Description
Usage-related quality attributes is the demonstrated understanding of usability and human factor fundamentals, with the ability to describe related internationalization strategies and current issues as well as demonstrated competence in implementation techniques.
Overview
Internationalization and Localization
Internationalization is the process of designing a software application so that it can be adapted to various languages and regions without engineering changes. Localization is the process of adapting internationalized software for a specific region or language by adding locale-specific components and translating text.
Usability Evaluation and Impact
Formal assessment of the usability (including health and safety, and accessibility) of new or existing products or services (including prototypes). Methods include user trials, expert review, survey, and analysis.
Systems Ergonomics
The iterative development of the allocation of function, user interaction and job design. The optimization of accessibility and usability, based on user requirements, the context of use, relevant ergonomics knowledge and feedback from evaluations of prototypes.
Usage-Related Quality Attributes
Usage affects every aspect of your success:
- In value recognition
- In user involvement
- In future engagements
Usability should be evaluated based on value metrics:
- Productivity
- Time to complete task
- Error rates and impact
- Perception
- Usage patterns
- Value recognition
Warning: Too much focus on usability ‘can’ be a waste—make sure you truly understand the value.
Cost of Not Knowing
- Lack of recognition of solution value
- Productivity losses
- Ineffective solution regardless of functionality
Skills Analysis
- I have reviewed the concepts in usage attributes.
- I have studied usage attributes in detail.
- I regularly manage usage attributes on projects.
- I lead and mentor others on usage attributes in our company.
Concepts
Usability
If a solution is delivered but never used, it isn’t providing value, and you will never know if it is being used or how effectively if you don’t design an approach to measuring usage into your design. Although end users don’t always know what they need or what is possible, they are more comfortable with small changes in the solutions you provide than wholesale change.
Localization
As an architect, you should understand what elements of a solution change to support localization.
Accessibility
One of the most common oversights in accessibility is not considering people who are colorblind in designing your solution. Over the last two decades, innovative solutions have been introduced to help with accessibility concerns. Consider researching current solutions.
Sub-Capabilities
| Iasa Certification Level | Learning Objective |
|---|---|
| CITA- Foundation | - What is the difference between localization and internationalization? |
| - On what projects is accessibility particularly important? | |
| - What are common techniques to increase discoverability and learnability? | |
| - What is an output from usability study and how can it help an architect? | |
| CITA – Associate | - How do you design for usability? Are there some specific techniques or principles? |
| - How does personalization work for mobile/search/social solutions? | |
| - How should the solution help users recover from errors? | |
| - What standards can you use for usability design and evaluation? (ISO/TR 16982:2002, ISO 9241) | |
| CITA – Professional | - You said that the solution was ‘user-friendly’. What exactly does this mean? |
| - How did your solution allow users to personalize it to their needs? | |
| CITA – Distinguished | - How was the decision to support only one browser justified from accessibility perspective? |
| - If you’d have a chance to redesign your solution today, what would you change to improve its usability? |
Resources
Articles:
Blogs/Webcasts/News/Reference Resources:
Training:
Certifications: