Usability of web-based software products : usability evaluation methods and optimization techniques applied to web-based software
Incarnati, Alessandro (2011)
Incarnati, Alessandro
Oulun seudun ammattikorkeakoulu
2011
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201105127471
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201105127471
Tiivistelmä
Usability is having a large impact on many aspects of society including the business community, the computing industry, the entertainment industry and higher education. In current times, millions of people around the world consider technology as main part of their life. The advent of the Web 2.0, for instance, has brought to light new needs for standards in communication, since web applications now facilitate interactive information sharing, interoperability and user-centred design. In fact, the World Wide Web has changed technically, but it has also changed the way software developers and end-users use the Web.
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are the interfaces that allow the end-user to interact with the software, that can be a web application or also a simple program installed on the end-user’s computer. Therefore, they have an impact on the quality and the usability of the resulting system. Thus, ensuring that developers can make the most out of them is an important challenge.
In order to evaluate the usability level of a system and its graphical user interface it is possible to apply standard usability evaluation methods as known from HCI (Human Computer Interaction). However, standard usability evaluation methods are several and very often it is hard to choose which one to adopt. In this research the most effective usability methods to evaluate software products’ graphical user interfaces usability have been analysed and tested, including Heuristics Evaluation, Walkthroughs, and some other core Web Design principles, giving an important guideline to the developer that intends to optimize the usability of its software products. Since usability embrace many different areas of informatics, this research will focus on World Wide Web aspects of usability, from web applications to web sites development, evaluating the evolving design against user requirements.
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are the interfaces that allow the end-user to interact with the software, that can be a web application or also a simple program installed on the end-user’s computer. Therefore, they have an impact on the quality and the usability of the resulting system. Thus, ensuring that developers can make the most out of them is an important challenge.
In order to evaluate the usability level of a system and its graphical user interface it is possible to apply standard usability evaluation methods as known from HCI (Human Computer Interaction). However, standard usability evaluation methods are several and very often it is hard to choose which one to adopt. In this research the most effective usability methods to evaluate software products’ graphical user interfaces usability have been analysed and tested, including Heuristics Evaluation, Walkthroughs, and some other core Web Design principles, giving an important guideline to the developer that intends to optimize the usability of its software products. Since usability embrace many different areas of informatics, this research will focus on World Wide Web aspects of usability, from web applications to web sites development, evaluating the evolving design against user requirements.