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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I don’t think students can be expected to separate “ease of use” and “usability” without a specific difference being identified by VCAA. Just make sure students
recognise either term could be used as an answer on a multi-choice question. From the ISO standard it certainly seems this measure fits both efficiency and effectiveness. I guess an example could be a Bluetooth voice operated mobile phone car kit. It can certainly
make things more efficient by ensuring you don’t have to pull over to make a call and its effective as it works so people will use it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">I have to keep telling myself not to get bogged down with detail in this course and to use as much common sense as possible.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Heath.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces@edulists.com.au]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Mark KELLY<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 22 September 2011 1:31 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Ease of use clarification<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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'?<o:p></o:p></p>
<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>)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">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>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 22 September 2011 12:47, Rattan, Kushum L <<a href="mailto:rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au">rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Could someone please clarify if “ ease of use” of a software solution a measure of Efficiency or Effectiveness.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;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</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:8.5pt">the speed of processing, the functionality of the solution,
<span style="background:yellow">the ease</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:8.5pt;background:yellow">of use of the solution</span><span style="background:yellow">”</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Whereas under Effectiveness this is what is stated:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:8.5pt">Measures of an effective solution include completeness, readability, attractiveness,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:8.5pt">clarity, accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, communication of message, relevance and
<span style="background:yellow">usability.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Kushum Rattan<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Information and Communications Technology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Curriculum Area Leader<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Gisborne Secondary College<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="tel:%2803%2954283691" target="_blank">(03)54283691</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><a href="mailto:mcclusky.brigid.m@edumail.vic.gov.au" target="_blank">rattan.kushum.l@edumail.vic.gov.au</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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