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Usability Associates can help you in many different ways. Our basic services have grown as clients have asked us to do something "a little different". The following list defines each service by its description, features, and benefits. Also included is (1) how Usability Associates makes a difference and (2) target companies that would get the most benefit from the service.
1. Apply Usability Design On Specific Product Projects
Make software and hardware products useful, easy to use,
comfortable, productive, and safe.
2. Integrate Usability Into Your Product Development Process
Develop tools and define activities that can be used repeatedly
across different product development projects.
3. Discover Your Customers' Needs And
Preferences
Bring user input to concepting and evaluation of products.
4. Apply
Usability Principles to Improve Your Web Site Design
Ensure visitors are
satisfied with their experience at your web site.
5. Research
Usability and Organizational Issues
Conduct studies to
understand current user interface state-of-the-art and future directions.
Conduct benchmarking of human factors groups.
6. Increase
The Human Factors Capability Of Company Personnel
Conduct seminars, tutorials, and workshops to enhance Human Factors capabilities
and to
increase understanding of Human Factors people by other company
personnel.
7. Recruiting Human Factors Personnel
Find candidates for open Human Factors positions. Identify
targeted participants for usability studies and focus groups.
8. Facilitate Industry Consortiums
Coordinate and conduct research for company collaborations
such as PDU Consortium.
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APPLY
USABILITY DESIGN ON SPECIFIC PRODUCT PROJECTS
Making products useful, easy to use, comfortable,
productive, and safe
Description
 | Software: Intuitive GUI and custom user-computer interfaces |
| Hardware: Self-evident and comfortable operation |
| Instructions: Informative and well-placed labels and instructions |
| Specifications: Defined usability targets for product specifications and
requirements |
| Configuration: Task-oriented layout of product components |
| "Out-of-the-Box" Experience: Easy set up for first-time use |
Features
Principles of human perception and information about how people behave are
applied throughout the development cycle to produce a highly usable product.
Usability considerations include specifications, set up for first time use,
labels, instructions, control panels, hardware interaction points, software user
interface, mobility, and maintainability.
Benefits
Simpler operation can give product a competitive edge in the marketplace.
Life cycle cost savings will result from avoiding design changes, fewer support
calls, reduced requirement for instructional materials, and simpler training.
Difference
Full range of usability considerations is applied.
Target
Companies who want their products to have a
competitive edge in the marketplace.
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INTEGRATE USABILITY INTO
YOUR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Develop tools and define activities that
can be used repeatedly across different product development projects.
Description
| Methods: Guidelines, checklists and custom tools for use across projects |
| Planning: Strategies, resources, customer feedback program |
| Integration: Meld Human Factors activities into overall process |
Features
Guidelines, checklists, customer feedback instruments and other custom tools
allow designers to build ergonomics/usability into their products.
Benefits
Ergonomic design becomes more routine and can be applied easily and more cost
effectively.
Difference
Tools are tailored to specific characteristics of the product line.
Target
Companies who are serious about institutionalizing product usability.
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DISCOVER YOUR CUSTOMERS NEEDS
AND PREFERENCES
Bring user input to concepting and evaluation of
products.
Description
| Focus Groups: Design and conduct customized focus groups |
| Usability Testing: Assess product prototypes |
| Contextual inquiry: Observe and interview in work environment |
| Concepting: Apply user-centered product concepting methods |
Features
A methodology is employed that is appropriate for the purpose of the study, the
type of product, and the state of the product's development. Besides focus
groups and usability testing, methodologies include ethnographic studies,
day-in-the-life scenarios, contextual inquiry, Wizard of Oz simulations, and Mr.
Potato Head concept building.
Benefits
Clients can understand how people use their company's products and how to design
them for optimum ease of use. This can be done across the entire range of
product development activities from concept formulation through product design
to market launch.
Difference
The variety of methods means that user participation can be utilized in all
phases of product development.
Target
Companies developing hardware or software products would use this VOC feedback
to make sure their products meet the needs of their customers.
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