Käytettävyysteoria

Käytettävyysteoria, often translated as usability theory, is a field of study focused on understanding and improving the ease with which users can interact with and achieve their goals using a product, system, or service. It draws upon principles from various disciplines including human-computer interaction, psychology, and design. The core idea is that a system's effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction are directly influenced by its usability.

Key concepts within usability theory include learnability, which refers to how easily a new user can understand and begin to use the system; efficiency, measuring how quickly experienced users can perform tasks; memorability, relating to how well users can re-establish proficiency after a period of not using the system; errors, concerning the number and severity of mistakes users make and how easily they can recover from them; and satisfaction, gauging the user's subjective feelings about their experience.

Usability theory provides a framework for evaluating and designing interfaces and interactions. It emphasizes user-centered design, meaning that the needs, capabilities, and limitations of the target users are considered throughout the development process. Methods such as user testing, heuristic evaluation, and cognitive walkthroughs are employed to identify usability problems. The ultimate goal is to create products that are not only functional but also intuitive, enjoyable, and accessible to a wide range of users.