Strategies for improving open source software usability: An exploratory learning framework and a web-based inspection tool

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2009

Abstract

The Open Source Software (OSS) movement has had enormous impact on how software is created and continues to attract interest from researchers, software developers and users. A factor that may be inhibiting OSS from achieving greater success is usability, a fundamental characteristic to user acceptance of software. Motivated by the uniquely user-driven nature of the open source model and the extensive user base that participates in OSS projects, the authors propose an exploratory learning method and an associated web-based inspection environment that enables non-experts to contribute to open source usability inspection. This tool uses patternbased usability guidelines to help identify usability knowledge during inspection. The method emphasizes outlining and exploration features which the authors have formally evaluated and the results of which are described. Data collected from a qualitative study indicates positive impact of the proposed method in helping end-users inspect software and achieve better results in discovering usability problems. © 2010, IGI Global.

Identifier

78651570474 (Scopus)

Publication Title

International Journal of Open Source Software and Processes

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.4018/jossp.2009100103

e-ISSN

19423934

ISSN

19423926

First Page

49

Last Page

64

Issue

4

Volume

1

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