[Sigia-l] Web Developers

[Todd Warfel]

On Feb 5, 2006, at 7:20 PM, Skot Nelson wrote:


On Feb 5, 2006, at 3:18 PM, Listera wrote:

We do different things: usability folk usually rectify a problem *after* the
fact; I design stuff so that there won't be much to rectify *to begin with*.

Huh?

This is a pretty arrogant statement, even when you consider the source.

As a "usability folk," my goal isn't to rectify a problem, it's to evaluate
it against a set of goals:
1. Is the user able to accomplish task X in the fashion they intend to? In a
fashion they "feel" is intuitive (or natural) to them?
2. Is the user able to accomplish task X in a reasonable timeframe w/in a
reasonable number of steps?
3. Does the method used to accomplish task X meet and/or exceed the users'
expectations or not?
4. Does the design provide ample methods to prevent user error?
5. Does the design provide ample methods to help the user get back on track
(w/o calling in tech support)?

As a usability folk, I'm out to observe and understand. Then based on these
observations and understandings, provide viable alternative methods to fix
the problem and help the user accomplish their goals.


Cheers!

Todd R. Warfel
Partner, Design & Usability Specialist
Messagefirst | designing and usability consulting
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Contact Info
Voice: (607) 339-9640
Email: todd at messagefirst.com
AIM: twarfel at mac.com
Blog: http://toddwarfel.com
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In theory, theory and practice are the same.
In practice, they are not.