[IxDA Discuss] Most usable doesn't always mean best solution

[Todd Zaki Warfel]

On Mar 4, 2008, at 9:48 AM, Elizabeth Buie wrote:

> I don't know how they can miss it, given how ISO 9241 defines  
> usability.

Elizabeth, there are a lot of people out in the field, especially  
marketing agencies, performing usability studies who haven't got a  
clue that there's an ISO 9241 standard for it. You might be surprised  
by this, but it's true.

> But wait a minute.  In your first post on the subject, you said that  
> the product was less usable but yielded *greater* satisfaction, so I  
> pointed out that your comment ignored the satisfaction component of  
> usability.  Now you're telling *me* that satisfaction is a component  
> of usability?
>
> What is wrong with this picture?

I include satisfaction in my definition of usability, but as I said  
before, many HCI purists, especially in academia don't see it that  
way. You might not see that in your work, but that might be due to the  
industry you're focused in. Likewise, since I'm not involved in  
government work, where we're not obligated to be bound by ISO  
standards, I see it pretty often.


Cheers!

Todd Zaki Warfel
President, Design Researcher
Messagefirst | Designing Information. Beautifully.
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