Today is World Usability Day, a concept perhaps unknown to most families. Nevertheless, it is something that can greatly benefit families and for this reason, we do not want to miss the opportunity to delve a little deeper into the concept of usability. In order to understand what this curious word means, we must focus more on the technological field.
Although the term usability is not yet included in the Dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, in the world of technology is very habitual. To define it in a simple way, the concept of usability refers to the ease with which a person can use a certain tool, to obtain a specific purpose. As well as the study of the real and simplified effectiveness of the specific object.
World Usability Day
With the aim of making people's lives easier, so that anyone can easily use each and every one of the tools of daily use, originated the World Usability Day. This day is celebrated every second Thursday of the month of November of each year. Since its origin in 2005, more and more countries have joined this initiative by organizing different activities.
Technology is part of our daily life, so, it is essential that it is something accessible to all users. It is not conceived that a tool created to improve people's lives becomes a cause of anxiety due to the difficulty of not knowing how to use it correctly. Therefore, the principles of usability are based on four pillars.
- User research: The people who use the products are ultimately the ones who can provide data about said element.
- Usability testing: There must be an important study process before usability of every technological material designed for domestic use.
- The fundamentals of information architecture: A discipline based on organization and labeling of various items that make up the information. So that everyone can have easy access to them.
- Heuristic evaluation: Consisting of examine and evaluate efficacy and the quality of the tools included in technological objects and materials.
How the principle of usability benefits families
Today's society lives attached to an electronic device with an Internet connection. Products that everyone can access quite easily. In other words, anyone carries a computer in their pocket with a connection to the most powerful network in the world. However, for many of those people using and getting the most out of this powerful tool is a challenge.
There are countless applications of all kinds, to play, to learn, to find a job, partner or friends, among many other options. In fact, all the major companies in the world have an application own. Banks, fashion firms and any medium-sized company that wants to have a presence in an important way.
But for all those applications and IT tools to be practical for users, or families in this case, there must be an important study of the usability of these tools. Since being able to consult the bank movements from the mobile phone, the notes that your child's tutor leaves you in the school application or being able to buy through an online store, is a powerful way to make everyone's life easier. people.
Especially at this time when the world is experiencing a very serious health crisis due to the Covid-19, it is essential that users have the possibility to access and manage easily all the technological tools that are at hand. Home confinement, teleworking, homeschooling or making a purchase through the Internet. As well as being able to see the people you love through a screen, it is possible thanks to the fact that all these technological tools go through an increasingly important usability study.