Software | Usability Evaluation

Introduction

Software applications, like websites, benefit from testing with real users. Users are not all the same and what is abundantly clear to one may be gibberish to another. The differences are as dramatic as the differences between the applications themselves such as between an accountancy application and a computer game.

Our service enables application developers to distil the functionality that is likely to work, very early in the project lifecycle. Identifying and resolving usability issues early in the life cycle can mean significant cost savings later in development.

Our specialised laboratory, hardware and software enable us to effectively evaluate the usability of applications in a controlled environment. Our mobile lab enables us to test on client site if it is not possible to test in the lab.

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The Process

We recruit a representative sample of the applications' target audience and ask them to perform a series of tasks that are typical of those a user would attempt in the real world (for example Using a gaming application a task may be: go settings and set up the joystick). While performing the tasks (at our state of the art usability facilities or at your location using our mobile testing lab) the users are observed and recorded. Afterwards participants are interviewed to gather further information about their experience.

We use specialised software to both collect and interpret participant behaviours. In addition to identifying usability problems our approach enables us to make recommendations to rectify them. These recommendations allow action to be taken the very same day.

We provide three key deliverables:

1. Usability Report - detailed document outlining our methodology, results and their interpretation plus actionable recommendations.
    
2. Video highlights - edited video clips of the most informative parts of the tests.
    
3. Presentation - an oral presentation communicating the most important findings and recommendations.

If you would like to discuss how a programme of usability research can be used to improve the performance of your software application please call or email us and a consultant will be happy to talk with you.

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© The Usability Company 2007