Test procedures for compliance testing with Usability Standards - why?
Cologne, 13 January 2005
Usability standards can only be applied when the context of use is well-known, i.e. the implied requirements in a product's context of use. Standardized test procedures help ensure that test results are based on validated usability requirements and are thus reproducible within a specified context.
Usability standards differ from technical standards, which specify technical product features to be followed regardless of the individual context (e.g. the height of a dish washer).
Two standard test procedures have been developed by the German body for accrediting test laboratories (DATech), with one of the test procedures being devoted to the test of products and another one to the assessment of processes.
DATech test handbook for compliance testing of products with ISO 9241 parts 11 and 110
DATech test procedures for testing and evaluating the usability of interactive products based on ISO 9241, part 10 and 11. The German title is "DATech Prüfhandbuch Gebrauchstauglichkeit". The test procedures are periodically updated by members of a standing committee of DATech. The latest version can be downloaded. Note: This document exists in German only.
DATech test handbook for compliance testing of usability-engineering processes with ISO 13407
The German title of this document is "DATech Prüfhandbuch Usability-Engineering-Prozess". The assessment procedures specified in this document are periodically updated by members of a standing committee of DATech. The latest version can be downloaded. Note: This document exists in German only.
Author of this article:
Thomas Geis
ProContext GmbH
Deutzer Freiheit 77-79
50679 Köln
Germany
Usability standards differ from technical standards, which specify technical product features to be followed regardless of the individual context (e.g. the height of a dish washer).
Two standard test procedures have been developed by the German body for accrediting test laboratories (DATech), with one of the test procedures being devoted to the test of products and another one to the assessment of processes.
- The DATech test handbook for compliance testing of products with ISO 9241 parts 11 and 110 is internationally the first standard usability test for conformity with ISO 9241 part 10 and 11.
- The DATech test handbook for compliance testing of usability-engineering processes with ISO 13407 is intended for assessing user-centred design processes for conformity with ISO 13407.
DATech test handbook for compliance testing of products with ISO 9241 parts 11 and 110
DATech test procedures for testing and evaluating the usability of interactive products based on ISO 9241, part 10 and 11. The German title is "DATech Prüfhandbuch Gebrauchstauglichkeit". The test procedures are periodically updated by members of a standing committee of DATech. The latest version can be downloaded. Note: This document exists in German only.
- Test procedure for product test in PDF format (German only! 109 pages / 726 KByte)
- Video about the application of the test procedure (English, 13:16 minutes)
- Video for ISDN/DSL/LAN-users:
"Assessing the usability of software- The DATech methodology" - Video for modem users:
"Assessing the usability of software- The DATech methodology"
- Video for ISDN/DSL/LAN-users:
DATech test handbook for compliance testing of usability-engineering processes with ISO 13407
The German title of this document is "DATech Prüfhandbuch Usability-Engineering-Prozess". The assessment procedures specified in this document are periodically updated by members of a standing committee of DATech. The latest version can be downloaded. Note: This document exists in German only.
- Test procedure for process test in PDF format
- A video about the application of the test procedure is not available.
Author of this article:
Thomas Geis
ProContext GmbH
Deutzer Freiheit 77-79
50679 Köln
Germany