The Human Factors Usability Laboratory in Product Evaluation

Abstract

A wide variety of consumer products ranging from infant toys and furniture to home workshop tools to personal computers and software are intended for use by people of all sizes, abilities, and temperaments. Usability laboratories are dedicated to evaluating and improving the compatibility of people and the technology (products) they are expected to use on the job, in their hobbies, and at home. The purpose of the proposed interactive session is to demonstrate the concept of the usability laboratory. The session will deal with some of the human factors issues that designers and others concerned with consumer products need to be aware of. It will include practical advice on how to incorporate human factors into product design so that the product will be usable by the consumer. This will be accomplished by the use of posters and demonstrations that involve the evaluation of a sample of consumer products, including microcomputers and children's toys.