Last week, we took a detailed look at 6 of the 7 components of User Experience. In this blog, let’s now dive into component 2 of UX – Usability.

Usability

According to the Interactive Design Foundation, Usability is defined as “a measure of how well a specific user in a specific context can use a product/design to achieve a defined goal effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily.”

Usability, in turn, comprises multiple components – 5 in this case:

1. Effectiveness
2. Efficiency
3. Engagement
4. Error Tolerance
5. Ease of Learning

Let’s look at the real-world application of these 5 components of Usability with the same example that we used earlier – a project that we delivered recently involving the modernization of a learning management system (LMS).

1. Effectiveness

Referring to accurate completion of tasks on the application, Effectiveness is addressed in our project through the availability of a range of functionalities that enable end users to successfully complete tasks.

2. Efficiency

Making it fast and simple to complete a task is achieved in our application modernization example through an intuitive navigation system, and high performance through upgraded infrastructure.

3. Engagement

To keep users interested in the application, up to date and relevant content is easily updated through a revamped admin interface, supported strongly by an intuitive and elegant user interface design.

4. Error Tolerance

Apart from a simplified, DIY approach to operating the application, a detailed analysis of historical customer service requests was performed to eliminate as many as 95% of such requests from arising on the modernized application, while also offering support through a helpdesk.

5. Ease of Learning

Besides an intuitive and simple interface and navigation that makes operations easy for new users, the application has eliminated the need for in-depth knowledge transfer or training for users, and therefore removed dependence on subject matter experts or specific individuals from the team.

We hope this two-part blog has helped give you a clearer understanding of the wide subject of User Experience, one of its key components – Usability, and how User Interface (UI) is an independent discipline which has an important role to play in Usability and UX. 

At CloudNow, we take User Experience seriously, with specific focus on usability through our dedicated UI/UX team. So if you are not sure about how to apply the theory of User Experience and Usability in your project, do drop us a line, and we’d love to help.