Review: 'Usability is not Everything' declares Site

This is another site that questions the value of usability and whether it knows its place in the world. See also Chris McEvoy's Usability Must Die for an alternative view.

The front page declares that 'some people consider usability a scientific discipline that uses tests, measurements and factor analysis. others call themselves "usability gurus" and "interface evangelists" and preach usability like a religion. this manifesto questions the jihad of usability and tries to bring usability back from its lofty realms to the solid ground of planet earth.'

The result is a proposal for holistic usability: 'our approach is more demanding than orthodox usability. there are no ready-made heuristics, no one-size-fits-all solution. instead, each site must be seen as a new world, reaching out to the visitors, touching them'. There is an interesting diagram to accompany this and also some worthwhile words on inclusive design under a section called 'what about disabilities?'.

Lots of visitor comments appear in the forum to argue with or be amused by. The site's purpose has caused a lot of confusion. Perhaps the wisest is the writer who points out that the absence of capitals in the text on the site damages readability.

A final point: when I visited the site, the voting indicator on the homepage had it that only 49% found the site useful. How can you not love a site that advertises less than half its visitors were impressed?

Associated Link: Usability is not Everything

All change at the top for System Concepts
Source: System Concepts Ltd, 3 July 2009
 
Leslie Fountain has been promoted to joint Managing Director of leading usability consultancy System Concepts.

Life in UCD immortalised in fiction: you couldn't make it up
Source: UN, 2 July 2009
 
Sarah Herman's fictitious book on life in a user-centred design company has hit the shelves and The Guardian's book pages...

Interfaces Magazine - Issue 79: The Education Issue
Source: Interaction Group, 1 July 2009
 
The latest issue of Interfaces is now available as a free download from the Interaction Website.

Two new Behavioural research Tools from Noldus
Source: UN, 30 June 2009
 
Tool updates make on-site behavioural data collection easier.

Cell Phones that Listen and Learn
Source: MIT Technology Review, 29 June 2009
 
New software tracks a user's behavior by monitoring everyday sounds.

Top Six Don’ts for Usability Testing
Source: FutureNow Inc., 27 June 2009
 
Six tips for creating quality usability tests to ensure useful feedback from testers.

Usability: ‘Lovely software. But I can’t work it’
Source: FT.com, 26 June 2009
 
In a recent survey by Global Graphics, 77 per cent of office workers estimate they lose up to one hour a week because business software is difficult to use.

And what do you do?
Source: Dexo Design, 25 June 2009
 
How do you describe your job role? Here are the results of a recent 'Preferred UX/UI Title' Poll.

Most Doctors cite Usability as critical to Electronic Health Record Adoption
Source: TMCNet, 24 June 2009
 
It's all about 'meaningful use'.

Glossy monitors look good but can hurt
Source: QUT, 23 June 2009
 
A new advisory cites research which suggests high gloss monitors make users sit awkwardly.