Abstract
A new concept of systems usability is introduced. Systems usability
provides a holistic activity-oriented perspective to evaluation of the
appropriateness of ICT–based smart tools. The concept has been developed in
empirical studies of work in complex industrial environments. The nuclear
power plant domain is used here to exemplify the systems usability concept and
the method developed for evaluating it. In the chapter, we first identify
four practical challenges that the current approaches in usability studies
face: task analysis, data collection methods, usability measures, and
inferences concerning the interface. As a solution to tackle these challenges
we, then, introduce our concept of systems usability. To reach the demands of
systems usability, work tools must fulfill all three functions of tools: the
instrumental, psychological, and communicative. Because systems usability is
visible in practices of using the tools we, finally, demonstrate how the
developed method labeled contextual assessment of systems usability (CASU) is
used for evaluating systems usability.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Maturing Usability |
| Subtitle of host publication | Quality in Software, Interaction and Value |
| Editors | Effie Lai-Chong Law, Ebba Hvannberg, Gilbert Cockton |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Chapter | 6 |
| Pages | 123-143 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-84628-941-5 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-84628-940-8, 978-1-84996-681-8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
| MoE publication type | A3 Part of a book or another research book |
Keywords
- systems usability
- nuclear power plants
- usability
- systems analysis