Usability Terms Explained: Context of Use for better Interface Design – Part 1

In this three part blog I shall look at context of use and context of use analysis and what part they play in successful interface design. In the first part of this blog entry I shall define context of use and why it matters for user interface design processes.

What is the “context of use”?

Context of Use is a term used in product, software and website interface design to understand the parameters and conditions by which users employ a product. In this blog I shall focus on context of use vis-à-vis the interface design of software applications and websites. Context of use is measured on many levels by situational factors that a user of a product may be in. Firstly, there are Environmental Factors such as the space, time, noise, cleanliness, and other physical conditions. Secondly, there are Organizational Factors such as work processes, organizational or social networks, and pressures related to organization and management. Thirdly, there are Broad Social Factors. These include everyday factors such as the economy, career aspirations/ interests, ethical standards and family constraints.  Further factors are the Technical/ System Factors such as network connectivity and system stability.

Why does the context of use matter when designing user interfaces?

All of the mentioned factors can contribute to the use of any product within any context (although clearly technical factors are relegated to technical contexts etc.). An example of how context of use is crucial is the One Laptop Per Child XO-1 laptop for poor children in the third world. The laptop was designed to be rugged, use low power, run Linux, be small and such other features. The context of use of this product is defined by the situation of children whose families live below the poverty line and might live in remote underdeveloped areas with sparse access to electricity. The context of use for a $5,000 gaming laptop would be different. Products are designed to be used in specific settings and contexts by users. Thus, it is important to understand what factors comprise each individual context of use because designers are then better able to understand their users, their users’ limitations, and their users’ needs. This ensures that all the factors that relate to the use of the system are accounted for and understood when designing the product and the future usability tests intended to validate the usability of a product. Just as with any other product, the context of use has a great impact on software applications and the user interface design. To give one example of how the context of use influences interface design is when software is used in a mechanical workshop setting where people quickly need to enter measurements, activities and the like. Big buttons, straightforward navigation and the like should dominate the considerations during the interface design process.