Final group proposal(slideshare)

Usability Testing Laboratory Proposal
Presented by Graduate Students of the Technical Communication Program
Submitted to:
Dr. Kathryn Northcut
Associate Professor
Department of English and Technical Communication
Missouri University of Science and Technology
236 Humanities & Social Sciences
Rolla, MO 65409
Submitted by:
Mariah Thomas
YeonKyung Lee
Amruta A. Ranade
Shanthi P. Dontula

TABLE OFCONTENTS
Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................................1
Current Situation....................................................................................................................................................................1
Benefits.........................................................................................................................................................................................2
Benefits to Students: Provide Experiential Learning Environment..................................................3
Benefits to the TC Program: Attract More Students and Promote Department Growth......4
Benefits to Missouri S&T and Local Businesses: Provide Usability Testing Services ............4
Qualifications............................................................................................................................................................................5
Future Directions....................................................................................................................................................................7
Proposed Budget.....................................................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................................................10
References...............................................................................................................................................................................12
Appendix A: Detailed Budget Worksheet.............................................................................................................14
Appendix B: Examples of on-campus IT facility and MU’s IEL facility ...............................................17

Usability Lab (Mariah, YeonKyung, Amruta, Shanthi) 1
INTRODUCTION
Usability testing is an important skill for technical communicators which enable
them to evaluate an information product for effectiveness so that it can be optimized.
Instructions, manuals, websites, mobile applications, and many other types of information
products can be improved if qualified personnel worked in a suitable space with the right
tools perform the usability testing. Usability testing increases the effectiveness and
efficiency of a product in order to help provide better user experience. We thereby propose
that a fully-equipped usability testing laboratory be set up on the campus of Missouri S&T
in order to better train students, provide teaching opportunities, provide experiential
learning to the students, and to reach out to area businesses as well as national companies
to provide usability testing services. This proposal will cover the current situations, an
overview of benefits of the project, a proposed layout and implementation plan, and an
estimation of potential budget.
CURRENT SITUATION
Currently, there is no usability laboratory at Missouri University of Science and
Technology (Missouri S&T). There is an opportunity to further the education of many
students by providing a usability laboratory. The Technical Communication (TC) program
as well as Missouri S&T itself have grown in recent years, and this growth will prompt
changes that we need to keep our program competitive and on the cutting edge.
The TC program at Missouri S&T began offering graduate degrees, undergraduate
degrees, and certificate programs in 2005 (Department Profile, n. d.). In 2007, the
department began teaching a class focusing exclusively on usability. As of Fall 2015, there

are approximately 30 undergraduate and graduate students in the department (K.
Northcut, personal communication, September 8, 2015). In addition to training these
students to be technical communicators, nearly 200 undergraduate students from various
departments take a technical writing course (K. Northcut, personal communication,
September 8, 2015). Each of these 200 students is taught usability and is required to
perform usability testing as an experiential learning exercise. The students of the TC
program as well as undergraduate students who take technical writing course would
greatly benefit from a usability lab.
The growing and ever-changing technologies that are present today provide new
formats that will require user testing to ensure effective information exchange. There are
over 900 million websites today as opposed to over 64 million in 2005 (Total Number of
Websites, n.d.). As of July 2015, there are 1.6 million apps in the Google Play store (Apps, n.
d.) and 1.5 million apps in the Apple App store (iTunes Charts, n.d.). This explosion in
online and mobile formats the past decade underscores the need for Missouri S&T to have a
usability lab in order to provide top-notch facilities that are available at other universities.
Texas Tech University, Michigan State University, and Carnegie Mellon University all offer a
usability testing laboratory on their campus. Missouri S&T is a high-caliber university with
well-trained students, faculty, and staff that can provide the services and knowledge to run
a successful usability laboratory here in Rolla, Missouri.
BENEFITS
Not all schools that offer a technical communication program expose their students
to usability testing. A usability lab helps students understand how documents and

information products are designed. It also facilitates student's understanding of users' need
which is essential in a technical writer’s career. A proposed usability lab can not only
benefit students but also the TC program, academic departments at Missouri S&T, design
teams on campus, and local businesses in Rolla.
Benefits to Students: Provide Experiential Learning Environment
The Department of English and Technical Communication at Missouri S&T currently
offers three courses that teach usability studies: Usability Studies (TCH COM 5530),
Introduction to Technical Communication (TCH COM 1600), and Technical Writing (English
3560). There are approximately 200 students who are taking those courses. A proposed
usability lab could be used as a classroom for three courses or used as a research facility
where students can work on usability testing assignment. A usability lab would provide a
great experiential learning environment to the students, which fits in the university’s
strategic plan. The strategic plan of Missouri S&T envisions every undergraduate student
be involved in experiential learning by 2020 (Experiential Learning, 2014). In current
English 3560 course, students perform usability administration in the classroom. A scope
of the test is limited by a lack of facility and software. Despite the limited condition,
students enjoy experiencing usability testing on a website or Smartphone application. A
proposed usability lab will allow students to experience how usability testing is performed,
how to set test environment, and how to communicate with testers professionally. It would
stimulate the students’ learning experience and facilitate an active classroom environment.
Moreover, a usability lab would provide a unique learning environment where
students can take an initiative and develop a project management skill. Unlike a design
team which is focused on the rules and constraints of a certain competition, a project in a

