Usability: Practical Methods for Testing and Improvement

Most developers of interactive software and information systems want people to find their products effective, efficient and satisfying to use. People generally also want software to be easy to install, easy to learn (or to guess how to use), and usable with acceptable mental effort. Such usability issues are increasingly significant. They can be critical elements for the success of a product in a world marketplace where there are growing expectations of usability, and where many producers now give usability a high profile in their advertising. Major companies are investing in usability engineering and evaluation facilities. But what practical tools and methods are generally available to help test and improve usability?