A Comprehensive Model of Usability

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 2-dimensional usability model linking system properties with user activities, providing a structured framework to analyze, improve, and ensure software usability through a comprehensive, testable quality meta-model.

Contribution

It presents a novel 2-dimensional usability model that connects system properties with user activities, enhancing analysis and quality assurance of user interfaces.

Findings

The model reveals contradictions in existing usability standards.

It facilitates automatic generation of usability guidelines.

The case study demonstrates improved understanding of usability factors.

Abstract

Usability is a key quality attribute of successful software systems. Unfortunately, there is no common understanding of the factors influencing usability and their interrelations. Hence, the lack of a comprehensive basis for designing, analyzing, and improving user interfaces. This paper proposes a 2-dimensional model of usability that associates system properties with the activities carried out by the user. By separating activities and properties, sound quality criteria can be identified, thus facilitating statements concerning their interdependencies. This model is based on a tested quality meta-model that fosters preciseness and completeness. A case study demonstrates the manner by which such a model aids in revealing contradictions and omissions in existing usability standards. Furthermore, the model serves as a central and structured knowledge base for the entire quality assurance process, e.g. the automatic generation of guideline documents.