Understanding and Improving Usability Inspection Methods

Abstract

Usability inspection method (UIM) is the term used for a variety of analytical methods designed to “find” usability problems in an interface design. The basic principle involves analysts inspecting the interface against a set of pre-determined rules, standards or requirements. Analysts inspect the interface and predict potential usability problems based on breaches of these rules. None of the UIMs currently in use are capable of detecting all of the problems associated with an interface. After describing some of the UIMs in use, this article will look at the authors’ work on improving these methods by focusing on the resources analysts bring to an inspection.