Usability Testing

	What it is
	Why it's important
	What's involved
	Solutions
	Process
	Reference

Usability is the discipline of determining how easy or hard a thing is to use. Anything can be evaluated in terms of usability -- from pilot consoles to door handles.

A usability study, or usability test is the scientific method of measuring the user experience, usually for the purpose of improving that experience for the largest number of people.

For web sites, the criteria evaluated during a usability study include:

Efficiency. How quickly were users able to perform a specific task?
Efficacy. How easily was the user able to adapt to the system and accomplish what they set out to do?

Since Internet web users do not typically visit any particular site very frequently, this particular criteria is extremely important.
Errors. How often did errors occur? How critical were those errors?

This criteria becomes very important when designing online applications, like sites using eCommerce, subscriptions, fund transfers -- any kind of online transaction. See more examples.
Satisfaction. Did the user like using the system, or did they experience a negative emotion (confusion, anger, frustration, etc.)?

web site workbook, website workbook, web site planning workbook, website planning workbook, web site plan, website plan, web planning, web site planning, website planning, web site project prepbook, website project prepbook, plan web project, plan web site project, plan website project

Web Sites that Fly™ , home of the web site planning workbook, Web Site Project Prepbook -- Minneapolis, MN, USA © Copyrighted 1998- . Rebecca St. Martin. All Rights Reserved. Graphic Design for Print: Visit the Graphic Sage.

web site workbook, website workbook, web site planning workbook, website planning workbook, web site plan, website plan, web planning, web site planning, website planning, web site project prepbook, website project prepbook, plan web project, plan web site project, plan website project, teleconference, teleconference services, teleconference companies, teleconference service, teleconference comparison