The aim is to raise awareness of everyday examples of poor
design and to encourage people to think of ways in which the user
experience of everything – from websites to tape measures – can be
improved.
Activities on the theme “Making it Easy” are being held at
locations across the world, beginning with the launch of New
Zealand’s first centre devoted to information design and usability,
and moving westward across the globe to end 36 hours later at a
usable design event in San Francisco. In between, various usability
firms are opening their facilities to members of the public.
The UK chapter of the UPA is hosting an awards ceremony tonight.
Guardian Unlimited is among the nominees for best website for
finding information; iTunes, Google Desktop Search and Firefox will
battle for best software application; and the iPod's clickwheel
interface is up for best consumer product.
The law on usability
The usability of websites is addressed in UK law. The Disability
Discrimination Act is often cited in connection with the obligation
it puts on organisations to make their websites accessible to
disabled users; but it also requires websites to be usable.
The key words are where the Act gives examples of services to
which its discrimination provisions apply – including "access to
and use of information services".
The usability of products is not addressed by the Act although
many people consider that it should become a legal requirement.
Usable products
Examples of poor product usability were highlighted in recent
research by usability experts User Vision. In August 2005, the
Edinburgh-based firm (which advised Pinsent Masons on OUT-LAW.COM's
usability) asked 500 people to name the items in everyday
life which they found most difficult to use.
Setting the video to record and installing a child car seat were
cited as the most popular sources of consumer frustration, followed
by digital TV systems, digital cameras, washing machines,
dishwashers and tin-openers.
The most usable products identified in the research were armed
corkscrews and disposable nappies, followed by TV remote controls,
central locking on cars and gas barbecues.
