Abstract

The results of usability tests including user knowledge, qualitative and quantitative data are generally fragmented and stored in various formats and tools. This limits our capacity to extract meaningful patterns and recommendations from the huge set of data. The interaction between the testers and developers in charge of making changes in the design is limited and filtered by usability professionals which results in losses in terms of the user message. During usability studies, the representative users are designated by those conducting the study and this is often wrong as users evolve or change with time. The software users, developers and designers need a common and shared referential to discuss in a cohesive manner the results of tests from different perspectives. We propose a novel ontology-based platform for collecting, managing and disseminating test results as well as for mediating the communication line between all the people involved in tests including users, usability experts, developers and quality managers. The ontology clearly describes the issues and applications based on a well defined set of characteristics. The set of characteristics, that are made available to usability professionals, clarify and improve usability related knowledge exchanges and therefore improve the effectiveness, objectivity and accuracy rate of usability studies. The proposed ontology has been implemented as part a tool, called USITRES, a central usability repository. Several functionalities allow USITRES users to test the usability of applications and web sites during their use, verify and validate the assumptions made during design and have a voice during the redesign. USITRES allows all users to log usability bugs and trace them. It allows the design team to interact much more effectively with the users, acknowledge and address their concerns much faster. It also supports the developers in the decision making process regarding what the users need in terms of interaction and behaviour patterns based on a more accurate tests results.