walkthroughs.
Heuristic evaluation.
This is a rather informal method which involves having usability professionals judge whether each user interface follows the predetermined usability principles (the "heuristics").
Heuristic estimation.
This method involves the inspectors are asked to estimate the relative usability of two (or more) user interface designs in quantitative terms (typically expected user performance).
Pluralistic walkthrough.
Group meetings are held where users, developers, and human factors people walk through a scenario, discussing each user interface element.
Standards inspection.
Usability professional shall inspect the user interface for compliance to predetermined standards and guidelines.
1 Cognitive walkthrough
2 Consistency inspection
3 Feature inspection
4 Formal usability inspection
5 Heuristic evaluation
6 Heuristic estimation
7 Pluralistic walkthrough
8 Standards inspection.
Cognitive walkthrough.
This entails detailed procedure to simulate a user's problem-solving process at each step through the user interface. This method checks if the simulated user's goals and memory content can be assumed to lead to the next correct action.
Feature inspection.
There is a list of sequences of features used to accomplish typical tasks, checks for long sequences, cumbersome steps. There are steps that would not be natural for users to try, and steps that require extensive knowledge/experience in order to evaluate a proposed feature set.
Consistency inspection.
Web designers are involved with multiple other projects inspect the user interface to see whether it does things in the same way as other user interface designs.
Formal usability inspection.
This involves combination of individual and group inspections in a six-step procedure with strictly defined roles to inspect. Formal usability inspection has elements of both heuristic evaluation and a simplified form of cognitive walkthroughs.
Heuristic evaluation.
This is a rather informal method which involves having usability professionals judge whether each user interface follows the predetermined usability principles (the "heuristics").
Heuristic estimation.
This method involves the inspectors are asked to estimate the relative usability of two (or more) user interface designs in quantitative terms (typically expected user performance).
Pluralistic walkthrough.
Group meetings are held where users, developers, and human factors people walk through a scenario, discussing each user interface element.
Standards inspection.
Usability professional shall inspect the user interface for compliance to predetermined standards and guidelines.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Heuristic evaluation is one of the usability inspection methods
Heuristic evaluation is a discount usability inspection method for portal, website and software that helps to identify usability problems in the user interface (UI) design. Evaluators examine the user interface and judge its compliance with predetermined usability guidelines (the "heuristics").
A popular set of heuristics is Nielsen’s Ten Heuristics. Many usability researchers and practitioners have also come up with their customized set of heuristics. For instance, I personally had researched and generated a set of 36 usability criteria (heuristics) for e-learning applications.
Heuristic evaluation is one of the usability inspection method in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). It is relatively cheap and easy to implement. It is also relative fast as compared to usability testing. There is no requirement to set up a usability lab in order to conduct heuristic evaluation.
Heuristic evaluation is popularized by Jakob Nielsen.
A popular set of heuristics is Nielsen’s Ten Heuristics. Many usability researchers and practitioners have also come up with their customized set of heuristics. For instance, I personally had researched and generated a set of 36 usability criteria (heuristics) for e-learning applications.
Heuristic evaluation is one of the usability inspection method in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI). It is relatively cheap and easy to implement. It is also relative fast as compared to usability testing. There is no requirement to set up a usability lab in order to conduct heuristic evaluation.
Heuristic evaluation is popularized by Jakob Nielsen.
59 very important Web Design & Usability Guidelines according to "relative importance"
Fifty-nine web design and usability guidelines had been identified by US Department of Health & Human Services as very important. These 59 usability guidelines had the score of 5 (on rating of 1 to 5 points) for the aspect of “relative importance.”
1 Use an Iterative Design Approach
2 Provide Useful Content
3 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
4 Ensure Visual Consistency
5 Provide Consistent Clickability Cues
6 Use Clear Category Labels
7 Ensure Usable Search Results
8 Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage
9 Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information
10 Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling
11 Allow Simple Searches
12 Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site
13 Organize Information Clearly
14 Display Information in a Directly Usable Format
15 Detect Errors Automatically
16 Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website
17 Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics
18 Label Data Entry Fields Clearly
19 Use Unique and Descriptive Headings
20 Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields
21 Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes
22 Minimize User Data Entry
23 Format Common Items Consistently
24 Provide Feedback on Users' Location
25 Set and State Goals
26 Show All Major Options on the Homepage
27 Provide a Search Option on Each Page
28 Design for Common Browsers
29 Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields
30 Title
31 Use an Iterative Design Approach
32 Provide Useful Content
33 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
34 Ensure Visual Consistency
35 Provide Consistent Clickability Cues
36 Use Clear Category Labels
37 Ensure Usable Search Results
38 Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage
39 Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information
40 Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling
41 Allow Simple Searches
42 Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site
43 Organize Information Clearly
44 Display Information in a Directly Usable Format
45 Detect Errors Automatically
46 Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website
47 Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics
48 Label Data Entry Fields Clearly
49 Use Unique and Descriptive Headings
50 Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields
51 Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes
52 Minimize User Data Entry
53 Format Common Items Consistently
54 Provide Feedback on Users' Location
55 Set and State Goals
56 Show All Major Options on the Homepage
57 Provide a Search Option on Each Page
58 Design for Common Browsers
59 Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields
The above 59 usability guidelines were extracted from Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines.
