Glossary of User Interface Terminology
Contextual Inquiry
A research method for understanding the target users of a product. When conducting CI, researchers visit users in their actual work setting and gather data about how users really work with the goal of building better tools for them.
The key ideas of Contextual Inquiry include Context, the natural work setting of users; Partnership, the establishment of rapport with users; and Focus, the appropriate focal point of researchers' attention when observing the users' experiences.
Paper Prototyping/Rapid Paper Prototyping
The utilization of paper, not software tools, to simulate the use of software by target users.
In Rapid Paper Prototyping, the development teams commit themselves to having a number of different users work with the paper prototype in quick succession. The paper prototype will evolve with each session until the users respond satisfactorily to the design.
Usability
The degree to which a product empowers its users to reach their goals in an effective, efficient, and satisfactory manner.
Usability Testing
A structured testing of product usability in which target users perform work with a product while being observed. The users will work through structured scenarios that should represent common, critical uses of the product.
User-Centered Design
A broad term summarizing design and development techniques that involve actual end-users as early and often as possible.
User Interface
User Interface refers to those portions of computer systems or software with which users interact. Typically, UI refers to the computer screen design.