Iso 9241 11 Usability Pdf Download
What You Need to Know About ISO 9241-11 Usability Standards
Usability is a key factor for the success of any system, product or service that involves human interaction. Usability means that the users can achieve their goals effectively, efficiently and satisfactorily in a given context of use. But how can we measure and evaluate usability? How can we design and develop systems, products and services that are usable? How can we communicate and report usability results to stakeholders?
iso 9241 11 usability pdf download
These are some of the questions that the ISO 9241-11 standard aims to answer. ISO 9241-11 is an international standard that provides a framework for understanding and applying the concept of usability. It defines key terms and concepts, identifies the fundamentals of usability, and explains how to consider usability for different situations and objects of interest.
The Concept of Usability
According to ISO 9241-11, usability is an outcome of use, not a property of a system, product or service. Usability depends on the context of use, which includes the users, their goals, tasks, resources and environment. Usability also depends on the object of interest, which can be an interactive system, a built environment, an industrial or consumer product, or a technical or personal service.
ISO 9241-11 defines three main outcomes of use that reflect usability: effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction. Effectiveness means that the users can complete their tasks and achieve their goals with accuracy and completeness. Efficiency means that the users can expend appropriate resources in relation to the results achieved. Satisfaction means that the users have positive attitudes and feelings towards the use of the object of interest.
The Application of Usability
ISO 9241-11 does not prescribe specific methods or processes for taking account of usability in design development or evaluation. However, it provides some guidance on how to apply the concept of usability for different purposes and scopes.
One of the most common applications of usability is in design and evaluation. Designers and developers can use usability as a quality objective and a design criterion for creating systems, products and services that meet the needs and expectations of the users. Evaluators can use usability as a quality measure and an evaluation criterion for assessing how well the systems, products and services perform in real or simulated contexts of use.
Another application of usability is in communication and reporting. Usability professionals can use usability as a quality attribute and a reporting element for communicating and documenting usability results to various stakeholders, such as managers, clients, customers or regulators. Usability reports can include information about the context of use, the object of interest, the methods and measures used, the results obtained, and the recommendations made.
The Benefits of Usability
ISO 9241-11 also provides some rationale and benefits of usability for different stakeholders and domains. Usability can bring various advantages, such as:
Improving user performance, productivity and safety;
Enhancing user satisfaction, loyalty and trust;
Reducing user errors, complaints and support costs;
Increasing user acceptance, adoption and retention;
Boosting market share, competitiveness and profitability;
Complying with legal, ethical and social requirements.
Usability can be applied to any domain where human-system interaction occurs, such as health care, education, transportation, entertainment, e-commerce or e-government.
Conclusion
ISO 9241-11 is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in usability. It provides a common language and a common understanding of what usability is and how it can be considered for different situations and objects of interest. It also provides some guidance on how to apply usability in design development or evaluation.
If you want to learn more about ISO 9241-11 usability standards, you can download a PDF version from the official website. You can also find other related standards from ISO 9241 series on ergonomics of human-system interaction or ISO/IEC 25000 series on software quality requirements and evaluation.
The History of Usability Standards
Usability standards have a long history that dates back to the early days of human-computer interaction. The first edition of ISO 9241-11 was published in 1998 as part of the ISO 9241 series on ergonomics of human-system interaction. It was based on the work of several experts and organizations, such as the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The first edition of ISO 9241-11 defined usability as "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". It also introduced the concept of context of use, which includes the users, tasks, equipment and environment involved in the use of a product.
The second edition of ISO 9241-11 was published in 2018 as a result of a systematic review and revision process. It was aligned with other related standards, such as ISO/IEC 25000 series on software quality requirements and evaluation and ISO 9241-220 on human-centred design processes. It also expanded the scope of usability to include not only interactive systems, but also other types of systems, products and services.
The Future of Usability Standards
Usability standards are constantly evolving to reflect the changes and challenges in the field of human-system interaction. Usability standards are not only useful for practitioners and researchers, but also for policy makers, regulators and educators who need to ensure that systems, products and services are usable for their intended users and purposes.
Some of the current trends and issues that may influence the future development of usability standards are:
The emergence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, internet of things, wearable devices and smart environments;
The diversity and complexity of users, goals, tasks and contexts of use, such as different cultures, languages, abilities, preferences and expectations;
The integration and interoperability of systems, products and services across different domains, platforms and devices;
The ethical, social and environmental implications of usability, such as privacy, security, accessibility, sustainability and social responsibility.
Usability standards will continue to provide guidance and support for creating systems, products and services that are usable for people in various situations and scenarios. Usability standards will also continue to promote a human-centred approach that puts the needs and values of users at the core of design development or evaluation.
The Comparison of Usability Standards
Usability standards are not the only standards that deal with human-system interaction. There are other standards that cover related aspects, such as user experience, accessibility, quality and human-centred design. How do these standards compare and contrast with usability standards?
One of the most closely related standards to usability is ISO 9241-210, which defines user experience as "a person's perceptions and responses that result from the use or anticipated use of a product, system or service". User experience includes usability, but also other factors, such as emotions, aesthetics, values and expectations. User experience is subjective and dynamic, and depends on the individual and the situation.
Another related standard to usability is ISO/IEC 40500, which defines accessibility as "the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible". Accessibility focuses on the needs and preferences of people with disabilities, but also benefits other users in different contexts and situations. Accessibility is objective and measurable, and depends on the conformance to technical requirements and guidelines.
A third related standard to usability is ISO/IEC 25010, which defines quality as "the degree to which a system, component or process meets specified requirements and/or user/customer needs and expectations". Quality covers various characteristics of a system, product or service, such as functionality, reliability, security, compatibility and maintainability. Quality is objective and measurable, and depends on the verification and validation of predefined criteria and metrics.
A fourth related standard to usability is ISO 9241-220, which defines human-centred design as "an approach to interactive systems development that aims to make systems usable and useful by focusing on the users, their needs and requirements, and by applying human factors/ergonomics, usability knowledge and techniques". Human-centred design is a process that involves various activities, such as planning, analysis, design, evaluation and implementation. Human-centred design is iterative and collaborative, and depends on the involvement of stakeholders throughout the project.
The Conclusion of Usability Standards
Usability standards are an essential part of human-system interaction. They provide a common framework for understanding and applying the concept of usability. They also provide some guidance for designing and evaluating systems, products and services that are usable for their intended users and purposes. They also provide some benefits for various stakeholders and domains.
Usability standards are not isolated from other standards that deal with human-system interaction. They are connected and complementary to other standards that cover related aspects, such as user experience, accessibility, quality and human-centred design. They also support and inform each other in different ways.
Usability standards are not static or fixed. They are dynamic and evolving to reflect the changes and challenges in the field of human-system interaction. They are also responsive and adaptable to different situations and scenarios where people interact with systems, products and services.
Summary
In this article, we have discussed the ISO 9241-11 standard on usability. We have explained what usability is and how it can be considered for different situations and objects of interest. We have also explained how to apply usability in design development or evaluation. We have also discussed the rationale and benefits of usability for different stakeholders and domains.
We have also compared and contrasted usability with other related standards, such as user experience, accessibility, quality and human-centred design. We have shown how these standards are connected and complementary to each other. We have also highlighted some of the current trends and issues that may influence the future development of usability standards.
We hope that this article has given you a better understanding of the ISO 9241-11 standard on usability and its applications. If you want to learn more about this standard or other related standards, you can download a PDF version from the official website or find other resources online. 6c859133af