Usability: programming The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which users can achieve tasks in a particular environment of a product. High usability means that a system is: easy to learn and remember; efficient, visually pleasing and fun to use; and quick to recover from errors.
If the Web is ever to be considered a virtual repository of knowledge, the information it contains must be easily discovered, retrieved, and used by all.
- Discovered via search engines, web directories…
- Retrieved via web browsers, printers, mobile devices, aural technology…
- Used by all, machines and humans alike. In the human department, especially, we must not forget accessibility guidelines
This should be the primary goal of all web players, regardless of their platform, environment, and application of choice. It is no easy task, for this 3-tier layered conduct is hindered by manufacturers first, and by user adoption/reaction towards a product later on. Web design, web development, web authoring… Under the cool names, these are real jobs that must be taken seriously, despite the countless cowboys out there.
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides a framework of specifications and guidelines about the do’s and dont’s on the Web. However, once released, specifications are quite arid entities that can discourage the most intrepid web authors. My bet is that they lack the one thing we are all looking for nowadays: humanity. This is where social networks can come into play, to take the specifications to the next level. Indeed, where the texts fail to convey meaning to the message, individuals can foster life. My hope is that I too can put you into thinking mode about the web and its evolution, taking standards into account.
Further reading:
- Wikipedia definition of usability
- whatis.com definition of usability
- useit.com, Jakob Nielsen’s website
- A List Apart