Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

usability

English answer:

suitability/user friendly/easy to use (depending on context)

Added to glossary by Åsa_Maria K
Aug 20, 2013 10:14
10 yrs ago
17 viewers *
English term

usability

English Medical Medical (general)
Please help me to understand what my PM means when she says the back translation for my translation into Swedish of the word “usability” was “usefulness”, which is a different thing.

What is the difference between “usability” and “usefulness”?

See the context below.


“You are asked to take part in this research study intended to investigate the safety, ***usability*** and performance of a surgical sealant developed to reduce the risk of leakage from the colon connection (“anastomosis”). Before you make a decision about participating in the trial, it is important that you are informed why the trial is being performed, what participating means for you, any possible risks or discomfort which may arise, and that you receive answers to any questions that you might have.”

Responses

+2
14 mins
Selected

suitability/user friendly/easy to use (depending on context)

Usability is often used to rate/denote how easy something is to use, but in your context it looks like it means whether it is suited for the purpose.
an item may be usable (=have usability) but be useless...i.e. it may be easy to use but not have the desired effect.

What SV term did you use?
Peer comment(s):

agree Cilian O'Tuama : I'd say it's along the lines of ease of use/handling
24 mins
thanks!
agree Veronika McLaren
1 day 12 hrs
thanks!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Tania. Yes, the client confirmed that usability is "ease of use". I slightly rephrased the sentence and went for "lättanvänd"."
11 mins

serviceability

how much it can be used. How much service it can give

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Note added at 13 mins (2013-08-20 10:28:01 GMT)
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usefulness=how useful something is. How good it is for the purpose it is being used for.

so usability is different as it is about HOW MUCH it can be of use rather than HOW GOOD/USEFUL it is

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Note added at 17 mins (2013-08-20 10:32:05 GMT)
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you could also say that usabilty is about how much it is OPERABLE

whereas "usefulness" would be how good/useful it was at operating/functioning

hope this helps you see difference
Something went wrong...
33 mins

användbarhet

:o)
Peer comment(s):

neutral Yvonne Gallagher : English to English
5 mins
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