[stcusesig_l] Defining Usability

[Pro TechWriter]

For efficiency-based issues from user stories, you may have to write
usability test cases and get some volunteers to work through the user story
step-by-step and see where the interrupts and blockages are. Without knowing
your exact situation, it is hard form me to be more specfic.

Taking usability into account while designing an interface is a little
easier. Start with industry standards and work from there. There are a
number of books available that would really help with these questions,
depending on what type of application you are talking about. Here are some
that I use frequently.

   -  Priortizing Web Usability, Jakob Nielsen (research based)
   - Web Application Design Handbook (includes usability)
   - Human Factors for Technical Communicators, Marlana Coe
   -  Windows User Experience (describes how things *should* be organized,
   and why, in Windows-based programs)

The STC's Usability SIG site has good articles here:
http://www.stcsig.org/usability/

I hope this helps you.

PT


 On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 1:06 PM, David Dick <davidjdick2000 at yahoo.com>wrote:

>
> Greetings,
>
> Could you please help me with some perplexing questions?
>
> 1. How do I identify usability issues from functional requirements/user
> stories? These are not accessibility-based, but efficiency-based usability
> issues.
>  2. Lacking a usability team, lab, and eye-tracking equipment, how can I
> design an efficient user interface for a new application? How can I
> identify areas of improvement for legacy user interfaces?
>  3. Where does usability reach the point of diminishing return? How do I
> identify that point for an application?
>
> Regards
>
> David
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