Ignoring Usability?
I’m in a situation right now where I am being forced to work with a multitude of new user interfaces. There is virtually no time to record usability issues. Furthermore, I’m not going to use these interfaces again.
Assuming these applications are critical to the safety and welfare of other users, is there a moral obligation to try to improve the usability of these applications? What if these applications are NOT critical? Is there still a moral obligation?
What I am doing right now has very little to do with usability. I’m trying to get through several tedious tasks as quickly as possible and I’m not going to interact with these tools again. Am I obligated to do a simple ROI calculation to determine if it is worth the time to raise issues?
What would you do? What are your thoughts? How do you act in situations like mine?
“With great power comes great responsibility.” — Uncle Ben
March 15th, 2005 at 9:35 pm
If the applications could cause bodily harm or death, I think you are obligated to at least raise the issue. I don’t think you need to provide an analysis of the problems, but you need to meet with the appropriate stakeholders and convince them there is a problem that should be investigated.
Again, if we’re talking life and death then why are you even mentioning an ROI calculation? Take an hour of your own time if you must to blow the whistle.
Perhaps the situation is more complicated than that… more details would help.
Jay
Picture My World