This document discusses usability testing and user-centered design. It defines user-centered design as considering end users' needs in all stages of the design process. It then describes usability testing as a way to determine if the assumptions made during design were correct. It lists characteristics of usable products and potential difficulties in usability testing for software/websites. Finally, it outlines the main steps to conduct a cognitive walkthrough usability test, including choosing products, identifying users, designing tasks, collecting data, and reporting results.

1. USABILITY TESTING
and user-centered design

2. USER-CENTERED DESIGN:
a rhetorically based
philosophy of design that
considers end users’ needs,
wants, and constraints in all
stages of the design process.
(Wikipedia)
Pssst. If you don’t help
me achieve my goals not
only effectively but also
efficiently, I’ll chew
through your power
lines.

3. examples of
especially
well-designed
products?
I feel like this
could probably
be more
convenient.

4. (aside from Apple products.)

5. Usability testing is a way to
find out whether the
assumptions used in the
design process were correct.

6. To be usable, a product should be…
Easy to learn.
Easy to remember.
Efficient.
Satisfying
(enjoyable to use).
Error free.

7. What would be difficult about doing
usability testing for software and/or
websites?

8. Types of Usability Tests
1. Lab-based testing.
1.Web-based testing.
1. Cognitive walkthrough. (Acting as the user, an
evaluator does a set of tasks and records his/her
experience.) **this is the type of testing you’ll be
doing for this project.

9. STEPS for a Cognitive Walkthrough
Usability Test

10. Step 1. Choose two products (which
have the same purpose) to compare.

11. Step 2. Identify typical users of the
project (level of knowledge, reasons
for use, etc.).

12. Step 3. Decide the tasks that will
comprise the test:
 at least 10 tasks.
 not too simple.
 do things your identified user
would do.

13. EXAMPLE: What kinds of tasks could a user
do with word processing software (e.g.
Microsoft Word)?

14. Step 3 (cont). Consider the following
when designing tasks to test products:
 Affordances of product.
 Constraints of product.
 Ease of use.
 Aesthetics.
 Visibility/functionality.
 Feedback (is product responsive?).
 Mapping (do you know where you are in a given
process?).
 Time taken to complete tasks.

15. Step 4. Decide on equipment and
location where you will complete the
tasks (must be consistent for both
products).

16. Step 5. Decide on criteria and rating scale.

17. Rating with LIKERT SCALES
Example: I was able to do the task with little or minimal consultation with the
product’s Help section.
Strongly
Agree
Somewhat
Agree
Agree Somewhat
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
5 4 3 2 1

18. Step 6. Create a data collection form.
Task Product 1 Score Product 2 Score
1. Create an
Usability description
5 Usability description 2
Account and
(what happened when you did the test)
Login for the
first time.
I was satisfied with the time it
took, to do this task.
I was satisfied with the time it took,
to do this task.

19. Step 7. Do the test.

20. Step 8.Write up the results (white
paper).

21. HOORAY!!!