## Software

# Promoting Usability Test for the improved Quality of Life

Keyword: Usability, Usability Testing, Human Education

Organizations Involved

○ Naotake Hirasawa, Associate Professor, Otaru University of Commerce

○ Data Craft Corp.

○ Sapporo Area Knowledge Cluster Creation Business Cluster Headquarters

○ Northern Advancement Center for Science & Technology

○ Connect Technologies Corp.

## 【Abstract】

In 2006, the International Standards Organization (ISO) recognized Common Industry Format (CIF) certification as the international standard for the usability of software products. Software development organizations consider usability evaluation to be an essential element in software development. One result, in Sapporo, Japan industry, academia, and public sector institutions have collaborated so that local I.T. companies can adopt this usability standard by establishing usability laboratories and by providing business education for usability evaluation.

## [Summary of the technology transfer]

## Technological Impact

Not only is usability an important objective for creating user-friendly products. Usability, as a conceptual framework, imbues product designers with the importance of considering the users' perspectives. The goal of our research is to employ usability solutions technology to develop an upper design process platform to assist in the general form requirements analysis and definition of usability evaluation of prototype products.

## Market Impact

As examples, as part of the Sapporo IT Carrozzeria projects, the product quality of a public sphygmograph and an IT sill cock were improved as a result of applying this usability technology. It is our intention to promote the use of this technology at a new Usability Laboratory at Otaru University of Commerce, so that designers of other products can create further examples of product improvement.

## ● Social Impact

Recently in Sapporo, we hosted Professor Masahiro Kurosu of the National Institute of Multimedia Education, considered to be the nation's leading researcher on usability, to lecture engineers on the use of this technology. In total, over 300 participants attended a variety of Professor Masahiro's lectures that included such topics as "Usability in General", "Concept Building", "Requirements Analysis and Definition", "UI design", and "Usability Evaluation." The successful results of this lecture series were a greater awareness of the importance of usability design and teaching the 300 participants the skills related to usability engineering.

## Project Background

The growing awareness of the advantages of “Sapporo Valley” as a cradle of I.T. technology development is further enhanced as a result of this project.

## Funding History

1. 2003 ~2006

Knowledge Cluster Creation Business:

MEXT

2. 2007 ~

“Special Educational Research Budget (Research Promotion)”: MEXT

## I ntellectual property protection

“Logging system on usability valuation test, application, and program” Japanese patent application no. 2006-097522 Other Patent applications: 4 items, Design application: 1 item

## Usability Laboratory at Otaru University of Commerce

One observation room is located in the center of the laboratory; two test rooms are located each on the right and left sides. In the test rooms, multiple video cameras based on 32 matrix switches can be used to analyze users' activities.

An image of looking into the observation room.

## Turning point in the Project

Collaboration of universities, research institutes, and corporations is encouraged. One goal is for society to quickly enjoy benefits from this research. Another goal is for young engineers to gain from the educational value of this project.