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Usability specialists assess the ease and pleasure of using a product during development, considering factors such as target user base and feedback from test subjects. They offer recommendations to improve design and layout, and can advise on prototypes and specifications.
A usability specialist works in the development phase of a new product to determine whether it is easy and pleasant to use. These consultants can use a variety of tools in their work, from controlled studies with test subjects to detailed analysis of inventions based on an existing understanding of usability and functionality. Some work for consulting firms and may provide services to multiple companies. Others work full-time in a product usability department, an option seen in some large companies with a significant number of products in regular development.
This type of consulting must consider several factors. One issue is the target user base, as members of various communities may have different ideas about usability, comfort, and navigability. For example, blind users have certain expectations of a product interface that may not be there for sighted people. Likewise, older adults may have concerns about weak arthritic hands and fine controls that may not be an issue for younger people who can easily manipulate small, delicate controls.
When a company hires a usability specialist, the consultant can meet with the team to discuss what the product is, what it should do, and who it’s aimed at. All of this information goes into the next step, which involves a physical assessment with these issues in mind. Depending on the project and budget, it may be possible to conduct usability tests with a small base of study subjects who can use the device in a controlled environment. They can provide feedback that can help the usability specialist determine how users expect to use the product and how pleasant they find their usage experiences.
Concerns about the usability of the product may lead to recommendations to change the design and layout to better meet users’ needs. These comments can range from a suggestion about the basic configuration of an electronic device to a recommendation to completely change a control panel on a car or piece of manufacturing equipment. Concerns can include the desire for users to be able to intuitively navigate a device, as well as concerns about wrong or confusing user commands and controls that can create problems. A poorly placed “stop” or “delete” button, for example, can cause problems in regular use.
In the early stages of product development, a usability specialist can offer advice on design drawings and specifications to help a team develop the best possible prototypes. As the product progresses in development, the expert follows, adding and refining these recommendations. Problems with usability may only become apparent in the later stages of the project, an important concern for a usability specialist.
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