Usability for Desktop Apps

Author: Valerie Dale
Reviewer: uTest

Introduction: Before you venture into the world of usability testing, it is helpful to understand some background information on software usability in general. In this course, the core topic is centered on usability in desktop applications.

Desktop usability has several definitions depending on who you talk to - customers, BSA's, developers or test engineers. Regardless of the definition, the goal remains the same - provide the user with an interface that is easy to use; allows them to accomplish their goal/task in the shortest amount of time; and to reduce support calls.

Desktop Applications in the Early Days:

In the early days of desktop applications, the user was guided through the application, via a series of ordered screens due to the development paradigm at the time of "one entrance point into a function and one exit point out of a function.” This categorized the application as"one size fits all.”  Installation of early desktop applications was manual - install then manually modify specific configuration files. The ability to customize was minimal, often non-existent.

Desktop Applications Today

When designing desktop usability in today's environment, many factors need to come into play. First and foremost, is the audience. If the application is geared for public use, desktop usability needs to consider users of all experience/knowledge levels. The most important innovation in usability was making the installation of the application as painless as possible. Installations today consist of a series of screens (called a Wizard) that provide the user with specific information and choices about how and where they desire the application to be installed. Based on the user's selection, the software (behind the scenes) makes the necessary program changes for the user. The Wizard concept has also been applied to other functions within the operating system for adding new hardware, configuring a network, and other areas that used to require the user to read through an enormous installation guide or manual that was written in terminology which was often foreign to the average user. Because the installation or user guide was, by some, difficult to understand, a call tech support for assistance was the option of choice.  Wizards now make it possible for even the novice computer user to successfully install an application and be up and running immediately. This is “usability.”

Goals of Usability

Desktop applications come with a vast assortment of functions to accommodate the simplest to the most complex of tasks that can be performed within the software. The user is free to configure how their application will perform based on the tasks they need to accomplish. This is done through customizable toolbars and menu bars within the application. Users are free to choose which functions they want on their toolbars and menus based on the desired task set. By having the most common functions just a mouse click away, time is saved by not having to scan through various menus or folders to find what the user needs to perform a task. This allows the task to be performed immediately thereby allowing the task to be completed quicker.

For example, if a user is constantly editing documents in Word, they may not have a use for the Web, Web Tools, Frames or Database functions. In this case the user would choose not to display these toolbars/toolbar functions within MS Word. But other toolbars used for editing could always be visible above the document for immediate access to specific editing functions. Toolbars can also be customized for visual impact. Some people prefer to see small icons, some prefer larger icons and some prefer to see icons with their function in text form.  This is “usability.”

Users are often afforded the ability to "skin" their applications for an aesthetic appeal that suits them. Many applications have a standard selection of "themes" which are sets of coordinated backgrounds, typefaces, button styles, cursors, etc which the user can select based on their favorite color, favorite background or even customize to create their own personal "theme". This affords the user a measure of satisfaction because it is pleasing to them and something they can call their own. This is “usability.”

One of the biggest changes over the years to improve usability has been in the area of Help. Help files have made a vast improvement over the user’s ability to find their subject matter, obtain the information they need and Help has been made more user friendly by being written in a context most users can understand. The content of the Help Files has also increased in coverage – the information not supplied within the confines of the application is available online, along with access to forums where users can asks questions and get answers from other users. This is “usability.”

Desktop Usability for private industry applications has a much narrower audience because the desktop application is being utilized by users who have very specific job functions or skill sets. At the same time, desktop customization may be limited by corporate policies. The company may not allow aesthetic changes or may allow only a few changes to the application's appearance in order to maintain uniformity within a company. Companies will many times customize the application or operating system desktop by hiding or disabling some functions (not deemed necessary for the user's tasks/role) before making it available. The employee may still have some level of customization of the application, but it can be done only within the confines of the company policy. This is corporate “usability.”

Over the last several years, desktop usability has expanded its role in application software to include “software suites” where several applications can interact with each other and each having the same look and feel to minimize the user’s learning curve and to make the interaction between applications as seamless as possible. At the same time, each application in the suite maintains the ability to allow the user to customize each application, independent of each other. We are also starting to see desktop applications interface with web applications, which is bringing about a change in the appearance of the desktop and applications and how they can be customized to make both apps usable and seamless with a minimal learning curve. Again, this is“usability.

To summarize usability into one sentence: Usability is empowering the user to be able to perform their task with minimal effort.