‘What
is usability?’ if you search this question in Google with a quest to understand
in simple words what this means, the chances are you may end up with more
question on what is task analysis, what is IA, what is prototyping…. And the
list is endless.
I
have constantly thought of ways to explain people who ask me this question. Where
do I start, how much should I tell them are some of the questions that come in
my mind before answering.
One
simple question leading to several question… huh?
Well,
recently I had been to a tourist spot in Kerala, India – Padmanabhapuram Palace,
were I could nail the answer that I wanted for the question ‘What is usability?’
The
entire palace was an architectural wonder a must visit place more so because it
is not being maintained well just a few more years before it would be closed for public. As we
passed a water well, I noticed a ring like relief carved on stone at the
base where you stand to fetch water.
It was not even noticed by many who were looking up to marvel the wooden carvings of the palace. Instantly we knew (my husband and I he is also into UI and UX) what it was meant for. It was a relief which has been carved to hold the pots from falling while they are being filled with water. (see next fig. photoshoped)
This my friend is what usability is. There is a purpose, there are tools, but what helps you do it efficiently is what usability is all about (like the ring relief to hold the pot).
Usability has become a terms that is so restricted to the desktops, smartphones and other electronic devices but to me as a usability professional myself, I enjoy the thought process that has gone inside designs such as this.
This palace was built around 1601 AD, what can I say well a usability guru was there then :)
