Creating User Interfaces
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Presentation Transcript
Creating User Interfaces Review midterm. Work on User Observation studies Homework: Spring break! Use opportunity to work on user observation study!
Usability testing • Quantitative testing done under strict rules. • This is qualitative testing. • generate ideas • document problems • problems may be known already…
Testing in an organization Need to promote • culture of user-centered design • notion that things can be improved so criticisms aren't attacks • Elegance / originality / coolness of design not as important as • meeting goals of systems owners • usability for users
Testing in organization Lessons from Krug's book. DIY testing • start testing early • do frequently • frequent, imperfect test better than rarer tests, all at the end • Use facilitator next to participant and have many observers from all over the organization • Debriefing: observers agree on biggest problems and contract to do something to fix/improve
More • Calls people doing testing the test participants, not test subjects. THEY are not the ones being tested. The application is. • Prepare written scripts for introduction, task definition(s) • Ask test participants to 'think out-loud' about what they are doing • you can choose whether or not to do this. • Don't let them flounder
Not for our project • Written assignment for observers • Debriefing: ask each person to list 3 problems and then work on overall list • Commit resources to improving biggest problems • Don't assume the next big release will fix it • Use tools (instrumentation) • screen sharing • screen recording • audio recording & transmission
Tools • Google Analytics • Google Website Optimizer • Usertesting.com • ?
User Observation study • Plan work • decide if you want to do this in a team • pick web site with significant user interaction • break time is a good time to get family and friends to be subjects! test participants! • be precise as to tasks • [Get organized with your team.] • Enjoy the break!