Usability attributes revisited: A time-framed knowledge map

Abstract

Software usability plays a major role in the quality perceived by its users. However, a variety of definitions and associated attributes shows that there is still no consensus in this area. The overall purpose of this paper is to present the results of a critical and rigorous literature review, the aim of which is to demonstrate all the relevant usability definitions and related attributes introduced till now. This comprehensive view, depicted by a time-framed knowledge map, provides an in-depth understanding of the observed evolution on the one hand, and also serves as a guide for usability engineers to address some non-functional requirements, on the other.