Memorability

=Memorability=

Once a user learns how to use a product is it worth being remembered or noted. An example, someone gives you their phone number and as a cell phone user you save it to your phone book. Is it worth remembering the number again?

Memorability has to do with the Learnability of a product. Ideally (as specified in class) the user should be able to remember how to use the object for repeat use. This would be best exemplified with a cell phone, if one could not remember how to use their phone every time it rings they would miss their phone call. Most likely a phone like this would have a large instruction manual which the user would need, also taking away from the freedom of have a cellular phone. A phone with no memorability would no be user friendly and therefore would have a bad design. Also see Learnability for information regarding this.

Another example is the ipod nano. The design of the nano is simple with basic and straight forward functions that allow users to easily comprehend the product. Learning how to use the nano is therefore quick (will fall within the ten minute rule) and memorability will then be easy.

=**Why is memorability important?**=

The concept of memorability is very important when designing a product. [|Memorability] is one of the most important users experiences goals in interactive designed. It focus on the issue of human memorization where individuals is requires to remember how to perform a certain task. Designer aim to design product that provide simple instructions that require no memorization from the users, so the users can always remember how to use the product no matter how long the product has not been used. For example, a digital camera which provide a very thick instructions booklet in instructing the user to take good quality pictures. This might scared the consumer away because the consumer assumed that a digital camera which is difficult to use and require to read a thick instruction booklet is probably gonna give them a hard time. They rather look for a digital camera that has basic point and shoot function and all setting is automatically set to take a good pictures. Memorability play a significant role in the decision of wheather or not consumer will purchase the product.

=Testing for memorability=

In order to test [|memorability] in a product, the designer must acquire test subject to use the product several times to understand the function of the designed. A designer will be assigned to assist the test subject to guide him/her through the process. A few days later, the designer will ask the same test subject to use the design, but this time without any assistance. During this phrase, the designer will observe the test subject to see if there he/she has any problem in perform the tasks. If the test subject show signs of frustrations, then the design has an memorability issue. The designer can asked the test subject which area he/she has problems with and can deicide a solution for it.

=**Related links**=

> = = =**References**=
 * [|Learnability]


 * "Learnability Helping You Bridge the Skills Gap." __Learnability__. Learn ability. 7 Dec. 2006 
 * Louis, Tristan. "Usuability 101: Memorability." __Usuability 101: Memorability__. 19 June 2003. 7 Dec. 2006 