[IxDA Discuss] iPhone Usability Test

[Barbara Ballard]

On 9/23/07, Todd Zaki Warfel <lists at toddwarfel.com> wrote:
> I'd have to agree with Jack on this. To me there are three levels of
> usability:
> 2. Learnable - low severity, user may experience some initial
> confusion the first use, but subsequent use becomes easier and
> acceptable.

"Learnable" is an odd duck. For many kiosks, "learnable" could be the
kiss of death.  For an iPod, "learnable" has done fabulously well.

I just joined Facebook for the first time, with absolutely no prior
exposure.  There's lots that is not "intuitive", but looks (and is)
"learnable" ... and I enjoy the learning process.

For a highly personal device, or for a game, learnable could be a very
good thing.  Learning the product is part of the experience, and
expertise in the product is a bit of pride.

What's critical, to my view, is not that everything is intuitive, but
that a critical mass of the product is intuitive.  The rest should be
learnable in an enjoyable, discoverable, intuitive fashion.


-- 
Barbara Ballard
barbara at littlespringsdesign.com 1-785-838-3003