Archive for March, 2005

The User Experience of Phone Systems

Posted by in user experience on March 31, 2005

Usability applies to many different products, services, interactions and environments. You can just as easily talk about the usability of a bank deposit form as the usability of a website or software application. Or the usability of automated phone systems.

Ensuring that a phone system is usable has its challenges. I should know, when I worked as a software engineer I used to program them. Phone rage is a real problem – nine of our 10 people’s experiences at call centres leave them frustrated and angry.

Recently I shifted houses, and needed my telephone reconnected. This was my experience: Read more »

Usability Jobs in New Zealand

Posted by in business on March 3, 2005

Quite often we are asked to comment on the usability industry in New Zealand – particularly by those looking for jobs in what is a tiny industry. There would be less than a dozen people working full time in usability in this country. Optimal Usability is New Zealand’s largest usability consultancy and we have only four people working full time!

The industry’s small size does have its advantages as we make for a tight group of good friends. But it’s hard for people who want to get into this fascinating area, and the lack of skilled usability practitioners is a major inhibitor to the growth of the industry. Read more »

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