Non-Universal Usability? A Survey of How Usability Is Understood by Chinese and Danish Users

Olaf Frandsen-Thorlacius, Kasper Anders Søren Hornbæk, Morten Hertzum, Torkil Clemmensen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most research assumes that usability is understood similarly by users in different cultures, implying that the notion of usability, its aspects, and their interrelations are constant across cultures. The present study shows that this is not the case for a sample of 412 users from China and Denmark, who differ in how they understand and prioritize different aspects of usability. Chinese users appear to be more concerned with visual appearance, satisfaction, and fun than Danish users; Danish users prioritize effectiveness, efficiency, and lack of frustration higher than Chinese users. The results suggest that culture influences perceptions of usability. We discuss implications for usability research and for usability practice.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 27th international conference on Human factors in computing systems
Number of pages10
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Publication date2009
Pages41-50
ISBN (Print)978-1-60558-246-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
EventConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2009) - Boston, United States
Duration: 4 Apr 20099 Apr 2009
Conference number: 27

Conference

ConferenceConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2009)
Number27
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston
Period04/04/200909/04/2009

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