Abstract
Software usability is a term which frequently appears in trade journals, industry project plans, and in research articles. This article discusses the qualities that make up usability and how these qualities can be measured. The practice of usability is discussed and problem areas are identified. The article notes the relevance of the papers in this edition to the current problems facing usability practitioners.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Card, S.K., Moran, T.P. and Newell, A. (1983). The Psychology of Human-Computer Interaction (Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ).
Holcomb, R. and Tharp, R. (1991) What users say about software usability. International Journal of Human-Computer Interactions 3(1), 49–78.
Norman, D. (1986) Cognitive engineering, in User Centered System Design: New Perspectives on Human-Computer Interaction, Norman, D. and Draper, S. (eds) (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Hillsdale, NJ). pp. 31–61.
Shackel, B. (1986) Ergonomics in design for usability, in People and Computers: Designing for Usability. Proceedings of the Second Conference of the BCS HCI Specialist Group, Harrison, M.D. and Monk, A.F. (eds) (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge). pp. 44–64.
Shneiderman, B. (1987) Designing the User Interface (Addison-Wesley: Reading, MA).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scholtz, J. Usability: what's it all about?. Software Qual J 4, 95–100 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402713
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402713