World Usability Day was established in 2005 on the initiative of the Usability Professionals Association. It was celebrated for the first time in the same year and has since been celebrated annually on the second Thursday of November.
Usability can be literally translated from English as «practicality, convenience and ease of use». There are, of course, more detailed and precise definitions. For example, Jacob Nielsen defines usability as: «... user quality in some interactive environment (website, program, etc.)».
Today, the term «usability» is increasingly used interchangeably with the word «ergonomics» in the context of products such as consumer electronics or communications. In a broader sense, it can also be used to determine the degree of efficiency of mechanical objects and — tools, such as a door handle or a — hammer, of their prescribed functions. Thus, the most adequate translation of the word «usability» will be «convenience and ease of use, application» and even «practicality».
The mission of this holiday is to raise public consciousness about the need to simplify access and increase the ease of use of products and services that are of particular importance to humanity.
As stated in the World Usability Day Charter, technology should improve lives, not increase stress or create danger due to poor design or poor quality. Therefore, the organizers of this holiday consider it their duty to ensure the efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of technologies. However, they note that this is especially important for people with disabilities, because technology can improve their lives, allowing them to fully participate in work, social and civic events.
Therefore, the main slogan of World Usability Day is — «Make it easier!», because convenient and understandable technologies make the life of each of us easier and improve its quality in any part of the world.
Moreover, every year events (conferences, training seminars, thematic inserts, round tables, educational events) dedicated to this Day are held under a specific theme.