usability lab would be self-directed to students. Students can decide which project they
want to work on, which companies or organizations to reach out, and develop the project in
a way they want. The scope of students’ projects will not be limited and thus projects could
not only benefit the TC program but also help solve real-world problems.
Benefits to the TC Program: Attract Prospective Students and Promote Department
Growth
A usability lab at Missouri S&T would attract more students to the TC program
because it assures real-world experience with great research facilities. Students come to
Missouri S&T because of its reputation for providing excellent research facilities. Thus, the
proposed usability lab would reinforce Missouri S&T’s reputation with great research
facilities. Also, a usability lab could provide funding for graduate research assistants, which
could be an attractive factor for prospective students. Especially, international students
consider funding opportunity importantly when they select a program.
Moreover, interaction with companies could bring possible partnership
opportunities to the TC program which would promote department growth. Active
interaction with academic departments and outside organizations would help in gaining
external recognition for the TC program. A usability lab also opens doors for a variety of
research opportunities for faculty which would eventually lead to more funded projects
and recognition for the TC program and Missouri S&T.
Benefits to Missouri S&T and Local Businesses: Provide Usability Testing Services
A proposed usability lab could possibly provide services to academic departments,
design teams, and local businesses. For example, University of Missouri-Columbia (MU)’s IE
(Information Experience) lab provides service to MU’s academic departments and outside

organizations like MU Health Care, Cerner Corporation, UM Research & Economic
Development (N. Current, personal communication, September 4, 2015). A usability lab at
Missouri S&T could outreach academic departments on their laboratory projects, website
development, or student recruitment material design. Also, it would help design teams to
strengthen their projects for competitions. For example, Solar House design team
mentioned that they’d like to test user’s point of view on different designs of the solar
house to reflect an outsider’s view. A usability lab also could outreach local business such
as Phelps County Regional Bank and Phelps County Regional Medical Center. Usability
testing is performed in various academic fields and all types of companies from Symantec
and AT&T to Boeing and the United States government employ usability testing techniques
to assess documents and other information products. A possible usability testing service to
academic departments, design teams, and local businesses can enhance user-focused
feature on their projects or works. It would also help enhance competiveness by reflecting
a user’s point of view.
QUALIFICATIONS
The Department of English and Technical Communication at Missouri S&T would be
an ideal department to implement the plan of establishing a usability laboratory. The TC
program recognizes the importance of usability testing in industry. The TC program offers
various courses that are related to industry to improve students' real-world skills. The
demand for usability testing is increasing with developing technology and the program
recognizes its importance. The program offers TCH COM 5530 and two undergraduate
courses (TCH COM 1600 and English 3560) that incorporate usability testing. English 3560

course is currently taught by graduate teaching assistants of the TC program as well as
faculty from the department. Faculty and graduate teaching assistants’ teaching experience
and knowledge of usability testing will qualify them to run and operate a usability lab.
Below are qualified faculty members in the TC program with years of teaching and
research experience who have an interest in a usability lab.
 Dr. David Wright has received his Ph. D. in Technical Communication in 2007 at
Oklahoma University. He currently teaches Usability Studies at Missouri S&T. He
also has an industry experience from OSU, Oklahoma Department of Career and
Technology Education, and Paradalis, Inc (Dr. David Wright, n. d.).
 Dr. Kathryn Northcut has received her Ph.D. in Technical Communication and
Rhetoric from in 2004 at Texas Tech University. She currently teaches Visual
Communication Theory and Practice, Pedagogy, and Proposal Writing at Missouri
S&T. She has an industry experience as an assistant director of a biological
laboratory and a technical writer (Dr. Kathryn M. Northcut, n. d.).
 Dr. Ed Malone has received his Ph. D. in English at Southern Illinois University-
Carbondale. He currently teaches History in Technical Communication, International
Technical Communication, and Technical Editing (Dr. Ed Malone, n. d.).
Especially, Dr. David Wright has had a vision of a usability lab (D. Wright, personal
communication, September 8, 2015). His experience in industry and teaching would
reinforce feasibility of implementing a plan.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS
We researched the existing usability labs at other universities as well as in the
software industry. From our research, we recommend that two rooms be dedicated for a
usability lab. The bigger room can be used as the testing room and the smaller room can be
used as an office or observation room. If the two rooms share a common wall, it can be
fitted with a two-way mirror. Otherwise, the rooms can be connected virtually via video
cameras and an audio broadcast system.
We recommend the testing room located in a quiet, interruption-free location with
minimal traffic. The testing room can be equipped with testing stations with computers,
monitors, and keyboards. Different operating systems on computers would help reflect
diverse aspects to the usability testing result. Also, computers that are equipped with
microphone and web cameras would enable the testing team to record the expressions and
comments of the users during the usability testing. Screen recording software can be
installed on the computers to capture the product screens when the users test the
products. Camtasia and Morae are the widely used software for screen recording and
usability testing in the industry. Camtasia has simple features with a low annual license fee
while Morae has advanced features with a high annual license fee. Also, Camtasia is
available for both PC and Mac while Morae is not available on Mac. A couple of handheld
devices can be provided for testing products on mobile devices. A few adjustable chairs can
also be placed in the testing room for the comfort of the participants. Below is our
recommendation on the equipment and the furniture in testing room:
 10 computers with monitors, keyboards, mouse, and web cams: 8 computers
from Dell and 2 computers from Apple

