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Usability Principles
7
organisation
structure the system should work in. This means that it will
be possible to take in account if there e.g. are different types
of users using the system.
Thinking aloud
If the potential users are saying out loud what they are
doing, and what they want, this gives the designer a good
insight in the users work. Often this method will ensure that
important details will be visible to the designer.
Try it yourself
The method will ensure that the designer will be able to see
many of the user tasks in a different light. The designer will
have to take a direct confrontation with the existing system
and the corresponding tasks.
Participative design
This means that the intended users should be a part of the
design team. If this is possible it will ensure that the
potential users continuously inspect the design. This will
minimize the efforts in getting feedback from the users.
Expert on design team
This is another method of getting relevant members into the
design team. The expert (e.g. the potential user or another
expert) will be connected to the design team as a consultant.
Task analysis
This is an analytical process used to determine the specific
behaviours of the users of the system. Making scenarios
sketching the working process. Breaking job activities into
task units. The result is a list of functions needed in the
system.
Surveys and questionnaires
To be able to make good questionnaires the designer must
first talk to the users in order to get an idea of what to ask.
The answers can be a good help in the design process.
Testable behaviour target goals
A testable behaviour target goal is a way of giving phrases
like “user friendly” a more technical basis and to give an
metric indication of what progress has been made with the
new system. A testable behaviour target goal could be: How
many of the users can do this operation in 5 minutes? And
the passing mark could be e.g. 70%.
Early – and Continual – User Testing
The hypothesis is that it is not possible to make an optimal design the first time. This means
that there should be some considerations during the design of the system. Continual user
testing (from the design start) is a good measure of whether the system is heading in the right
the direction or there should be made corrections.