Shaking the usability tree: why usability is not a dead end, and a constructive way forward

Simone Borsci* (Corresponding Author), Stefano Federici, Alessio Malizia, Maria Laura De Filippis

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    26 Citations (Scopus)
    464 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    A recent contribution to the ongoing debate concerning the concept of usability and its measures proposed that usability reached a dead end – i.e. a construct unable to provide stable results and to unify scientific knowledge. Extensive commentaries rejected the conclusion that researchers need to look for alternative constructs to measure the quality of interaction. Nevertheless, several practitioners involved in this international debate asked for a constructive way to move forward the usability practice. In fact, two key issues of the usability field were identified in this debate: (i) knowledge fragmentation in the scientific community, and (ii) the unstable relationship among the usability metrics. We recognise both the importance and impact of these key issues, although, in line with others, we may not agree with the conclusion that the usability is a dead end. Under the light of the international debate, this work discusses the strengths and weaknesses of usability construct and its application. Our discussion focuses on identifying alternative explanations to the issues and to suggest mitigation strategies, which may be considered the starting point to move forward the usability field. However, scientific community actions will be needed to implement these mitigation strategies and to harmonise the usability practice.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)519-532
    JournalBehaviour & information technology
    Volume38
    Issue number5
    Early online date2 Nov 2018
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 4 May 2019

    Keywords

    • UT-Hybrid-D
    • Interaction design
    • ISO 9241-11
    • Usability
    • Usability factors
    • Usability testing
    • Human–machine interface

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Shaking the usability tree: why usability is not a dead end, and a constructive way forward'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this