Abstract: Embodied embedded cognition (EEC) has gained support in cognitive science
as well as in human–computer interaction (HCI). EEC can be characterized both by its
action-centeredness as well as its roots in phenomenology. The phenomenological
aspects of EEC could be seen as support for trends in design emphasizing the user
experience. Meanwhile, usability issues often are still approached using traditional
methods based on cognitivist assumptions. In this paper, I argue for a renewed focus on
improving usability from an EEC perspective. I draw mainly on a behavior-oriented
interpretation of the theory, the key aspects of which are reviewed. A tentative sketch for
an embodied embedded usability is proposed, doing justice to the embodied embedded
nature of interaction while retaining the goal of developing technology that is easy to use
in everyday practice.