 10 usability testing software: 3 Morae, 5 Camtasia Studio for PC, 2 Camtasia
Studio for Mac
 Furniture: Desk and chairs
For the observation room, we recommend a computer station with software
installed that lets the testing team observe the participants through the video cameras.
Also, a conference room set up would be recommended for meeting area or focus-group
studies. Below is our recommendation on the equipment and the furniture in observation
room:
 Conference room set-up: A projector, a screen, and a desktop computer
 Furniture: A table, a meeting table, chairs, and a storage cabinet
 A multi functional printer
The observation room as well as the testing room would need internet and campus
Wi-Fi connectivity. See Appendix B for examples of on-campus IT facilities and the
University of Missouri’s Information Experience Laboratory (IEL). We envision a usability
lab could look similar to the following layout:

Figure 1. Suggested layout of a usability lab
PROPOSED BUDGET
To estimate a budget for setting up a usability lab, we defined the cost in three
terms: one-time, on-going, and future. One-time cost includes any cost that is associated
with the equipment and interior of a usability lab. The on-going cost includes usability
testing software licensing fees and labor fees for the faculty members and graduate
research assistants. The future cost is related to any upgrade in facility or expansion of the
lab.
The estimation of the one-time cost for campus usability lab is $21,563.85. The one-
time cost includes computer equipment, a multifunctional printer, the budget for handheld
devices, and usability testing software. IT facilities could be purchased from Missouri S&T’s
Information Technology department. Costs are retrieved from a current pricing list on
Information Technology website (http://it.mst.edu). A request for furniture and space

could be made to the Department of Design and Construction Management at Missouri S&T.
(http://designconstruction.mst.edu/spaceform/). If funding is not granted, individual
purchases from contractor companies or university surplus would be required.
Table 1
Estimated one-time cost for establishing a usability lab
Item Cost($)
Computer equipment 10,623.00
Multifunctional Printer 1,305.00
Budget forhand devices 2,000.00
Usability testing software(1year license) 5,377.85
Conference room set up 2,258.00
Total Cost $21,563.85
Also, our estimations for on-going and future costs that are associated with a
usability lab are listed below:
 On-going cost: Annual software license fee, labor fee for the faculty and graduate
research assistants
 Future cost: Upgrade in facility and equipment
This list shows the overview of estimated budget for setting up a usability lab. In terms
of the future cost, it is possible that the university could secure funding or a partnership
with companies such as AT&T and Adobe.
See Appendix A for a more detailed proposed budget.
CONCLUSION
This proposal proposed a usability lab on Missouri S&T campus. Missouri S&T’s TC
program is well suited to operate a usability lab which would benefit the TC program, the

university, the community, and most importantly the students. With approval, a fully
detailed implementation plan for a usability laboratory at Missouri S&T can begin.

REFERENCES
Total Number of Websites. (n. d.). In Internet Lives Stats. Retrieved September 15, 2015,
from http://www.internetlivestats.com/total-number-of-websites/
iTunes Charts. (n. d.). In Apple. Retrieved September 15, 2015, from
http://www.apple.com/itunes/charts/free-apps/
Apps. (n. d.). In Google Play Store. Retrieved September 15, 2015, from
https://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en
Department Profile. (n. d). In Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved
September 9, 2015, from http://english.mst.edu/department/deptprofile/
Dr. Kathryn M. Northcut. (n. d.). In Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved
September 17, 2015, from
http://english.mst.edu/facultystaffandfacilities/northcut/
Dr. David Wright. (n. d.). In Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved
September 17, 2015, from http://english.mst.edu/facultystaffandfacilities/wright/
Dr. Ed Malone. (n. d.). In Missouri University of Science and Technology. Retrieved
September 17, 2015, from http://english.mst.edu/facultystaffandfacilities/malone/
G. Gaffney. (2004). In Information & Design. Retrieved September 11, 2015, from
http://infodesign.com.au/usabilityresources/articles/technicalcommunicators/
Usability Research Lab. (n. d.). In Texas Tech University Department of English. Retrieved
from https://www.depts.ttu.edu/english/usability/
ASU Usability Testing Lab. (n. d.). In Angelo State University Department of English and
Modern Languages. Retrieved from
http://www.angelo.edu/dept/english_modern_languages/usability.php

