Application usability

The process through which the learnability, efficiency, usefulness and ease of use of a software application can be defined and measured.

software usability

knowledge

sector-specific

Application usability is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Digital games tester: Digital games testers review and test various genres of digital games by playing them in order to find bugs and glitches within the game’s functionality or graphics. They may evaluate the capacity of attraction and playability of games. They may also debug the games themselves.
ICT accessibility tester: ICT accessibility testers evaluate websites, software applications, systems or user interface components with regards to friendliness, operability of the navigation and visibility to all types of users, especially including those with special needs or disabilities.
ICT usability tester: ICT usability testers ensure compliance with requirements and strive for optimal usability within the software engineering cycle phases (analysis, design, implementation, and deployment). They also work closely with users (analysts) to research for and document user profiles, analyse tasks, workflows, and user scenarios.
User interface designer: User interface designers are in charge of designing user interfaces for applications and systems. They perform layout, graphics and dialogues design activities as well as adaptation activities.
User experience analyst: User experience analysts assess client interaction and experience and analyse users’ behaviours, attitudes, and emotions about the usage of a particular product, system or service. They make proposals for the improvement of the interface and usability of products, systems or services. In doing so, they take into consideration the practical, experiential, affective, meaningful and valuable aspects of human–computer interaction and product ownership, as well as the person’s perceptions of system aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency, and user experience dynamics.

Application usability is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Software tester: Software testers perform software tests. They may also plan and design them. They may also debug and repair software although this mainly corresponds to designers and developers. They ensure that applications function properly before delivering them to internal and external clients.
Technical communicator: Technical communicators prepare clear, concise and professional communication from product developers to users of the products such as online help, user manuals, white papers, specifications and industrial videos. For this, they analyse products, legal requirements, markets, customers and users. They develop information and media concepts, standards, structures and software tool support. They plan the content creation and media production processes, develop written, graphical, video or other contents, generate media output, release their information products and receive feedback from the users.
ICT quality assurance manager: ICT quality assurance managers establish and operate an ICT quality approach through quality management systems, in compliance with internal and external standards and the organisation’s culture. They ensure that the management controls are correctly implemented to safeguard asset, data integrity and operations. They focus on the achievement of quality goals, including the maintenance of the external certification according to quality standards and monitor statistics to forecast quality outcomes.
Digital games designer: Digital games designers develop the layout, logic, concept and gameplay of a digital game. They focus on playfield design, specification writing, and entry of numeric properties that balance and tune the gameplay.

References

1. Application usability – ESCO