5 factors that impact user experience

UX which is a short form of “User Experience” is an important aspect of a product which can influence its success or doom. There is often a mix-up between UX and usability which describes the degree to which an object, device, or software application, is easy to use with no specific training. UX as a discipline began with usability, however, over the years its field has expanded beyond usability alone, and it is imperative to come to terms and pay close cognizance to other aspects of the user experience to give a top-notch product.

There are five major key factors that impacts and describes user experience which we'll be considering in this article. Let’s set the ball rolling by gradually unfolding what each of these factors entails.

1. Usability

Usability deals majorly with the simplicity of the product, how efficient and effective a product is in achieving the desired result. A computer game that requires long processes to launch before getting to the real arena where the user can start playing the game could be frustrating, and the player might not find it usable. Another scenario is a computer game that requires three control pads which are obviously unlikely to be successful since a normal human has just two hands. The users will prefer to rather opt for other games that require the use of just two pads.

Any product can be successful if they are not easily usable. However, the possibility of the success of such product reduces to the barest minimum in a world where there is stiff competition between products. The very first generation of most product is usually less usable – taking the first set of Java and Symbian phones in comparison with today's Android phones; the android was able to truly bring usability to the users. A more rigid example is comparing a Nokia 3110c and InfinixX5510, the infix device will achieve better results when compared with what the Nokia will achieve regarding camera capability, mp3 player, internet flexibility, and speed, etc.

2. Functionality

Why will anyone buy a product that does not have any function? If there is no purpose for its purchase, most people will just look over the product especially in a market that is almost saturated with useful and functional products. We should note that “functional” as being used in this context is not limited to practical usefulness but non-practical things as well such as its aesthetic appeal or the fun its users derive.

Therefore a 3D game is classified as being functional even though some people might find it functionless since it does not accomplish any goal that the individual find useful.

3. Credibility

In the world today, credibility is a major factor that users look for in selecting a product. Most users in today’s world are not going to give you the chance to make a fool of them twice as there are a lot of options and competition for your product for them to explore. Credibility has to do with the ability of the users to have some form of trust in your brand and products that you bring to market. Apart from the product’s capability, it also serves as a form a guarantee that the product will last long.

It is almost impossible to achieve a great user experience when the user doubts the credibility of the product. The user is not sure whether the producers are lying or have bad intentions. Hence they tend to bank on a more credible producer.

4. Desirability

Let us take, for instance, Porsche and Skoda. These two brands are known for making cars. When it comes to usability, functionality, credibility and so on, these two car giants can be said to possess it all. In fact the two can be said to be desirable, however, the level of their desirability differ clearly. If most people were presented with the opportunity to choose between a Porsche and a Skoda, they are more likely to go for the Porsche as it is perceived as a more superior brand and is also more desired by the people.

The major factor that affects the desirability of a product is its brand. Working on your brand increases the interest of people in your product and hence makes it more desirable. Once you make use of your brand to your advantage, the desirability will increase over time. A user of the product is also more likely to brag about the possession of the product and thus will arouse the interest of others around the user.

5. Accessibility

The aspect of accessibility in UX design is one of the most important and is sadly often overlooked. This focuses on creating an experience that is not only accessible to a set of people but almost everyone in full capacity. This includes making your product accessible to the physically impaired individuals such as those with impaired vision, hearing loss, learning impaired, etc.

A lot of companies have the misconception that specially designing for accessibility is a complete waste of time as the people with disabilities only make up a fragment of the entire population for which the product was made. In fact, according to the census data on the population of the United States, about 19% of the entire population has one disability or the other, and this number is expected to increase much more in the less developed countries

This implies that if you fail to design for accessibility, 1 out of every five people in the states will find your product useless or at least not easily accessible. Aside from the physically challenged individuals that are put into consideration for accessibility, they also make your product easier to use and friendly to everyone. Therefore, you should never omit this important aspect.

On a final note, accessibility is now a legal obligation to every company, and there is a possibility of being fined when this obligation is not taken into consideration.

In a Nutshell

The overall success of your product goes beyond usability and utility alone. There is need to consider all the above factors to come up with a more successful product.