Usability Terms Explained: Context of Use for better Interface Design – Part 3

In part 3 of my blog entry on context of use I shall look at things to consider when conducting a context of use analysis during the interface design process.

How to use the context of use analysis

A context of use analysis takes the form of a brainstorming session among all project participants. The meeting should be conducted by someone with experience using context of use analysis from previous projects. Three general categories can be used as a springboard to uncover probing questions during context of use analysis that will help determine the most important contexts to design the usability test. The interface design’s target user group is one such category. Possible questions include: How many different user types are there? Why are they using this particular interface design? How can the actual design of the website or application reflect a marketing strategy that hones in on this particular group? The interface design’s tasks and goals is another category. Question candidates are: How many and what types of tasks do users need to carry out using the proposed interface design in order to achieve their goal(s)? The third general category is when interface designers define the contexts in which users will use the interface design. This includes answering question, such as: Will users have fast or slow internet connections?  Do all users interact with the computer and interface design in similar or dissimilar environments?

It is also important to set a timeline (be wary of time and ensure participation among group members is equal) and a schedule of topics to discuss. This can be designed in any fashion, but an example could be:
1.    Introduction: introduce the interface design project, talk about goals and objectives of the website or application.
2.    Discuss context of use categories.  Broadly define context of use categories and then discuss them in depth. Divide into groups and work through potential context of use questions.
3.    Small group presentations: Give each small group a chance to introduce their findings to the larger group and then discuss each topic and how it relates to the interface design task.
4.    Work together to create main goals of usability testing.  What contexts of use should be targeted in order to obtain optimal user experience feedback on the interface design?

Conclusion
It is critical for interaction and interface designers to understand the contexts in which users will use a website or application in order to create the right kind of usability test and develop products that work for the targeted users.  Context of use analysis is an effective way for designers to ensure that they will be able to ask users the right questions and ascertain user experience feedback that will guide the interface design process in the right direction towards a successful interface design. Thus, it may be recommended that interface designers use this usability method often, carefully following best practices.