PD ISO/TS 20282-2:2013

Usability of consumer products and products for public use. Summative test method | Status: Current, Under review

1 Scope This part of ISO/TS 20282 specifies a user-based summative test method for the measurement of the usability and/or accessibility of consumer products and products for public use (including walk-up-and-use products) for one or more specific user groups. This test method treats accessibility as a special case of usability where the users taking part in the test represent the extremes of the range of characteristics and capabilities within the general user population. When the test method refers to usability, the method can also be used to test accessibility (unless otherwise specified). This test method is for use when valid and reliable measures of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction are needed.

NOTE 1 Products for public use include walk-up-and-use products that provide a service to the general public.

The test method can also be used to assess the usability and/or accessibility of achieving the goals of unpacking, installing, and setting up a consumer product. This part of ISO/TS 20282 is intended to be used for testing the usability and/or accessibility of products when

• — it is possible to identify typical contexts of use that are representative of the use of the product(s),
• — it is possible to identify the criteria for the successful achievement of the users’ goal, and
• — there are a limited number of goals being tested at the same time.

While the test method is intended to test consumer products and products for public use, it can also be used to test other products, systems, and services with the characteristics described above. If use of a product involves interaction with inputs, outputs, or environments that are highly variable and/or complex with variability or complexity that cannot be categorized in well-defined subsets, it is outside the scope as it would not be possible to obtain reliable results. See Annex A for examples of products and goals that are within the scope of this part of ISO/TS 20282.

EXAMPLE

The method could be applied to an office photocopier, a website selling books or train tickets, or a legal advice service. The method would not be appropriate for a complex ecommerce website, a word processor, or a bicycle. The method is primarily intended for use for assessing completed versions of products, but could also be used for internal purposes during development to judge, assess, and communicate the usability and/or accessibility of functional prototype versions. The results of the summative test method can be used for the following purposes:

• — to estimate the probability of achieving target values of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in actual use;
• — to publish information about the usability and/or accessibility of a product;
• — to compare the usability and/or accessibility of several products;
• — to compare the results with a usability and/or accessibility requirements specification;
• — to support procurement.

NOTE 2 Annex H lists the information to be included when specifying the procedure used to test whether the usability and/or accessibility requirements (Annex G) have been met.

The intended users of this part of ISO/TS 20282 are people with expertise in the design and management of testing usability and/or accessibility, working within or on behalf of manufacturers, suppliers, purchasing organizations, or third parties (such as test organizations or consumer organizations).