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| + *** Laura Downey | 
| + **** usability | 
| + ***** "the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effictiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of users" | 
| + ***** "an approach that incorporates direct user feedback througout the development cycle to reduce costs and create products and tools that meet user needs." | 
| + **** benefits o fusability: increased productivity, sales and revenues, customer satisfaction; decrease traning and support costs, etc. | 
| + **** real world example: after move.com completed the redesign of two problem features, users ability to find a home increases from 62 to 98 percent, sales lead generation to real estate agents increased 150%. | 
| + **** user interface + functionality = usability | 
| + ***** elegant or sophisticated internal algorithms don't make any diff inf the interface is bad ... | 
| + **** software versus usability engineering: ui code 30 percent, now almost 50-60; maintainence, etc. | 
| + ***** typical software program is released with 40 usability design problems; over 70% of CIO's state on of biggest problems is communicating with users | 
| + **** incorporate usability in seek | 
| + ***** collect demographic data | 
| + ***** task analysis (interviews and observations) | 
| + ***** apply good human factors and design principles | 
| + ***** iterative design | 
| + ***** gather user feedback and input: ind. interviews; group discussions; usability evals and testing; categorization exercises; self-reporting; satisfaction surveys | 
| + **** general design principles | 
| + ***** use minimalist approach but provide details on demand | 
| + ***** apply consisten visual and information design (readability, coding, color, icons, metaphors, data organization) | 
| + ***** apply appropriate interaction design (tasks, and user's understanding) | 
| + ***** minimize memory and attention load (memory and processing information limitations) [http://www.laoairlines.com] | 
| + ***** speak users' language (user terminology not geek-speak) | 
| + **** providing flexibility (shortcuts, RCMs, wizards); provide status and feedback; provide meaningful error and feedback messages | 
| + **** upcoming usability activities | 
| + ***** seek annual meeting: general usability discussion | 
| + ***** kepler - december: needs dicsussion, observation during training, group executioin of two simple scenarios | 
| + ***** esa data registry -- february: individual or group usabilitiy testing on registering data | 
| + ***** issues or ideas on the usability of SEEK tools then contact me: Laura L. Downey | 
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