A Comprehensive Model of Usability
This work addresses the problem of inconsistent usability definitions for software developers and designers, offering a structured approach to improve user interface quality assurance, though it appears incremental by building on a tested meta-model.
The paper tackles the lack of a common understanding of usability factors by proposing a 2-dimensional model that associates system properties with user activities, enabling the identification of quality criteria and interdependencies, as demonstrated in a case study revealing contradictions in existing standards.
Usability is a key quality attribute of successful software systems. Unfortunately, there is no common understanding of the factors influencing usability and their interrelations. Hence, the lack of a comprehensive basis for designing, analyzing, and improving user interfaces. This paper proposes a 2-dimensional model of usability that associates system properties with the activities carried out by the user. By separating activities and properties, sound quality criteria can be identified, thus facilitating statements concerning their interdependencies. This model is based on a tested quality meta-model that fosters preciseness and completeness. A case study demonstrates the manner by which such a model aids in revealing contradictions and omissions in existing usability standards. Furthermore, the model serves as a central and structured knowledge base for the entire quality assurance process, e.g. the automatic generation of guideline documents.