2004 Volume 54 Issue 8 Pages 384-390
For the purpose of improving the usability of information service, we will have to understand the necessity of the user. It is not just ot investigate the needs of the user. In other words, it is necessary for us to take the usability approach that is contrasting to the conventional market research approach. Usability engineering is different from the technological approach that pursues the functionality and is considering how the artifacts should be designed from the viewpoint of the user. IS013407, the usability standard, proposes the design process based on the human centeredness. Besides that, usability approach is much related to the universal design in that it has to think about the variety of people. The fieldwork methods are strongly recommended for the usability engineering approach at the earlier process of the design in order to obtain the information on the necessity of the user. As a conclusion, it has to be said that the information service system should make efforts not only for the visual interface design but also the usability of its contents.
