Heads up! To view this whole video, sign in with your Courses account or enroll in your free 7-day trial. Sign In Enroll
Preview
Video Player
00:00
00:00
00:00
- 2x 2x
- 1.75x 1.75x
- 1.5x 1.5x
- 1.25x 1.25x
- 1.1x 1.1x
- 1x 1x
- 0.75x 0.75x
- 0.5x 0.5x
No matter where you are, good design improves experiences. So, if you're still curious about how to define usability, let's step out of the web for a moment and look at some real life examples.
This video doesn't have any notes.
Related Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign upRelated Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign up
If you're still curious about how to define usability,
0:00
let's step out of the Web for a moment and look at some real life examples.
0:03
We should be able to spot some similarities to online design
0:07
because no matter where you are, good design improves experiences.
0:10
Let's take a look at the climate control on the dashboard of a car—
0:16
this model features a knob that you can turn to set the temperature inside the car.
0:20
Using colors, users can see that if you turn the knob one way
0:26
the temperature will get cooler; the other way will raise the temperature.
0:29
Newer car models reduce the guess work
0:34
and allow users to set an exact temperature.
0:36
However, present too many knobs or controls
0:39
and the functionality of the interface becomes confusing—
0:42
you're not sure what to push or turn or move.
0:46
Therefore, a balance must be struck, and you can bet
0:48
car companies do many rounds of testing to ensure the interface
0:52
is intuitive and effective.
0:56
Here's another example—buildings are required by law
0:59
to have exit signs placed throughout each floor.
1:03
Safety is one of the central goals behind this design;
1:07
therefore, it's important for people to understand the meaning
1:10
of the sign when they see it.
1:13
When an exit door is near, the exit sign is placed above it.
1:16
Because of the proximity, people can be expected to associate
1:20
the meaning of the sign—an emergency exit—with the door below it.
1:23
If a door is not close by, exit signs also have built-in arrows
1:29
that can be used to provide a visual cue.
1:33
And lastly, these signs need to work at all times,
1:36
so they're visible during the day and they light up at night
1:40
to be seen during darker hours.
1:44
The exit sign can be considered a real life call-to-action of sorts;
1:47
if you need to find an exit for the building you're in,
1:51
the sign tells you where to go.
1:53
The same could be said for many important buttons on websites.
1:55
If you want to find out more information on a certain topic,
1:59
the corresponding menu item is what you would click.
2:02
On a mobile app, the clearly labeled button is what you would touch.
2:06
So, look around where you are right now
2:10
and you'll notice some elements of design
2:12
that went into the room you're sitting in,
2:15
or the car you drive, or even your phone.
2:17
Good design should make things easier to do.
2:20
But the best design is so intuitive, it's often not even noticed by the people that use them.
2:24
Consider this as you work on your own website and app in the future.
2:30
You need to sign up for Treehouse in order to download course files.
Sign upYou need to sign up for Treehouse in order to set up Workspace
Sign up