The procedure that is followed by CUO is always identical: It tests accessibility, usability, information need, user-friendliness and the user experience. Sometimes a certain approach will receive more or less attention, but the global approach is the same for all projects.

• Is the application is sufficiently accessible for the target group? Does that group dispose over the right hard- and software? What happens if the user is colour-blind, visually handicapped or deaf? Accessibility is a necessary precondition for the remainder of the procedure. Is the target group denied access to the application? If yes, then further investigation of the functionality and user-friendliness is useless.
• Is the application useful and usable? Does the application provide the functionality that the user expects? Has this been implemented correctly? This step, too, is an important precondition for a continuation with the procedure.
• Does the application offer the requested information for the user? Is that information rich enough for the purpose of the user in a specific context? Is it available in his language?Is the application user-friendly? Does it contribute to efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction? A lack the user-friendly leads to frustration and a decreased effectiveness. A high score with regard to accessibility and usability is a guarantee for user-friendliness.
• Do users experience the application as pleasant to use? Even the most user-friendly application will not fulfill this criterion, if no attention has been given to it.

Methodology

CUO uses a variety of methods in its projects. The choice of methods depends on the type of research. They utilised methods can include:

• Controlled observation;
• Observations in natural surroundings;
• Inspection of the user-friendliness;
• Heuristic evaluation;
• Evaluation on the basis of guidelines;
• Cognitive walk-through;
• Heuristic walk-through;
• Information structure and ontology design;
• Ontology based software design;
• Software development.

Infrastructure

CUO disposal a variety of usability laboratories, which can be deployed for different objectives.

• A stationary usability laboratory examines the user-friendliness for PC- or TV-based applications in strictly controlled surroundings.
• The mobile usability laboratory is intended for field research. It examines the user-friendliness of applications in the natural (working) environment of the user.
• The mobile usability laboratory evaluates the user-friendliness of mobile applications for cell phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants) and other hand-held devices.
• Finally, the group usability laboratory serves for evaluations with large groups of users of up to 50 people.

Contactgegevens:

Website: http://www.kuleuven.be/cuo