Quality feature usability
Usability is usually translated in German as usability or user-friendliness. These terms stand for the extent to which a system, product or service can be used by one or more defined target groups in a specific application context to achieve certain goals effectively, efficiently (quickly and smoothly) and satisfactorily.
Usability is considered an important quality feature for interfaces between humans and computers/machines/technology: Good usability saves the user from unnecessary and sometimes frustrating secondary tasks, such as unclear queries for data or cumbersome operating steps. This is just as true for websites and software applications as it is for medical devices or complex control systems for industrial plants. While poor usability is easily perceived and also named by users, this is usually much less the case for good usability.
From Usability to User Experience
User experience (UX) is understood as an extension of the term usability to include emotional and aesthetic factors, such as an attractive design or joy of use. UX can be translated as user or user experience.
User experience represents a more comprehensive approach than usability, which is more narrowly defined: it covers the entire user experience that users experience. A good user experience can evoke positive feelings such as fun or joy, which can lead to a higher acceptance on the part of users than with products that have only been optimised in terms of effectiveness and efficiency.
UX as a much younger discipline is still in development, while the methods and design guidelines of usability are largely established.
Design guidelines and methods
In order to achieve good usability and user experience, one can fall back on design guidelines on the one hand, and on the other hand, there are various methods through which both aspects are taken into account within the framework of interaction design. Again, the user-oriented design methodology is of central importance (cf. interaction design).
Thanks to its training, continuous observation of new developments and diverse experience from projects, the iZT team has both the necessary design knowledge and the methodological competence to develop solutions with high usability and user experience. With its new UsabilityLab, it also has powerful technology for meaningful usability and UX evaluations.
Contact us if you would like us to support you with our expertise in the area of usability and UX.