e-SEM
 Life cycle    | Phase-neutral themes    | Initiation    | Definition    | Design/Implementation    | Operations    | Termination
 Usability
Background infor-
mation/principles
Usability during
the project
Methods
Details on usability 
inspections
Tips
Checklists
Examples

 


Usability

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Usability - a success factor!

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Usability Support Center

Usability is a key success factor for user-interface-heavy projects. This applies especially to web applications with a large number of users (information and inquiry systems, shops, market places, ...). Users have to be able to instantly and intuitively find their bearings in such applications, otherwise there will be problems with acceptance and customer benefit.

The Usability Support Center offers you advice and coaching on usability measures.


Usability activities especially in the early phases
"Usability Engineering at PSE" guideline
The earlier you start with usability activities, the better (and the more cost efficient in the long run). If you wait until the end of the project to start checking the almost finished product for usability, you will have little time and room for improvements (time pressure, effort involved in implementing changes).
Important right from the start: Analysis/definition of use scenarios and user interface design taking account of the respective user groups.

What steps need to be taken?
  • Identify requirements in detail and define use scenarios (preferably in customer workshops)
  • Involve design companies, where applicable, e.g. Nofrontiere
  • Conduct usability inspections on paper and design prototypes
  • Draw up a GUI styleguide
  • Conduct usability testing on the product under development, where applicable

Goals, overview of methods and best practice at PSE

 

  Usability test  
  PSE has a portable lab for performing usability tests