How usable is MySource Mini?
15 JanAccording to the book Usability Engineering, by Jakob Nielsen, usability is made up of five attributes:
- Learnability: how easy is it to learn how to use the system
- Efficiency: once you learn how to use the system, it should be quick and easy to get things done
- Memorability: for a user who doesn't use the system to often, they are able to remember how to use the system
- Errors: the number of errors that a user makes to complete a task should be low and there are no catastrophic bugs
- Satisfaction: users like using the system.
Based on these five attributes, we have asked ourselves a not so simple question:
How usable is MySource Mini?
We conduct regular usability sessions with users who are not familiar with our product, so we have a bit of past data that we can use to try and answer this question.
Is MySource Mini easy to learn?
At the start of each usability session, participants are given a very brief introduction to MySource Mini. After this they are asked to complete a minimum of 6 everyday scenarios. All participants were able to complete these scenarios with little or no help.
Once they had completed the testing, participants were asked to rate the statement "MySource Mini is difficult to learn". Nobody agreed with this statement. In fact, 50% disagreed with the statement and 50% strongly disagreed.
Based on this information, we could say that yes, MySource Mini is easy to learn.
Are users efficient when using MySource Mini?
Participants were initially hesitant and unsure of what they were doing within the system. Some users took some time to complete the first steps of the first scenario while they were familiarising themselves with the system. Once they started learning how to use the system, however, their pace increased and they completed all scenarios within 30 minutes.
Based on this, we could say that yes, users are efficient when using MySource Mini once they learn how to use the system. And we have already established that users find the system easy to learn, meaning they become efficient quickly.
Are users able to remember how to use MySource Mini?
At this stage, the memorability of MySource Mini has not really been tested. In the book, Jakob Nielsen suggests to conduct a memory test once the testing has been completed to see if participants remember how to use the system. This type of test will be added for the next round of testing - so watch this space.
Do users make errors when using MySource Mini and do catastrophic errors occur?
Considering that this was the first time that the participants were using MySource Mini, errors were to be expected. All participants made at least one mistake during each scenario. However, no participant made the same error twice and all were able to recover and go on to complete the scenario with little or no help. No catastrophic errors occurred.
From our point of view, we consider the error rate to be low. If we see that an error is re-occurring between participants, we endeavour to try and make that part of the system more usable.
Do users like the system?
From the feedback that has been received from the participants, users like MySource Mini and are very impressed by its features. Some existing MySource Matrix users are even looking forward to the day it has enough features to allow them to upgrade to MySource Mini.
So how usable is MySource Mini?
For the parts of the system that have been tested, MySource Mini has a high level of usability. Users are able to complete tasks efficiently, with very little training and only a small number of errors. At the same time, they also feel satisfied when using the system.