[Year 12 SofDev] Ease of use clarification

[Matheson, Heath A]

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.

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.

Heath.
From: sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au [mailto:sofdev-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of Mark KELLY
Sent: Thursday, 22 September 2011 1:31 PM
To: Year 12 Software Development Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Year 12 SofDev] Ease of use clarification

Good question.

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.

And yes - what is the difference between 'ease of use' and 'usability'?

The definition of usability in the ISO 9241 standard is: "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 http://www.wqusability.com/articles/more-than-ease-of-use.html)
Wikipedia, for what it's worth, says "Usability is the ease of use and learnability of a human-made object."

Sadly, the study design's glossary does not define usability even though it's used by 2 other glossary entries.

So is there a clear-cut difference between usability and ease of use, I wonder?

On 22 September 2011 12:47, Rattan, Kushum L <rattan.kushum.l at edumail.vic.gov.au<mailto:rattan.kushum.l at edumail.vic.gov.au>> wrote:
Could someone please clarify if " ease of use" of a software solution a measure of Efficiency or Effectiveness.

In the study design glossary this is what is included as Efficiency "Measures of an efficient solution include
the speed of processing, the functionality of the solution, the ease
of use of the solution"

Whereas under Effectiveness this is what is stated:
Measures of an effective solution include completeness, readability, attractiveness,
clarity, accuracy, accessibility, timeliness, communication of message, relevance and usability.


Kushum Rattan
Information and Communications Technology
Curriculum Area Leader
Gisborne Secondary College
(03)54283691<tel:%2803%2954283691>
rattan.kushum.l at edumail.vic.gov.au<mailto:mcclusky.brigid.m at edumail.vic.gov.au>



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