1 Use an Iterative Design Approach
2 Provide Useful Content
3 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
4 Ensure Visual Consistency
5 Provide Consistent Clickability Cues
6 Use Clear Category Labels
7 Ensure Usable Search Results
8 Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage
9 Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information
10 Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling
11 Allow Simple Searches
12 Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site
13 Organize Information Clearly
14 Display Information in a Directly Usable Format
15 Detect Errors Automatically
16 Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website
17 Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics
18 Label Data Entry Fields Clearly
19 Use Unique and Descriptive Headings
20 Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields
21 Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes
22 Minimize User Data Entry
23 Format Common Items Consistently
24 Provide Feedback on Users' Location
25 Set and State Goals
26 Show All Major Options on the Homepage
27 Provide a Search Option on Each Page
28 Design for Common Browsers
29 Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields
30 Title
31 Use an Iterative Design Approach
32 Provide Useful Content
33 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
34 Ensure Visual Consistency
35 Provide Consistent Clickability Cues
36 Use Clear Category Labels
37 Ensure Usable Search Results
38 Ensure the Homepage Looks like a Homepage
39 Do Not Use Color Alone to Convey Information
40 Eliminate Horizontal Scrolling
41 Allow Simple Searches
42 Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site
43 Organize Information Clearly
44 Display Information in a Directly Usable Format
45 Detect Errors Automatically
46 Put Critical Information Near the Top of the Website
47 Do Not Display Unsolicited Windows or Graphics
48 Label Data Entry Fields Clearly
49 Use Unique and Descriptive Headings
50 Distinguish Required and Optional Data Entry Fields
51 Evaluate Websites Before and After Making Changes
52 Minimize User Data Entry
53 Format Common Items Consistently
54 Provide Feedback on Users' Location
55 Set and State Goals
56 Show All Major Options on the Homepage
57 Provide a Search Option on Each Page
58 Design for Common Browsers
59 Put Labels Close to Data Entry Fields
The above 59 usability guidelines were extracted from Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines.
Top 4 Web Design & Usability Guidelines according to "relative score"
US Department of Health & Human Services was famous for the publication of the Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines.
Based on the rating of “relative score,” there are 4 top usability guidelines…all with the relative score of 25.
Use an Iterative Design Approach
Provide Useful Content
Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
Ensure Visual Consistency
Based on the rating of “relative score,” there are 4 top usability guidelines…all with the relative score of 25.
Use an Iterative Design Approach
Provide Useful Content
Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
Ensure Visual Consistency
27 Usability & Web Design Guidelines according to "strength of evidence"
HHS and GSA had done a comprehensive research to generate a list of usability and web design guidelines.
1 Use an Iterative Design Approach
2 Provide Useful Content
3 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
4 Ensure Visual Consistency
5 Standardize Task Sequences
6 Use at Least 12-Point Font
7 Use Video, Animation, and Audio Meaningfully
8 Order Elements to Maximize User Performance
9 Use Mixed Case with Prose
10 Facilitate Scanning
11 Group Related Elements
12 Design For Working Memory Limitations
13 Ensure that Images Do Not Slow Downloads
14 Use Descriptive Headings Liberally
15 Recognize Tester Bias
16 Emphasize Importance
17 Design Quantitative Content for Quick Understanding
18 Use Familiar Fonts
19 Use Simple Background Images
20 Align Items on a Page
21 Use Color for Grouping
22 Choose Appropriate Line Lengths
23 Use Attention-Attracting Features when Appropriate
24 Use Heuristics Cautiously
25 Use Cognitive Walkthroughs Cautiously
26 Use Data Entry Fields to Speed Performance
27 Use Images to Facilitate Learning
The above are 27 important usability and web design guidelines based on maximum score of 5 (on rating of 1 to 5) for “strength of evidence.” These are obtained from Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines.
1 Use an Iterative Design Approach
2 Provide Useful Content
3 Use Black Text on Plain, High-Contrast Backgrounds
4 Ensure Visual Consistency
5 Standardize Task Sequences
6 Use at Least 12-Point Font
7 Use Video, Animation, and Audio Meaningfully
8 Order Elements to Maximize User Performance
9 Use Mixed Case with Prose
10 Facilitate Scanning
11 Group Related Elements
12 Design For Working Memory Limitations
13 Ensure that Images Do Not Slow Downloads
14 Use Descriptive Headings Liberally
15 Recognize Tester Bias
16 Emphasize Importance
17 Design Quantitative Content for Quick Understanding
18 Use Familiar Fonts
19 Use Simple Background Images
20 Align Items on a Page
21 Use Color for Grouping
22 Choose Appropriate Line Lengths
23 Use Attention-Attracting Features when Appropriate
24 Use Heuristics Cautiously
25 Use Cognitive Walkthroughs Cautiously
26 Use Data Entry Fields to Speed Performance
27 Use Images to Facilitate Learning
The above are 27 important usability and web design guidelines based on maximum score of 5 (on rating of 1 to 5) for “strength of evidence.” These are obtained from Research-Based Web Design & Usability Guidelines.
5 aspects of Usability according to Nielsen and Shneiderman
Jakob Nielsen aand Ben Shneiderman has correlated usability to usefulness. There are 5 aspects of usability, i.e. Efficiency, Learnability, Satisfaction, Memorability, and Errors.
Efficiency: How quickly can the users perform tasks after learning?
Learnability: How easy is it for users to learn to accomplish basic tasks?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the user interface?
Memorability: When users return to using the user interface after a period of time, how easily can they remember how to use it?
Errors: How many errors do users make? How severe are these errors? How easily can they recover from the errors?
Efficiency: How quickly can the users perform tasks after learning?
Learnability: How easy is it for users to learn to accomplish basic tasks?
Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the user interface?
Memorability: When users return to using the user interface after a period of time, how easily can they remember how to use it?
Errors: How many errors do users make? How severe are these errors? How easily can they recover from the errors?
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