Usability
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- ********0
fate you are the one who seems confused-
there is no ultimate truth to anything let alone the way people interact with the web. Your truth out of this thread is you are right, my truth is you are not. You think your good and I am bad- I think I am good and you are bad.Those people in the lab are a minority at best. Not that they are not important as the "target" audience of the particular site in development but they do not represent any truth but their own- isn't this a paradox to your statment that "if you design for an elite group..blah blah".
That same group has to turn on their computer- use the given operating systems verison of truth to find their browser, then the browsers truth to get to the website, then the websites truth on how to navigate- most likely all different verisions of such truth- of companies "OPINIONS" on good and bad design.
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"It is simply making wise decisions in getting users from Point A to Point B, to serve them best by communicating via design. It is not subjective, no matter how bad you want it to be subjective. "
--I agree with the first part of this- making wise decisions in getting users from point A to B.. but the making of those decisions offers a subjective expierence- a personal expierence particular to a given person. One might find the developer A to B decisions right on the money- a no brainer- another might find it unfilling.
No ultimate truth- proclaiming the A to B decision as your best intent on communication through function is one thing- calling it "usability" is another-in reality ANYTHING on the web- Can be used- being convenient to use-
is subjective- no matter how bad you want to think it is not.
- fate0
So is English your second Language?
- ********0
take for example you and me--
throw us in this "group"
two sites are presented to us-
we are asked, "Which is easier to navigate, which is more usable to you"
You say A- I say B
Both are obvious USABLE- we went through both websites but individually we determined what suits us and our needs.
Two different opinions- no ultimate truth.
The developer then, based on a fitting determinationof what is best for the communication- creates a version of our results.
Now we have even more opinions- more usable suggestions- no ultimate truth.
Now we have web navigation that "Can be used" that are usuable and convenient to the user- all based on a subjective experience and suggestion.. not on any type of truth.
If both websites had Usable objects (buttons, links, whatever) and one was choosen over the next there is no such thing as usability as a final concept- just an interpretation of what is more suiting for the clients needs.
Here is the proper definition of "Usability" via the dictionary..
1. That can be used: usable byproducts.
2. Fit for use; convenient to use: usable spare parts
3. The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which users can achieve tasks in a particular environment of a product. High usability means a system is: easy to learn and remember; efficient, visually pleasing and fun to use; and quick to recover from errors.
All of that is competely based on a subjective opinion.
- fate0
Dude, I'm really not going to keep arguing with you. It's much easier to make fun of your inability to grasp logic than to read your boring posts.
Like how you think you should design for 1 person. Fucktard.
- ********0
been working on a "usable" site believe it or not for the past 13 hours-
yeah I am typo king- you got me there. If only they would come up with a more usable keyboard without so many confusing letters and numbers for caveman like myself.
- fate0
objectivity=majority's common subjective opinion. Was that short enough for you to understand? You're right that usability is subjective,, but you lack the critical thinking to take it any farther. That's only the beginning and you're stuck there. Which is pretty fuckin amazing to me.
- ********0
I'll grasp logic all the way to the bank tomorrow with my fucktard design that ironically was determined by a focus group.
keep on vogueing dude.
- k0na_an0k0
*walks into thread
hey guys what's going on in here?
oh shit!
*runs like hell dropping cookies i brought
haha. thanks gruntt. i still love that one.
- BonSeff0
holy shit. i think you did a great job presenting your piont puter.
i worked with so called usabilty experts in the .com days..fate, you should back off.
- fate0
Money doesn't impress me.
Why did you use a focus group? The results are all fake anyway, right? Right. So there you go again, failing to grasp logic.
- johndiggity0
usability is relative, i agree with puter. what's usable to you may not be usable to someon who is colorblind or disabled. and this could be the same site we are talking about and subjectivity of the user would not be relevant.
at the same tiime, focus groups like any sampling of a population are prone to error and dependant on all sorts of factors that cannot be controlled.
- ********0
Sorry for the long post kOna seems it IS subjective now all the sudden.. good night.
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"It is not subjective, no matter how bad you want it to be subjective. It never will be."fate
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The client wants a focus group- they want to pay- hey I'll pretend it matters... it makes us look more important.
- fate0
"The developer then...creates a version of our results."
Don't you get it? To have one site get produced, you have to have one solid set of results. The developer cannot cater to both our tastes. Therefore you have to OBECTIVELY determine what is good and bad out of our opinions. In the end, it is never, ever subjective. Ever. And I will stay by that, because it is a simple maxim.
Everyone has opinions. But they aren't worth a shit out of context to one another. That's why subjectivity doesn't matter.
- ********0
There is no actual fact that decisions used to create the site are the best, the only fact is the site exist- your proclaimed ultimate truth I suppose. The site existance is not subjective, either is the process it was created- what is subjective is it's conclusion and how effective it is as being usable.
When you hide behind a word like usability based on definition you are OBJECTIVELY determining what is the best choice at being usable-
The users personal expierence SUBJECTIVELY determines if you were right or wrong.
thus there is really no such thing as "Usability" as a pre-determined notion or Nielson like paths to follow.
It's a fucking guessing game of hoping you made the right decisions and you can keep the target audience's attention.
A site with one button to deliver content is no more usable by definition of "an object that can be used" then a site with 20 buttons to do the same.
By computer geek talk definition of-
"The effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which users can achieve tasks in a particular environment of a product. High usability means a system is: easy to learn and remember; efficient, visually pleasing and fun to use; and quick to recover from errors"none of it is written in stone- when "satisfaction" is a key element of the term- or when certain user needs are not met.
time for bed.
Good night Fate...
honestly I wish us both well on our paths.
- Visia0
"how would you explain david carson?"
Assuming you're not joking . . . I would say that David Carson is a shining example of an artist that *thought* he was a designer.
Not to say that Raygun didn't contribute to the current trends of design, but in the end we all know what happend to Raygun.
A designers job isn't to force their ideals on a target market. Their job is to effectively commuicate the message while maintaining the highest level of style possible within those confines.
That's why it's such a challenge.
That's why not *everyone* can do what a designer does.
It takes a lot of smarts just to figure out what *should* be done. Technique is secondary at best.
- trooperbill0
ues useability is valuable... but so is brand experience - a customer needs to decide wether they need a blatant website that is a no-brainer to use (probably about 90% of jobs are) or somethign more dedicated to delivering user experience of the target brand.
- johndiggity0
great article:
http://www.boxesandarrows.com/ar…
