Good question. <br><br>Actually, I don't agree that ease of use is an efficiency measure - to me it's a quality (effectiveness) criterion. The amount of labour (as in "man-hours") is has always been an efficiency issue, but I think the study design confuses "labour" and "ease of use". But it's there and while there's no use complaining about it, I can only hope it's re-evaluated for the next study design.<br>
<br>And yes - what is the difference between 'ease of use' and 'usability'?<br><p>The definition of usability in the ISO 9241 standard is: <i>"The extent to which a product can be used by specified users
to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction
in a specified context of use" (quoted from <a href="http://www.wqusability.com/articles/more-than-ease-of-use.html">http://www.wqusability.com/articles/more-than-ease-of-use.html</a>)<br></i></p><blockquote>
</blockquote>Wikipedia, for what it's worth, says "<b>Usability</b> is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object."<br><br>Sadly, the study design's glossary does not define usability even though it's used by 2 other glossary entries.<br>
<br>So is there a clear-cut difference between usability and ease of use, I wonder?<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 22 September 2011 12:47, Rattan, Kushum L <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au">rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Could someone please clarify if “ ease of use” of a software solution a measure of Efficiency or Effectiveness.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none">In the study design glossary this is what is included as Efficiency “<span style="font-size:8.5pt">Measures of an efficient solution include<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.5pt">the speed of processing, the functionality of the solution,
<span style="background:yellow">the ease<u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;background:yellow">of use of the solution</span><span style="background:yellow">”</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Whereas under Effectiveness this is what is stated:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.5pt">Measures of an effective solution include completeness, readability, attractiveness,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:8.5pt">clarity, accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, communication of message, relevance and
<span style="background:yellow">usability.</span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kushum Rattan<b><i><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u><u></u></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Information and Communications Technology<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Curriculum Area Leader<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Gisborne Secondary College<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="tel:%2803%2954283691" value="+61354283691" target="_blank">(03)54283691</a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:mcclusky.brigid.m@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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