Usability evaluation for database transitions*

Usability and utility are equally important: If something is easy but it's not what you want, it's not a good choice. If the system can hypothetically do what you want, but you can't make it happen because the user interface is too difficult, it's not a good choice.

Each member of the group should participate and act as a representative user of the database.

Conduct tasks that you would normally do in this database.

Evaluate the utility of the database presentation. Does it do what users need it to do?

Evaluate your personal experience for each of the five usability components below. Use specific examples in your evaluation.

• Learnability: How easy is it for users to accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
• Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
• Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they re-establish proficiency?
• Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
• Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?

 

*Adapted from Jakob Nielsen's Usability 101: Introduction to Usability