Usability Evaluation Considered Harmful(Some of the Time)

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dc.contributor.authorGreenberg, Sauleng
dc.contributor.authorBuxton, Billeng
dc.date.accessioned2008-02-27T22:08:08Z
dc.date.available2008-02-27T22:08:08Z
dc.date.computerscience2007-10-02eng
dc.date.issued2007-10-02eng
dc.description.abstractCurrent practice in Human Computer Interaction as encouraged by educational institutes, academic review processes, and institutions with usability groups advocate usability evaluation as a critical part of every design process. This is for good reason: usability evaluation has a significant role to play when conditions warrant it. Yet evaluation can be ineffective and even harmful if naively done by rule rather than by thought . If done during design brainstorming, it can kill creative ideas that do not conform to current interface norms. If done prematurely during early system design, the many interface issues seen can kill what would could have been an inspired vision. If done to verify an academic prototype, it may incorrectly suggest a design s worthiness rather than offer a meaningful critique of how it would be adopted and used in everyday practice. If done without regard to how cultures adopt technology over time, then today's reluctant reactions by users will forestall tomorrow's eager acceptance. Traditional usability evaluation should not be used to validate very early design stages or culturally-sensitive systems. Other reflective and critical methods should be considered in their stead.eng
dc.description.notesWe are currently acquiring citations for the work deposited into this collection. We recognize the distribution rights of this item may have been assigned to another entity, other than the author(s) of the work.If you can provide the citation for this work or you think you own the distribution rights to this work please contact the Institutional Repository Administrator at digitize@ucalgary.caeng
dc.identifier.department2007-879-31eng
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/30798
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/45915
dc.language.isoEngeng
dc.publisher.corporateUniversity of Calgaryeng
dc.publisher.facultyScienceeng
dc.subjectComputer Scienceeng
dc.titleUsability Evaluation Considered Harmful(Some of the Time)eng
dc.typeunknown
thesis.degree.disciplineComputer Scienceeng
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