Usability, Usability, Usability: why the iPad will Succeed

By Tom Stewart
Joint Managing Director at System Concepts


Like a staggeringly large number of people round the world, I have been eagerly awaiting the launch of what is now the Apple iPad. I even followed a live blog to get the latest blow by blow account of Steve Job’s presentation. Of course tablets are not new but there are three reasons why I think Apple will succeed this time and they all link to usability. Not the ‘usability is just making it easy’ type of usability but the ISO 9241-11 version, where usability is defined as: effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction.

1. Effectiveness
The iPad comes with almost all of the iPhone apps currently available, a mind numbingly large number of effective (and some less effective) applications. There are so many that the few lemons don’t really matter. And there is probably an app that just shows a lemon for you to pretend to put in your gin and tonic! It wouldn’t be the weirdest commercial success for apps.

2. Efficiency
Lots of people know how to use it. More than 75 million iPod Touchs and iPhones have been shipped and as Steve Jobs pointed out, they already know and love the multi-touch interface. Of course, I’ve not got my hands on one yet but I suspect the on-screen keyboard is surprisingly good. As a committed Treo user I was very surprised at how well the iPhone keyboard works and I suspect the large iPad one will work well. There is also a proper keyboard for intensive use, when required, so I do not think that will be a problem.

3. User satisfaction
It almost goes without saying that the iPad will be a satisfying device, Steve Jobs couldn’t help cuddling it. It looks sleek and very attractive to hold and carry and the iPhone interface is a joy to use, especially for browsing.

I could be wrong but I think Apple has another winner – an effective, efficient and satisfying device – a ground breaking device, which takes usability very, very seriously.

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