Warmest Greetings,

What is Usability in One Word?  

:: Friday, February 25, 2005 ::

John S. Rhodes asks "If we blasted "usability" into oblivion so that it could never be used again, what word or short phrase would replace it?"

Weird karma. Last night I couldn't sleep, and was wondering the exact same thing!

It's no secret that in usability-land, which is made up of folks from all kinds of backgrounds, nobody agrees on what usability is. It's been argued that usability testing is faulty because the science behind the methodolgy isn't even standard practice. There's disagreement on whether to call people "users". The goals for usability in design aren't universally understood, and yet we're asked to prove the return on investment anyway.

WebWord's John S. Rhodes first wiggled out some comments from Ron Zeno in a Cre8asiteForums thread called Usability or Donkey Design? (Or, Why do you love usability?).

RonZ wrote, "I don't see how usability is like Donkey Design or mathematics, though it might make sense to compare a specific usability testing method to Donkey Design. I don't think there is anything analogous to mathematics - testing methods are too specific while usability itself too vague."

In What is Usability in One Word?, John decides to dig into the sandbox.

He writes, "But the more I think about it, and the more I talk about it, I think usability is best summed up with this word:

--> EMPATHY <--

No word better describes the intent of usability."

For my search engine optimization and marketing friends, who are getting more and more interested in the user centered design side of web site enhancements, how we present ourselves as a user centered industry must be quite entertaining.

If we're so determined in our belief that things should work properly, wouldn't that include the ability to work together to make product improvements? Are we missing unified standards, or is it that nobody agrees on what they should be?

As for me, shortly before falling asleep and mulling this over, I decided usability design is the same as being co-dependent.

We'll just do anything to make your experience better.


Honk If You Miss Me

This is my last post until I return and recover from my trip to the Search Engine Strategies Conference in NYC

:: posted by Kim Krause Berg on 2/25/2005 11:50:00 AM

:: Today's Post Permalink | Back to the BLOG Home
:: Website Evaluations
:: Email this Post  
:.................................

Feed Bin

Learn how to make RSS Feed Buttons

Highly Recommended!
(Read review)
Search Engine Marketing Kit, by Dan Thies

• User Centered Design
• Usability Industry Research
• Increase Website Conversions
• Starter Ecommerce Checklist

• Web Design & The Usability Effect
• Usability and SEO Humor

Crooked sunglasses

My artistic friends love this picture.

• About Kim Krause Berg
• My Articles
• Me Again (My Fave Blog Posts)
• August 2005 : Expanding on Usability - An Interview with Kim Krause Berg
• Kim's Wish List

Recent Posts

The Secret Appeal of Steve Krug

To Hear Visitor Feedback, Remove Your Hands From Your Ears

You Put The Lime in the Coconut and That's Fine With Me

Why Search Engine Marketing Has A Passion for Web Site Usability

SearchGuild's Alternate Reality Awards Show

Hey Web Designer. Laugh Here.

Search Engines Are For People. Meet Y!Q.

TechSmith Corporation Chooses The Cre8pc Blog

Where Were You The Day MSN Search Was Re-Launched?

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About DMOZ

Monthly Archives

It's That Book Again

Conversions Topic is New York Times Best Seller (Seriously)

Kim is a Member of the Usability Professionals Association

"This report exceeded my expectations. After reading it a few times, I went through and highlighted those parts of your actionable advice that I want to implement right away... I ended up highlighting most of the report. Stellar job. I won't hesitate to recommend you to one of my own clients." -- Andy Hagans of AndyHagans.com

"I have implemented the most obvious changes and I suppose the fact that we've seen an immediate increase in sales/conversions is no coincidence. I'd highly recommend your service to anyone running a serious web based business." -- Steve Clay, Plumeriabay.com

"As soon as we get our hands on one of her usability studies, my clients and I have a better understanding of what needs to be done with their sites to make them the best they can be from their site visitors' perspective."
-- Jill Whalen, HighRankings.com

"This is an exemplary piece of work." -- Rand Fishkin, SEOMoz.org

View more Testimonials | Clients
Learn about Website improvement services.