Comments on: Don’t Throw Out the User Experience Baby with the Usability Bathwater http://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater Specializing in employee engagement, customer communications and channel-specific connections like social media. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:15:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pet Peeves with Experience Design | 360Connexthttp://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/comment-page-1/#comment-7022 Pet Peeves with Experience Design | 360Connext Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:29:08 +0000 http://www.360connext.com/?p=636#comment-7022 [...] you are designing for the customer experience? Or just to be the latest and greatest? Think about usability in the greater sense of the word – how are your customers using your products from start to [...] [...] you are designing for the customer experience? Or just to be the latest and greatest? Think about usability in the greater sense of the word – how are your customers using your products from start to [...]

]]> By: Jeannie Waltershttp://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/comment-page-1/#comment-1161 Jeannie Walters Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:55:59 +0000 http://www.360connext.com/?p=636#comment-1161 I totally agree in the Yin and Yang of these ideas. If usability is not stressed, the experience will lag. I also love your point about the danger of usability as an end in itself. I especially think the danger shows itself when the results of a usability test focused on a few tasks are seen as "checked off the list." That's where I've really seen organizations focus on task-based usability issues instead of a holistic experience. Thanks for the thoughts!! I totally agree in the Yin and Yang of these ideas. If usability is not stressed, the experience will lag. I also love your point about the danger of usability as an end in itself. I especially think the danger shows itself when the results of a usability test focused on a few tasks are seen as “checked off the list.” That’s where I’ve really seen organizations focus on task-based usability issues instead of a holistic experience. Thanks for the thoughts!!

]]> By: Jeannie Waltershttp://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/comment-page-1/#comment-1160 Jeannie Walters Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:52:48 +0000 http://www.360connext.com/?p=636#comment-1160 Hi Caroline - Interesting definition, and I think this underlines the point about focusing on the details of usability instead of the holistic experience for the user. Forms are so important, especially in limiting the effort for the user, but the language has an important place, too. Thanks for your insights! Hi Caroline -
Interesting definition, and I think this underlines the point about focusing on the details of usability instead of the holistic experience for the user. Forms are so important, especially in limiting the effort for the user, but the language has an important place, too. Thanks for your insights!

]]> By: Caroline Jarretthttp://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/comment-page-1/#comment-1157 Caroline Jarrett Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:20:13 +0000 http://www.360connext.com/?p=636#comment-1157 Two parts to my comment. First, a nitpick. Then, enthusiasm.1. The usability standards geek speaks in a nitpicking manner:The international standard definition of usability, in ISO 9241:11 1998, describes usability in terms ofusers achieving their goals with efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Notice that the satisfaction bit is a third of the issue, and also that it's about goals, not specific tasks.To me, what you call 'usability' is about limiting the definition to efficiency and effectiveness. It's when we really think hard about the satisfaction part that we get what I'd call 'usability' and you call 'user experience'.2. The user experience practitioner speaks enthusiastically:Where we both heartily agree is that it's daft to focus just on effectiveness and efficiency. I love your side-by-side checklist, and especially your point about the language of forms. I spend a lot of my life trying to persuade people to stop stressing about minor details of forms layout, and instead to focus on what the forms conversation is all about and whether it is appropriate to the relationship between the user and the organisation publishing the form.Cheers Caroline Jarrett Two parts to my comment. First, a nitpick. Then, enthusiasm.

1. The usability standards geek speaks in a nitpicking manner:

The international standard definition of usability, in ISO 9241:11 1998, describes usability in terms ofusers achieving their goals with efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction. Notice that the satisfaction bit is a third of the issue, and also that it’s about goals, not specific tasks.

To me, what you call ‘usability’ is about limiting the definition to efficiency and effectiveness. It’s when we really think hard about the satisfaction part that we get what I’d call ‘usability’ and you call ‘user experience’.

2. The user experience practitioner speaks enthusiastically:

Where we both heartily agree is that it’s daft to focus just on effectiveness and efficiency. I love your side-by-side checklist, and especially your point about the language of forms. I spend a lot of my life trying to persuade people to stop stressing about minor details of forms layout, and instead to focus on what the forms conversation is all about and whether it is appropriate to the relationship between the user and the organisation publishing the form.

Cheers
Caroline Jarrett

]]> By: Luis Serpahttp://www.360connext.com/dont-throw-out-the-user-experience-baby-with-the-usability-bathwater/comment-page-1/#comment-1151 Luis Serpa Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:14:13 +0000 http://www.360connext.com/?p=636#comment-1151 This is a very good point (and quite true as well). I probably never considered it before because it never occurred to me to treat Usability and User Experience as two separate things. In my opinion, one depends on the other (like Yin and Yang) to make something that is both usable and meaningful.But, after reading your post, I realized that not everyone thinks that way and that many professionals and companies do indeed treat those two pieces separately or (even worse) start believing that usability is an end on itself.So, even if it is not always clear, there's a real difference in between usability and user experience. I'd say that the first can be achieved by working on the "what" and "how," but really good user experience can only be reached when you focus on the "WHO." This is a very good point (and quite true as well). I probably never considered it before because it never occurred to me to treat Usability and User Experience as two separate things. In my opinion, one depends on the other (like Yin and Yang) to make something that is both usable and meaningful.

But, after reading your post, I realized that not everyone thinks that way and that many professionals and companies do indeed treat those two pieces separately or (even worse) start believing that usability is an end on itself.

So, even if it is not always clear, there’s a real difference in between usability and user experience. I’d say that the first can be achieved by working on the “what” and “how,” but really good user experience can only be reached when you focus on the “WHO.”

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