If you have ever said to yourself, "Hmm...I wonder why they put this door here? It would make way more sense over there", then you have been looking at usability in some form. Modern usability methods focus on when, where, why and how certain groups or individuals use a particular product. In web development, it usually involves some type of graphical user interface (GUI, pronounced "Goo-ey") and people from different walks of life looking at your web site.
More about GUI's. Your car's User Interface is in front of you when you're in the driver's seat— all the knobs, dials and buttons. After the first few times behind the wheel, you instinctively know where they are and what they do. Let's face it, if car companies changed the position, shape, name and function of the driver's controls in new cars every year, they wouldn't sell too many. The level of user frustration would grow exponentially. And somehow we would make do with our old one.
If your customers don't "get" your web site immediately, can't find your wondeful content and can't finish their task quickly, it's safe to say you're not going to have massive sales and be on your way to stardom in the dot-com era. Usability testing methods vary widely, but most center on getting regular, actual users (not site designers or management) to sit down in front of a computer and see how something works. Tasks are assigned to them and then the site is scored on how well it does in conforming to their wishes. If it's done right, you get to see your web site through a first-time visitor's eyes. It's alarming. It's discomforting. It's informative. It's also pretty funny (don't tell your subjects this ahead of time). The result? A better working, more usable website where your customers can actually get things done and get on with their day. And you can never have too many, too often or too early in the design process.
So, go ahead, grab your neighbor, hold his Chihuahua for him while he goes through your site. You'll be amazed at what he finds. After all, if you're not meeting the needs of your customers, making sales leads or selling products, what are you doing? (Remember, we'll give you a free home page evaluation. Just call (530) 477-1555. Operators are standing by...) Recommend this article...
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