Beyond User Friendly

What is meant when the interface to a computer software program is called user-friendly? In the Note, we describe six easy to ... dimensions for use-computer interfaces that distinguish among aspects of a program's behavior often confused within the 'user-friendly' rubric. Some of these dimensions are mutually antagonistic, so priorities and choices must be made depending on the user's context. We apply the six dimensions to aid in understanding the love/hate relationship some software interfaces engender. Through categorizations of user interface traits, such as the example proposed here, we hope to aid both the design and procurement of effective user-computer interfaces for software products.