Usability.gov Staff Writer. (2014). Constructing and Equipping a Lab – Part 3. Retrieved
September 20, 2015, from http://www.usability.gov/get-
involved/blog/2014/12/building-a-lab-series-constructing-and-equipping-a-
lab.html
Experiential Learning (EL). (2014). In Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Retrieved September 25, 2015, from http://ugs.mst.edu/experientiallearning/

APPENDIXA: DETAILED BUDGET WORKSHEET
Equipment - Computer Devices (computer, monitor, webcam, keyboard, mouse,
microphone)
Table 2
Cost estimation for computer devices
Device Price($) Quantity
Total Cost
($)
Dell Optiplex 7020 664.00 9 5,976.00
Dell 20" P2014H Wide Screen 114.00 9 1,026.00
Dell USB 6 Button OpticalMouse with Scroll 9.00 9 81.00
Microsoft4000 Ergonomic Keyboard 40.00 9 360.00
Internal Dell Business Audio Speaker 6.00 9 54.00
Webcam(LogitechC920 HD ProWebCam with
Microphone)
79.00 10 790.00
*Apple iMac 21.5” 1,168.00 2 2,336.00
*Includes 21.5" LEDBacklit IPS(1920x1080) w/ FaceTime HD camera, Apple Magic Mouse, and
Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (english) – wireless
Note.Information from InformationTechnologyofMissouriUniversityofScienceand Technology,n.
d., Retrieved September 18, 2015 from https://it.mst.edu/secure/standard-hardware.
Equipment - Printer
Table 3
Cost estimation for a printer device
Device Price ($) Quantity
Total Cost
($)
Multifunctional Printers (HP M525dn MFP) 1,305.00 1 1,305.00
Equipment – Conference room
Conference room equipment includes projector with desktop computer, Access
campus account/storage on desktop, or use USB drive, and projector controlled by remote.

Table 4
Cost estimation for conference room equipment
Device Price ($) Quantity
Total Cost
($)
Epson 1940W 1,180.00 1 1,180.00
Chief RPAU Ceiling Mount 110.00 1 110.00
Chief 12" PoleMount 25.00 1 250.00
Dell desktop witha monitor 833.00 1 8330.00
IT Installation Time - 2 hours (fees apply) 110.00 1 110.00
Budget for hand devices: $2,000
Since handheld device market is changing rapidly, we don’t suggest purchasing a
certain device at this time. Appropriate devices may be purchased in need. The budget of
$2,000 derived from market prices of current handheld devices. With a budget of $2,000,
four to five handheld devices could be purchased with current market prices. All prices are
education pricing of the products.
Table 5
Current market price for handheld devices
Product Price ($)
iPad Air 2 479.00
iPad Air 379.00
iPad mini 4 379.00
iPad mini 2 259.00
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 Education 370.00
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1” Education 550.00
Note.Information from Apple,n. d., Retrieved September 18, 2015 from www.apple.com
Note.Information from SamSung,n. d., Retrieved September 18, 2015 from
www.samsung.com/us

Software
Table 6
Cost estimation for software pricing
Software
(education pricing)
Fee per
year ($)
Quantity
Total cost
($)
Morae 1,495.00 3 4,485.00
*Camtasia Studio for PC 179.00 5 *742.85
**Camtasia Studio forMac 75.00 2 150.00
*Volume discount: $148.57 each for purchase from 5 to 9
**Volume discount: $72 each for purchase from 5 to 9
Note.Information from TechSmith,n. d., Retrieved September 18, 2015 from
http://shop.techsmith.com/store/techsm/en_US/pd/productID.289742300 and
http://shop.techsmith.com/store/techsm/en_US/buy/productID.289738300.

APPENDIXB: EXAMPLES OF ON-CAMPUS ITFACILITYAND MU’S IELFACILITY
Figure 2. On-campus IT facility (CSF 114)
Figure 3. On-campus IT facility (CSF 114)

Figure 4. Example of computer equipment set up
Figure 5. MU IEL’s usability testing station

Figure 6. MU IEL’s group working station

Final group proposal(slideshare)

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (10)

Similar to Final group proposal(slideshare)

Similar to Final group proposal(slideshare) (20)

More from YeonKyung Lee

More from YeonKyung Lee (15)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Final group proposal(slideshare)