Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a product or system - whether a web site, software application, mobile technology, or any user-operated device.
According to Usability Expert Jakob Nielsen: "On the Web, usability is a necessary condition for survival. If a web site is difficult to use, people leave. If the homepage fails to clearly state what a company offers and what users can do on the site, people leave. If users get lost on a web site, they leave. If a web site's information is hard to read or doesn't answer users' key questions, they leave. Note a pattern here? There's no such thing as a user reading a web site manual or otherwise spending much time trying to figure out an interface. There are plenty of other web sites available; leaving is the first line of defense when users encounter a difficulty."More: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
What is usability
Is your web site usable? There are several definitions for usability, but basically the following 4 characteristics can be considered usable:
Does your product or web site have the above characteristics? Usability increases benefits for both parties: the User (potential customers) and the Provider (yourself).
Users benefits from usability
If your users are satisfied, they will become loyal, and may even recommend your product or service to others.
Providers benefits from usability
As a provider, you may benefit from usability in many ways, including:
Misconceptions about usability
Misconceptions about usability's expense," Jakob Nielsen says, "the time it involves, and its creative impact prevent companies from getting crucial user data, as does the erroneous belief that existing customer-feedback methods are a valid driver for interface design." More: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030908.html
How can usability can save your company
After all, have you ever wished there was one place that contained a list of everything you need to know to make your web site user-friendly? If yes, have a look at this "User Interface Usability Checklist for Ecommerce Web sites" here: http://webnauts.net/user-interface-usability-checklist.html
Skip Navigation Links Are Important
Providing links that allow the user to skip directly to content, bypassing the navigation, enhances the accessibility of your web site. This is recommended for blind or visually impaired users, people who use screen readers, and also for text-browsers, mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). These links are common on most US, UK, Irish, and other government websites, as well as many universities and private organizations.
Why accessibility is important to you
Accessibility is becoming increasingly critical to the Internet experience. Is your site accessible to people with disabilities? Is it compatible with browsers other than Internet Explorer?
