Related characteristics
understandability
learnability
operability
explicitness
customisability
attractivity
clarity
helpfulness
user-friendliness
Learnability
Description
Attributes of software that bear on the users' effort for learning its application (for example, control, input, output).
Indicators
1. average learning time
The time an average end-user from the target group needs to learn to work with the software product, plus the amount of guidance time needed.
Source: QUINT
Scale: ratio
Validity: **
Protocol:
1. Select a representative group of users;
2. Provide a course for this group, intended for this software product, or give the group the opportunity for self-tuition of the product;
3. Determine the time of the course or self-tuition per user, plus tutor time needed to produce certain results or to successfully finish a test;
4. Calculate the average number of hours.
2. usability of manual
The proportion of examples, index entries, illustrations and tables per command, and/or the proportion of references, chapters, sections and subheadings per page.
Source: ISO
Note: It is useful to foresee whether or not the user can easily use the manual. A range for number of examples, index entries, etc., per command line can be specified.
3. availability of manual
The degree of availability of reference manuals, on-line user's manuals and self-tuition documents such as operation manuals, grammar reference materials, installation manual, etc., for software functions.
Source: ISO
4. availability of pre-learning functions
For a given range of software functions, the degree of availability of materials for pre-learning (before use of the system), such as self-tuition manuals, automated tutorials or instructions.
Source: ISO
5. availability of learning functions
For a given range of software functions, the ratio of the number of available learning functions to the number of necessary learning functions.
Source: ISO
6. availability of help functions
For a given range of software functions, the ratio of the number of available help functions to the number of necessary help functions.
Source: ISO
7. rate of user errors
The proportion of user claims resulting from incorrect operations caused by misunderstanding of the programs or manuals.
Source: ISO
8. time required to learn operation
The usage time from the first usage until the usage at which the operating time is shortened to x/y of the first use to perform the same specific task.
Source: ISO
9. effort required to learn one operation
The ratio of time required to learn one operation for a specific task and operation time.
Source: ISO