Usability evaluation is an assessment of how easy a product is to use for a stated target audience or intended customer.

Software usability evaluation involves inspecting a website or software product for areas that could potentially cause the user difficulty, confusion, or misunderstanding. It seeks to uncover anything that could hinder or prevent a website or software product delivering the core objectives of a business or organisation.

UsabilityWorks employs two established methods of evaluating usability: an expert review and usability testing with real users.

Expert Review

This allows software products or websites to be evaluated against the accumulated knowledge of usability principles and best practice.

In a standard expert review, usability experts generally use their experience to assess the usability aspects of a website or software product. At UsabilityWorks, an expert review additionally incorporates aspects of design and marketing, and practical observations such as whether a website delivers the information needed by a user, and whether selected links are current and working.

Usability Testing

Usability testing provides a means of observing real users interacting with websites and other software. Assumptions about users' requirements, expectations and behaviour are often made when creating websites and software products. It is only by observing real users performing realistic activities that these assumptions can be verified or challenged. There is no more compelling evidence that something is wrong with a website or software product than the observation of users attempting and then failing to complete the activities for which it was designed.

A standard usability test requires that representative users are asked to perform a set of realistic tasks using the website or software product. The users are asked to talk about their experiences as they proceed with the set tasks. Both the use of the website and the users' reactions to it are observed and recorded so that information is gathered to highlight areas of concern.

In addition, measurements are made, such as how long it takes to complete a purchase or find a piece of content. This data can be used to feed into the design process for subsequent versions of the website or software product. It can also be used as a benchmark to compare alternative future designs or, indeed, to make a comparison with a competitor's website.

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