UseTree, The Berlin Competence Center for Usability Measures

Questions and Content

Intuitive and user-friendly: the utility of devices and software, their usability, is a crucial criterion for their success. According to a study by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, small and medium-sized companies in Germany have not yet recognized usability as an advantage in competition or not yet integrated it into their own work processes. The goal of UseTree, the “Berlin Competence Center for Usability Measures”, is to spread the idea of usability among medium-sized companies. The center focuses on mobile and Internet-based commercial applications.

The initiative seeks to achieve scientifically grounded, practical knowledge transfer at the intersection of software developers and users: it aims at making small and medium-sized companies – the suppliers and users of software – more sensitive to the theme of usability. It also advises them to consider usability criteria in the development and decision-making processes. To that end “UseTree” was starting pilot projects employing models for systematic and sustainable integration of usability measures, evaluating and optimizing them along the way. The competence center’s portfolio is modular so that the companies can pick and choose measures as they need them and as resources permit.

Use and Target Audience

The goal of the initiative is to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized software companies in the Berlin-Brandenburg region by encouraging and developing usability in a targeted way. The goal is to anchor usability measures in companies sustainably to ensure that processes are optimized for the long term and to increase the utility of products. During the grant period “UseTree” established itself as a competent partner for software providers and users in the Berlin-Brandenburg region.

Support from the Hybrid Plattform

The Hybrid Plattform brought together the project partners, who have since submitted a joint application to the ministry. It continued to support the project with communications.