Usability, like audience analysis, focuses on users.

Unless the hyperdocument is for entertainment, it is important to realize that users are using the document to discover something they need to know or do.

For example, the hypermedia kiosks in the London Underground help people to plan a route to their destination. Users want this information to be readily available.

Usable Multimedia documents focus on users from the beginning and throughout development.

True usability testing involves creating and administering usability tests.

During the Conceptualization phase, the audience and task analysis will identify users and their tasks or topics.

If there are similar or previous versions of the product, a usability test can be written and conducted before the new product is created.

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Users can be involved throughout the design and development phase.

Interface designers, who know what works and what doesn't, can be included as part of the design team.

A usability test is a (hyper?)document in itself and may be broken down as:

1. Identifying the Test goals
2. Deciding among various Test Methods
3. Identifying the characteristics of the test subjects.
4. Creating Realistic Tasks
5. Ordering the tasks
6. Determining Performance Measures
7. Creating the Test Materials

   Mike Desruisseau, a student who took this course in the summer of 1995, created Web Pages describing Great Violin Concertos , and wrote a nice Usability Test if you would like to see an example.

   

   

   A Cal State Fresno student's Usability test

   Steven Karamatos' Usability material

   

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   Send questions and comments to: Karen Lemone

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