1. The document provides tips for testing mobile applications and websites without a prototype, including testing similar sites, increasing sample sizes by 40-50%, and capturing user sessions with a mobile testing sled even if no one will watch the recordings. 2. It recommends testing each supported device separately and discusses challenges with testing wireframes on phones like screensaver timeouts and touch inputs hiding the content. 3. Various methods for recording mobile device screens are presented, from attaching cameras directly to devices to using post-its to keep screens in view, and notes are emphasized as important backups if technology fails.

2. Our humble beginnings: Mobsmart

3. These slides cover:
1. What to do when there’s no prototype
2. Why it’s very important that you shop at work
3. How many participants to include in your
study
4. The best way to record a mobile device
5. Who will read your report and watch your

4. Move over, television.
There are more mobile phones than TVs.
Taken by flickr user Marxpix

5. Mobile is about movement – therefore unpredictable.
Taken by flickr user TheeErin

6. There are vast differences between mobile devices.
Taken by flickr user csaila

7. Testing an app?
Run a round of testing for each device you support.
Taken by flickr user Jason Unbound

8. Testing a mobile site? Test 50% more people than you
usually would. Roughly 3 per device.
Taken by flickr user Steve Rhodes

9. Don’t wait for the prototype.
http://richardlstansfield.wordpress.com/2011/05/page/2/ Test whatever you have.
Taken by flickr
user Tom Hirt

10. Test sites with similar goals as your site,
even if they’re not competitors.
http://gadgetsteria.com/2010/12/14/att-
sprint-and-verizon-talk-shared-data-plans/pile-
http://richardlstansfield.wordpress.com/2011/05/page/2/
of-smartphones/

11. Possible pitfalls of testing wireframes on a phone
(Using the photo gallery to display them)
1. Screenshots that look good on one device, won’t
look good on all of your devices.
2. Phones fall asleep and require lots of power if you
want to keep them on for the whole test.
3. If users touch the screen, gallery options show and
can be confusing to participants.
http://gadgetsteria.com/2010/12/14/att-
sprint-and-verizon-talk-shared-data-plans/pile-
http://richardlstansfield.wordpress.com/2011/05/page/2/
of-smartphones/

12. Testing can be formal in style and setting…
Bentley University Design and Testing Center c. 2008

13. …or more informal.
Taken by flickr user Shopify

14. Up close and personal. Be aware that mobile testing
requires you get very close to the participant.
Taken by flickr user lucamascaro

15. Warm ups aren’t just for athletes. Warm up your
participants to make sure they can use the devices.
Taken by flickr user leeander

16. Pre-test questions can be just as
important as the test itself.
Taken by flickr user Mesq

17. Don’t just ask – capture answers and responses.
Template design courtesy of Dan Berlin, Mad*Pow

18. How do you record a mobile device?
This looks uncomfortable.
Taken by flickr user mdiazphoto

19. How do you keep the device in the camera view?
CX Partners uses the post-it method.
http://www.cxpartners.co.uk/cxblog/ipad_app_ux_testing_observations_from_the_field/

20. Most adorable testing set-up, by Objective Digital
http://blog.objectivedigital.com/diy-document-camera-for-mobile-testing-record

21. Kaden Rushford built his solution: Attach the camera to the device.
Light, portable, and captures the users’ movements.
http://kad3n.com/portfolio/

22. Want.
Kirk Henry’s design for Lokion Interactive
http://www.90percentofeverything.com/2010/11/15/more-mobile-usability-testing-sleds/

23. Mr. Tappy!
A great alternative to DIY mobile usability test sleds.

24. Be prepared to take lots of notes.
Technology can fail and those notes will be important.
Taken by flickr user Dr Stephen Dann

25. Write reports people will actually read –
Make them visual.
http://lorrainepaterson.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/ux2-0-usability-test-report/

26. Eat This, Not That! Use this as inspiration for your reports.
eatthis.menshealth.com

27. Design this, not that!

28. New EBSCOhost site
Old EBSCOhost mobile site (launching Summer 2012)
Every test tells a story; with a beginning and an end

29. 1. Don’t wait for a prototype
2. Find sites that are like yours
3. Increase your sample size by 40-50%
4. Make a mobile testing sled
5. Capture and record, even though no one will
watch (except maybe the CIO)