The Importance of Usability in Product Development
The Importance of Usability in Product Development
A structured approach to help developers systematically analyze potential usability problems and use errors
In the world of product development, identifying usability issues upfront saves time and money and ensures a solid user experience. A recent study in Advances In Human-Computer Interaction explored the effectiveness of a new theoretical method combining Enhanced Cognitive Walkthrough (ECW) and Predictive Use Error Analysis (PUEA) to assess usability issues. The ECW/PUEA approach integrates the evaluation of usability problems and potential use errors within the product development process.
How the ECW/PUEA Method Works
The ECW/PUEA method defines the product, users, and tasks, then describes the system and user interactions. The technique applies ECW to predict user difficulties and PUEA to anticipate errors. The method identifies issues and organizes the results into matrices. This approach gives a clear view of potential problems with usability and safety.
Testing the ECW/PUEA Method with Devs and Students
Students and software development pros tested the method, revealing a mixed bag of strengths and challenges. Although developers appreciated the method's structured approach, which allowed them to identify potential problems and errors systematically, they found it complex, time-consuming, and difficult to learn—especially for those not already familiar with similar usability methods.
Despite the challenges, both groups agreed that the ECW/PUEA method was valuable enough to use again. This consensus reassures us of the method's benefits, suggesting that its value outweighs its drawbacks.
The Role of Team Diversity in Usability Assessments
The study underscored the necessity of team diversity in usability assessments, emphasizing the integral role that each team member plays in the process, making everyone feel included and valued.
Integrating the Method into Development Workflows
As product developers continue to seek ways to improve usability assessments, this new method offers a promising, though complex, tool that could help teams identify issues before they become costly problems.
By examining this new approach's strengths and challenges, developers and usability experts can better understand how to incorporate it into their workflows. This understanding helps them create more user-friendly products right from the start.