Usability,
ISO definition 9241:11 (1998): "The extent to which a product
can be used by specific users to achieve specified goals
with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified
context of use."
In other words, usability tends to simplify the use of a tool
in order to make it more intuitive to defined users.
Human centered
design processes for interactive systems, ISO 13407 (1999):
“Human-centered design is an approach to interactive system
development that focuses specifically on making systems intuitive
and usable. It is a multi-disciplinary activity.
If this is a multi-disciplinary
activity, then what type of domains does it integrate ?
Hardware
Software
Psychology & cognitive sciences,
taxonomy and semantics
Business elements,
processes, communication and marketing
Design
This is exactly why it is so difficult
to make information systems usable. Lying at the frontier of
so many opposite interests, usability becomes a very challenging
area... That is why you need a usability specialist with
expertise and extended knowledge in these various domains.
And in this, we can help.
And always remember: the best
software developed with the best engineers, the best graphic
designers on the best hardware will not work if not developed
with and for the users !
