Introduction This article discusses the development of standards for - PDF document

Introduction � This article discusses the development of standards for user-centred design and the implications of their application, it also discusses the outcomes challenges of the process standard for user-centred design. � Key words: By Earthy et al user-centred design; human-centred design; ISO 13407; ISO TR 18529; process improvement; process capability assessment. � Sections 2-7 Group 1 Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Edevåg � Determinants of usability ISO 13407:1999 Human-centred design The benefits of taking a user-centred approach to design: processes for interactive systems. reduce development times and rework for new versions, improve the productivity of users, and reduce training, documentation and support � The active involvement of users and a clear understanding of user and task costs. requirements. � An appropriate allocation of function between users and technology. � Deciding best combination of components to assure usability � The iteration of design solutions. 6 approaches to the assurance of usability have been described: Product attributes- Assessing whether a product conforms to � Multi-disciplinary design. ergonomic guidelines It specifies the following activities. User performance and satisfaction- Measuring the usability of a product � Planning of the human-centred design process. Process certification- Assessing whether a user-centred development � Specification of the user and organizational requirements. process was used � Understanding and specification of the context of use. Organizational human centredness- Assessing the maturity of human � Production of design solutions. centredness of an organization � Evaluation of designs against requirements. Technical competence- Accrediting the ability of an organization to act as a provider of usability services Process capability- Assessing the capability of an organization to perform user-centred activities ISO TR 18529:2000 Human-centred lifecycle process descriptions User-centred design activity The standard defines individual components within these primary � HCD.1 System strategy steps: � HCD.2 Plan and manage HCD � ensure human-centered design content in system strategy � plan and manage the human-centered design process � HCD.7 Introduce and operate the system � specify the stakeholder and organizational requirements � HCD.3 Specify user and Organizational � understand and specify the context of use requirements � produce design solutions � evaluate designs against requirements � HCD.5 Produce design solutions � introduce and operate the system � HCD.4 Understand context of use � HCD.6 Evaluate designs against requirements

The challenges presented by ISO 13407 and ISO TR Different roles 18529 � Designers who cannot trace their design processes to ISO 13407 are potentially at risk � User-centred design activity as process � The ability to measure the extent to which good practice is being followed (using ISO TR 18529) has further � User-centred design as methodology implications. 1. It is likely to promote uptake of user-centred design, on � User-centred design as project plan the principle of “what gets measured gets done''. 2. It raises the competitive stakes by enabling suppliers in � User-centred design as tools and techniques competitive markets to provide validated product endorsement based on process metrics. Defining a user-centered design process The implications of ISO 13407 and ISO TR 18529 � ISO 13407 and ISO TR 18529 present a definition of user- centred design expressed in the language of its user-the system designer. This definition can be integrated with definitions of software engineering and system engineering. � Usability is being pushed to centre stage in the marketplace. � The implication for applied research is a need for re- definition of focus and direction to support effective practice in a new framework. Questions: � Are there cases when HCD is a burden for the developing process? By Donald A. Norman � Satisfaction of use is a part of the ISO definition of usability – But how can it be measured and is it always necessary to include? Group 1 Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Edevåg

What is ACD? Summary of the article � Activity centered Design is to design toward the activity and not the user. � To propose a change towards Activity-Centered Design instead of Human- Centered Design. � To gain a deep understanding of the activity rather than the user and design for that. � HCD was developed to overcome the poor design of software product. This have now lead to more complex product that have lost focus on the activity. � User considerations should ONLY be considered if it does not disturb the activity. � Before HCD all product were designed without user studies and these still work good. E.g. the car and the clock. These are complex things that has to be � Examples that have worked: learnt. The car, people learn to drive even though it is a lot to learn. � Why are they still used and work well? Because they have been developed with a deep understanding of the activity that were to be performed. This can The clock: an arbitrary divison of time be called Activity-centered Design. that people have to learn. Group 1 Group 1 Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Edevåg Edevåg What adapts? Technology or people? Activities Are Not the Same as Tasks � ”Tools adapt to the people” or ”People adapt to the tools”? An activity is a coordinated, integrated set of tasks. � Norman says that people should adapt to the tools, and points at many successful adaptations such as: the Clock, Writing systems and Musical Instruments. � Successful devices are those that fit gracefully into the requirements of the underlying There is one activity, activity, supporting them in a manner understandable by people. Understand the many tasks. activity, and the device is understandable. Group 1 Group 1 Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Edevåg Edevåg HCD vs ACD Why Might HCD be harmful? � HCD and ACD is very similar. � Focusing on improving for one group might make it worse for others. � Many attributes from HCD carries over. � The focus upon humans detracts from support for the activities themselves. � Several differences: � Too much attention to the needs of the users can lead to a lack of cohesion � The attitude (mindset) of the designer. and added complexity in the design. � A deep understanding of people is part of ACD, but it also requires a deep understandning of the technology, the tools and the reasons for the activities. � Many of the systems that has apssed through HCD design phases and usability reviews are superb at the level of the static, individual display, but fail to support the sequential requirements of the underlying tasks and activities. The HCD method tend to miss this aspect of behaviour: Activity-centered methods focus on it. Group 1 Group 1 Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Lu Shanna, Li Lin, Sun Dong and Susanne Edevåg Edevåg