Pmc tips and tricks for usability testing

Tips and Tricks for Usability TestingPMC Top Seminar 2011Liisa-Maija KeinänenUX Specialist, Adage

Adage - Pioneer in user-centred design Market leader in usability research in Finland We are 25 professionals in • Concept design • UI design • Visual design • Usability • User experience In 2010 a total of 1 257 users attended our studies. Office and research facilities are located in Arabianranta. Founded in 2001: celebrating our 10-year anniversary!2 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

PDP Wavecure Task: Design a better patient experience for a new fibroid treatment. Sponsored by Philips. Challenge: How to enhance user experience with strict medical technology requirements?3 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

PDP Wavecure Iterative testing and prototyping6 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 1: Knowing what and why you’re studyingFor efficient usage of your and your users’ time: • Identify specific study questions. • Learn from users — identify new questions.9 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 1: Knowing what and why you’re studyingFor efficient usage of your and your users’ time: • Identify specific study questions. • Learn from users — identify new questions. ”Is this usable?” ”We want to test the general usability of our product.” ”Does the navigation work?” ”Does this concept work?”10 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 1: Knowing what and why you’re studyingFor efficient usage of your and your users’ time: • Identify specific study questions. • Learn from users — identify new questions. ”What does the customer ”Is this usable?” expect? Can he find answers to that exact need?” ”We want to test the general usability of our product.” ”The system needs to work seamlessly with this other tool. ”Does the navigation work?” Is that requirement fullfilled?” ”In which situations does the ”Does this concept work?” user find this concept useful?”11 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing.12 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing. Example: a tourism portal13 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing. Example: a tourism portal Finnish tourist14 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing. Example: a tourism portal Finnish tourist Russian tourist15 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing. Example: a tourism portal Finnish tourist Russian tourist Any tourist16 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identifiedand involved in the design process from the start. • But, if you forget your users when designing, remember them when testing. Example: a tourism portal Finnish tourist Tourism companies - Big companies - Entrepreneurs Russian tourist Administrators Any tourist17 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 2: Knowing your usersIn the ideal user-centred design, users are identified Take into account all your users, not just thoseand involved in the design process from the start. whose usage results in direct income. • But, if you forget your users when designing, • Don’t forget the guy who has to use your design remember them when testing. at work every day! Example: a tourism portal Finnish tourist Tourism companies - Big companies - Entrepreneurs Russian tourist Administrators Any tourist18 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 3: What if there are no users?Difficult to identify the users • Completely new concepts • New platforms • Users are not available19 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 3: What if there are no users?Difficult to identify the users Find your users among these people: • Completely new concepts • Who is the product designed for? • New platforms • Who might use your product in the future? • Users are not available • Who have a similar mindset as the real end- users (students, colleagues etc.)?20 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 3: What if there are no users?Difficult to identify the users Find your users among these people: • Completely new concepts • Who is the product designed for? • New platforms • Who might use your product in the future? • Users are not available • Who have a similar mindset as the real end- users (students, colleagues etc.)? An iPad application was ready for usability testing in October 2010. iPad was released in Finland in November 2010. Who to test with? Active iPhone users! - They are used to a similar use logic. - They are potential iPad users as they are interested in iOS products.21 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 4: Making the situation as real as possibleQuick prototyping, early testing — yes! But…Always try to test in the real environment with thereal medium or the real device. These factors can becritical for usability. • Images of computer screens shown on screen instead of paper. • Mobile services tested on the move. • Work-related systems tested while using other working tools.22 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 4: Making the situation as real as possibleQuick prototyping, early testing — yes! But… Also: Making interactiveAlways try to test in the real environment with the prototypes is rather quick. Usereal medium or the real device. These factors can be your imagination!critical for usability. • Images of computer screens shown on screen instead of paper. • Mobile services tested on the move. • Work-related systems tested while using other working tools.23 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 5: Guiding or prompting the userTest results are of little use if you help the usertoo much.For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind: • Ask and do not assume what the user thinks and perceives. • Use open questions. • Do not use the user interface terms. • Show the first step only if the user is completely off-track.24 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 5: Guiding or prompting the userTest results are of little use if you help the usertoo much.For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind: • Ask and do not assume what the user thinks and perceives. • Use open questions. • Do not use the user interface terms. • Show the first step only if the user is completely off-track.”Now that you have turned thedevice on, you can see thegreen light on top of it. Is thelight bright enough?”25 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 5: Guiding or prompting the userTest results are of little use if you help the usertoo much. ”What happened when you pressed that button?”For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind: - I guess I turned the device on. • Ask and do not assume what the user thinks and perceives. ”What do you mean?” • Use open questions. - Well… I’m not sure. There is no indication of it being turned on. • Do not use the user interface terms. • Show the first step only if the user is completely ”What did you expect to happen?” off-track. - I was hoping for some kind of a led lit or something.”Now that you have turned the ”Ok. Did you notice the green light on topdevice on, you can see the of the device?”green light on top of it. Is the - No, where? Oh there! No, I didn’t seelight bright enough?” that at all.26 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Tip 6: Respecting the userQuite often you face the fact that • Users can be stupid. • Users can be wrong. • Users can dislike your product.They can still have valid opinions and help youdevelop the product’s usability.27 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Final thoughtsWhy test usability?Because there are just so many ways a designcan be understood and remembered. • Designer’s reality • User’s reality • Is either one the true reality?Testing with users helps you make users realize whatwas meant with the design.28 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

1.9. Thank you!ContactLiisa-Maija KeinänenUser Experience Specialistliisa-maija.keinanen@adage.fiAdageArabiankatu 12FI-00560 HelsinkiFinland29 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

Pmc tips and tricks for usability testing

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Pmc tips and tricks for usability testing — Presentation Transcript