Usability of Web Services Scott Isensee BMC Software November 4, 2002

Guidelines Needed Style guides have improved consistency and usability for Macintosh, Windows, UNIX, etc. Style guides have improved consistency and usability for Macintosh, Windows, UNIX, etc. Websites and web applications vary greatly in UI Websites and web applications vary greatly in UI Many sets of web guidelines exist, but none are widely accepted. Many sets of web guidelines exist, but none are widely accepted. For acceptance, need guidelines endorsed by an organization with authority and credibility like W3C For acceptance, need guidelines endorsed by an organization with authority and credibility like W3C One new area where usability guidelines are needed is web services One new area where usability guidelines are needed is web services

What are Web Services? A new breed of web application based on components. A new breed of web application based on components. Utilize the standards: Utilize the standards:  XML (structured data)  SOAP (access protocol)  UDDI (directory)  WSDL (describes the component) Enabled by technologies like.NET and J2EE Enabled by technologies like.NET and J2EE

Classes of Web Services

Benefits of Web Services? Reusable components increase development efficiency Reusable components increase development efficiency Provides mechanisms for integrating applications Provides mechanisms for integrating applications Facilitates improved communication between companies Facilitates improved communication between companies IT departments spend less time writing code and more time solving business problems. IT departments spend less time writing code and more time solving business problems.

Examples E-business website provides package tracking supplied by Fedex E-business website provides package tracking supplied by Fedex GUI added to a mainframe application GUI added to a mainframe application Computer manufacturer links their inventory system to parts ordering to the supplier’s Computer manufacturer links their inventory system to parts ordering to the supplier’s

Example

Potential Usability Problems Internal inconsistency in applications built from components developed by different suppliers Internal inconsistency in applications built from components developed by different suppliers What happens if a component is slow or unavailable? What happens if a component is slow or unavailable? How to accommodate working offline? How to accommodate working offline? It is feasible to implement features like drag and drop across multiple web services? It is feasible to implement features like drag and drop across multiple web services? How can an application best be displayed on widely varying devices? How can an application best be displayed on widely varying devices? What are the standards for menus, icons, etc. in the web services environment? What are the standards for menus, icons, etc. in the web services environment?

What Needs to be Done? Research and testing to determine best recommendations Research and testing to determine best recommendations Write guidelines Write guidelines Determine best way to deliver these guidelines: Determine best way to deliver these guidelines:  Make part of programming specs?  Write separate usability spec?  Should web services usability guidelines be part of website usability guidelines?