The document discusses how the idea that "it should be usable with no training" is not always valid. While sometimes products can be usable without training, there are exceptions in complex domains, for complex tasks, or where errors could be high-risk or dangerous. It provides examples like air traffic control systems, weather forecasting tools, flight simulators, and remote surgical systems to illustrate that training is necessary in some cases to properly understand complex systems or tasks and minimize risks of errors. The key point is that products should aim to require only necessary training rather than addressing usability problems solely through training.

1. The Myth of
“It should be usable
with no training”
Elizabeth Buie
Senior UX Consultant
@ebuie
wearesigma.com - @wearesigma

2. “It should be usable
with no training.”

3. We hear that a lot.
But is it valid?

4. Sometimes.
Perhaps even often.
But not always.
!"

5. Let’s look at
some exceptions.

6. International
Space Station

7. OK, so that one has
very few users.

8. Flight simulator (partial)
for pilot task training

9. Weather forecasting

10. Those have
a few more.

11. Next time you fly,
think about this —

12. Air traffic control

13. More than 47,000
airports worldwide.
How many
controllers?

14. Three differences
Complex domains
Workers have a lot to understand
Complex tasks
Users have a lot to learn about what to do and how
High risk
Cost of errors is very high, even death
A
B
C

15. da Vinci remote surgical system
Addenbrooke Treatment Centre

16. Would you want your
operation done by a
surgeon who hadn’t been
trained on the system?

17. I didn’t think so.

18. What’s the real point?

19. It should be usable
with no
unnecessary training.

20. Caution:

21. This does not mean…
…address UX problems
with training…

22. This does not mean…
…address UX problems
with training…
!"

23. Thank You!
Any questions?
wearesigma.com - @WeAreSigma