Usability of Generic Software in e-Research Infrastructures

In e-Research Infrastructures (eRIs), software is used in diverse application contexts. To support this software is often implemented generically. The usability of software is strongly context dependent. Therefore, the use of generic software in different application contexts results in varying degrees of usability depending on the concrete usage scenario. This paper focuses on the challenges of implementing usability-oriented generic software. First, we provide an introduction to generic software in the context of eRIs. Next, we offer an overview of usability and appropriate considerations in the software development process. Based on this, we demonstrate discrepancies between good usability and the application of generic software in distinct contexts. Finally, we provide a first architectural concept to address the identified challenges.