Usability Engineering*

Computer systems of any complexity are not easy to use. The fact that they are powerful means that they are extensive, and that means that they can be difficult to use and master. The art and science of making these systems both "learnable" by a novice and "usable" by an expert is known as usability.

In today's hyper-competitive business environment there are increased productivity expectations. This means there is less time for learning, not that people have ever spent much time learning software. The "menu-bar skim" is about as close as most people get to structured learning when dealing with office software.

Usability Rule #1: You are not your audience.

HKS can help you increase the impact of your products by conducting usability tests and, if required, interface redesigns.

UI Design IconWith over 17 years experience in human-computer interaction (usability), HKS can help you make your software more usable. Our experience includes:

  • Usability Testing
    • Heuristic Reviews
    • Walkthroughs
    • Traditional Testing
  • Audience and Task Definition
  • Interface Design and Redesign

Most importantly, HKS understands the difference between learning software and using software. Supporting both is critical to gain new users and keep existing ones happy.

* Not engineering in the strict sense