This document discusses usability testing of websites, databases, and social media tools. It defines usability and explains its importance. Usability testing ensures interfaces are easy to use by evaluating components like learnability, efficiency, memorability and satisfaction. The presentation compares software like Morae, Camtasia Studio and Jing that can be used to test on computers, tablets and mobile devices. Examples of testing processes and techniques for improving usability are provided.

1. USING USABILITY TESTING
SOFTWARE TO EVALUATE WEBSITES,
DATABASES, & SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS
Kelsey Hall, Utah State University

2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
ü Define
usability
ü Explain
why
usability
design
is
important
for
computer
&
mobile
applica;on
ü Compare
&
contrast
usability
tes;ng
so=ware
ü Share
example
of
usability
tes;ng
with
Morae,
Camtasia
Studio,
&
Jing
ü Discuss
equipment
needed
for
tes;ng
on
computers,
laptops,
iPads,
&
mobile
devices

3. WHY CARE ABOUT USABILITY?
ü Have
you
ever…
– GoHen
lost
in
a
website?
– Le=
a
site
without
finding
the
informa;on
you
wanted?
– Been
confused
by
the
naviga;on
of
a
mobile
app?
– Seen
too
much
text
on
a
mobile
screen?
ü “You
never
get
a
second
chance
to
make
a
first
impression.”

4. DEFINE
USABILITY
ü Usability
is
a
quality
a)ribute
that
assesses
how
easy
user
interfaces
are
to
use.
– Jakob
Nielson,
2012

5. 5 COMPONENTS OF USABILITY
1. Learnability
2. Efficiency
3. Memorability
4. Error
Free
✗
5. Sa;sfac;on
return
to
product,
app,
or
website
a=er
some
;me
without
having
to
learn
things
all
over
again
learn
how
to
accomplish
task
&
maintain
high
level
of
produc;vity
accomplish
task
free
of
errors
and
recover
easily
from
any
errors
quickly
start
working
on
a
task
like
using
product,
app,
or
website

6. USABILITY TESTING PROCESS
Obtain
Representa;ve
Users
Recruit
users
according
to
their
preferred
devices
Screen
poten;al
users
using
survey
or
telephone
script
Compose
Test
Protocol
Construct
clear,
quan;ta;ve
objec;ve
goals
Explain
tes;ng
procedures
Develop
wriHen
scenarios
to
ask
users
to
perform
Conduct
Usability
Test
Use
wriHen
scenarios
Survey
or
interview
users
a=er
tes;ng
Interpret
Test
Outcomes
Efficiency:
;me
each
task
Error
rate:
Count
;mes
users
deviate
from
task,
backtrack
or
restart
Learnability:
observe
how
quickly
users
understand
naviga;onal
layout
Sa5sfac5on:
Ask
open-­‐ended
ques;ons
about
experience
Recommend
Compile
data
into
report
Include
quan;ta;ve
data,
users’
spoken
or
wriHen
words,
&
audio
or
video
of
users

7. USABILITY TESTING TOOLS
ü Morae by Tech Smith
ü Usability testing tool
ü Camtasia Studio by Tech Smith
ü Screen & video capture tool
ü Jing by Tech Smith
ü Screen & video capture tool by Tech Smith

8. WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON DESKTOP
USING MORAE
Room Configuration
Observer
User
Facilitator

9. WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON DESKTOP
USING MORAE

10. USABILITY TESTING ON TABLET OR
MOBILE USING MORAE OR CAMTASIA
STUDIO
• Record
with
an
external
camera
(webcam
or
document
camera)

11. WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON LAPTOP
USING JING
Task 1 – On the Library
website, you must find a
guide to doing research for a
class in your academic major.
It does not have to be for a
class you are currently taking.
Task 2 – Assume you are
taking a class in a subject you
know very little about, for
example, psychology,
anthropology, literature, film,
etc. If you were assigned a
research paper, how would
you find information resources
on that subject? State what is
your subject before you
search for the information
resources.

12. COMPARING USABILITY TESTING TOOLS
Morae Camtasia Studio
with Screen
Sharing Tool
Jing
PC ✔ ✔ ✔
Mac OS ✗ ✔ ✔
Take screen
capture (video)
✔
Unlimited time
✔
Unlimited time
✔
Maximum of 5
minutes
Webcam
synchronization
✔ ✔
Video of the
computer & video &
audio of user
✔
Video of the computer
screen & audio of
user; no video of user
Video editing ✔ ✔ ✗
Must use video
editing software like
Camtasia Studio

13. COMPARING USABILITY TESTING TOOLS
Morae Camtasia Studio
with Screen Sharing
Tool
Jing
Screen sharing ✔
Uses Morae
Observer to
share audio &
video in real time
✔
Can be used with
Google Hangouts or
GoToMeeting
✗
Mobile device
testing
✔
Tablets &
smartphones
✗ ✗
Remote testing ✔ ✔ ✔
Incorporates
survey/opinion
based
data
✔
Built within
Morae
✔
Use SurveyMonkey or
Qualtrics
✔
Use
SurveyMonkey
or Qualtrics

14. TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING USABILITY
FOR WEBSITES & MOBILE APPS
ü Ask to accomplish fewer tasks on mobile
device than computer or laptop
ü Use icons that are obvious & not rely
exclusively on color
ü Use color, shape, & text to address
colorblindness
ü Have consistent layout (OK or Cancel button at
far right bottom; search fields at top of page; social
media tools in similar place & use same shape & color)

15. TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING USABILITY
FOR WEBSITES & MOBILE APPS
ü Test all major browsers (Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, & Safari)
ü Adjust length of titles & navigation bar
titles for mobile devices
ü Avoid scrolling pages of website on
mobile device

16. Thank You
Questions?
CONTACT DR. HALL AT KELSEY.HALL@USU.EDU