Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture

In this paper, we present an approach to improving the usability of software systems by means of software architectural decisions. We identify specific connections between aspects of usability, such as the ability to undo, and software architecture. We also formulate each aspect of usability as a scenario with a characteristic stimulus and response. For every scenario, we provide an architecture pattern that implements its aspect of usability. We then organize the usability scenarios by category. One category presents the benefits of these aspects of usability to users or their organizations. A second category presents the architecture mechanisms that directly relate to the aspects of usability. Finally, we present a matrix that correlates these two categories with the general scenarios that apply to them.

PDF [651 KB]

Authors

Len Bass

Bonnie E. John

Jesse Kates

This report is related to the following area(s) of work:

Software Architecture

Technical Report
CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005
March 2001

Cite This Report

SEI:

Bass, Len; John, Bonnie; & Kates, Jesse. Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture (CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/01tr005.cfm

IEEE:

L. Bass, B. John, and J. Kates, "Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Technical Report CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005, 2001. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/01tr005.cfm

APA:

Bass, L., John, B., & Kates, J. (2001). Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture (CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005). Retrieved May 21, 2013, from the Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University website: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/01tr005.cfm

CHI:

Bass, Len, Bonnie John, and Jesse Kates. Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture (CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005). Pittsburgh, PA: Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, 2001. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/01tr005.cfm

MLA:

Bass, L., John, B., & Kates, J. 2001. Achieving Usability Through Software Architecture (Technical Report CMU/SEI-2001-TR-005). Pittsburgh: Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. http://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/abstracts/reports/01tr005.cfm

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