Tools That Do the Job
The stone age humans made stone tools to make their job of hunting animals and gathering easier and efficient. These tools enhanced their confidence to deal with their challenges for survival and growth. If these tools worked reliably and consistently every time they needed them, it would be a case of positive experience of these early tool users. With further development of such tools, the early humans found more appropriate stones and improved on the carving of the piercing wedges and cutting edges. They also created spears and machets by tying the stone tools with wooden sticks. This gave the hunter-gatherers more functionalities to make thei tasks easier, safer and repeatable.
In the User Experience framework, this example relates to the Usefulness aspect of user experience.
In modern context, a Swiss Army Knife can be thought of as a multifunction tool that can help one perform a number of mechanical tasks reliably. In outdoor expeditions, it’s a useful product to keep on your person. It’s not great in terms of the ergonomic interface when compared to more dedicated tool for the job on hand. Nevertheless, a Swiss Army Knife is an immensely useful multifunction tool for unforeseen and emergency situations.
Usefulness as a part of the User Experience framework is the first essential component of an integrated UX design of a product. This may seem obvious but quite often we find that there are products that look great and are easy to use, but, because of the inappropriate enabling technology application, engineering design and inferior quality of manufacturing, the overall user experience while using these products is below the desired performance.
It is the responsibility of designers to excel in the visualisation of the target user needs, appropriate application of enabling technologies, and delivering value propositions that are true to their intended and designed specifications. Usefulness is at the core of the holistic user experience in the use of a product or service.
Vinai Kumar
No comments:
Post a Comment