Week 7 - Usability Heuristics

Usability Heuristics

Overview

  • Usability Heuristics: These are broad rules of thumb to improve user experience, not strict guidelines.

Source Information

  • Source: Derived from website: www.uz.edu.ph

  • Disclaimer: Heuristics provide general advice rather than specific usability solutions.

Definition of Heuristics

  • Origin: The term "heuristics" means to find or discover, coming from ancient Greek.

  • Description: Guidelines derived from experience aimed at solving problems effectively, but not necessarily optimally.

Jakob Nielsen: Key Figure in Usability

  • Recognition: Jakob Nielsen is referred to with numerous accolades:

    • "The king of usability" (Internet Magazine)

    • "The guru of Web page usability" (The New York Times)

    • Recognized as a leading expert and influential figure in web usability across various notable publications.

Biography

  • Background: Born in 1957 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Education: Holds a Ph.D. in human-computer interaction from the Technical University of Denmark.

  • Professional Role: Co-founded Nielsen Norman Group with Dr. Donald A. Norman, focusing as a usability consultant and user advocate.

Development of Usability Guidelines

  • Creation Date: The guidelines were established over 22 years ago.

  • Refinement: Derived from analyzing 249 different usability problems to form ten core heuristics.

10 Usability Heuristics for User Interface Design

1. Visibility of System Status

  • Definition: The system must keep users informed about what is happening through appropriate feedback.

  • Example: Twitter informs users of tweet posting progress.

2. Match Between System and the Real World

  • Definition: The system should use familiar language and concepts to user understanding.

  • Example: Use real-world buttons that resemble conversations rather than technical labels.

3. User Control and Freedom

  • Definition: Users should have a clear option to exit actions easily and provide support for undo/redo actions.

  • Example: Features like "shake to undo" on iOS enhance user control.

4. Consistency and Standards

  • Definition: Users should not be left guessing if actions or terms mean the same across the platform; follow established conventions.

  • Example: Consistent placement of action buttons such as "Sign In" enhances usability.

5. Error Prevention

  • Definition: Design should prevent problems from occurring; provide confirmation options for dangerous actions.

  • Example: Confirm deletes with a prompt to avoid accidental actions.

6. Recognition Rather than Recall

  • Definition: Minimize memory load by making actions, options, and objects visible, reducing reliance on user memory.

  • Example: Visible search functions on platforms like Google facilitate easier user navigation.

7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

  • Definition: Enable faster actions for seasoned users with hidden accelerators while maintaining simplicity for beginners.

  • Example: Advanced filtering options in Google Images enable quicker searches for experienced users.

8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

  • Definition: Avoid unnecessary content in dialogues, as extra information can overwhelm users.

  • Example: Google's sign-in page illustrates minimalist design focused on essential functions.

9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors

  • Definition: Error messages should be user-friendly, precise, and suggest clear solutions.

  • Example: Airbnb's error page assists users with alternative links instead of just redirecting them to the homepage.

10. Help and Documentation

  • Definition: While usability should minimize the need for documentation, it should be accessible and focus on user tasks when needed.

  • Example: GitHub provides straightforward help pages catering to common queries.