Pmc tips and tricks for usability testing

Tips and Tricks for Usability Testing
PMC Top Seminar 2011

Liisa-Maija Keinänen
UX Specialist, Adage

Adage - Pioneer in user-centred design

Market leader in usability research in Finland
We are 25 professionals in
• Concept design
• UI design
• Visual design
• Usability
• User experience
In 2010 a total of 1 257 users attended our studies.
Office and research facilities are located in
Arabianranta.
Founded in 2001: celebrating our 10-year
anniversary!

2 Tips for Usability Testing - PMC Top Seminar 2011

PDP Wavecure
Task: Design a better patient
experience for a new fibroid treatment.
Sponsored by Philips.

Challenge: How to enhance user
experience with strict medical
technology requirements?


PDP Wavecure



PDP Wavecure

Iterative testing
and prototyping


Tip 1: Knowing what and why you’re studying
For efficient usage of your and your users’ time:
• Identify specific study questions.
• Learn from users — identify new questions.



”Is this usable?”

”We want to test the general
usability of our product.”

”Does the navigation work?”

”Does this concept work?”



”What does the customer
”Is this usable?”
expect? Can he find answers to
that exact need?”
”We want to test the general
usability of our product.” ”The system needs to work
seamlessly with this other tool.
”Does the navigation work?” Is that requirement fullfilled?”

”In which situations does the
”Does this concept work?” user find this concept useful?”


Tip 2: Knowing your users
In the ideal user-centred design, users are identified
and involved in the design process from the start.
• But, if you forget your users when designing,
remember them when testing.



Example: a tourism portal




Finnish tourist




Finnish tourist

Russian tourist




Finnish tourist

Russian tourist

Any tourist




Finnish tourist Tourism companies
- Big companies
- Entrepreneurs
Russian tourist
Administrators

Any tourist


In the ideal user-centred design, users are identified Take into account all your users, not just those
and involved in the design process from the start. whose usage results in direct income.
• But, if you forget your users when designing, • Don’t forget the guy who has to use your design
remember them when testing. at work every day!


Finnish tourist Tourism companies
- Big companies
- Entrepreneurs
Russian tourist
Administrators

Any tourist


Tip 3: What if there are no users?
Difficult to identify the users
• Completely new concepts
• New platforms
• Users are not available


Difficult to identify the users Find your users among these people:
• Completely new concepts • Who is the product designed for?
• New platforms • Who might use your product in the future?
• Users are not available • Who have a similar mindset as the real end-
users (students, colleagues etc.)?


Difficult to identify the users Find your users among these people:
• Completely new concepts • Who is the product designed for?
• New platforms • Who might use your product in the future?
• Users are not available • Who have a similar mindset as the real end-
users (students, colleagues etc.)?

An iPad application was ready for usability
testing in October 2010.

iPad was released in Finland in November 2010.

Who to test with? Active iPhone users!
- They are used to a similar use logic.
- They are potential iPad users as they are
interested in iOS products.


Tip 4: Making the situation as real as possible
Quick prototyping, early testing — yes! But…
Always try to test in the real environment with the
real medium or the real device. These factors can be
critical for usability.
• Images of computer screens shown on screen
instead of paper.
• Mobile services tested on the move.
• Work-related systems tested while using other
working tools.


Tip 4: Making the situation as real as possible
Quick prototyping, early testing — yes! But…
Also: Making interactive
Always try to test in the real environment with the prototypes is rather quick. Use
real medium or the real device. These factors can be your imagination!
critical for usability.
• Images of computer screens shown on screen
instead of paper.
• Mobile services tested on the move.
• Work-related systems tested while using other
working tools.


Tip 5: Guiding or prompting the user
Test results are of little use if you help the user
too much.
For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind:
• Ask and do not assume what the user thinks and
perceives.
• Use open questions.
• Do not use the user interface terms.
• Show the first step only if the user is completely
off-track.


too much.
For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind:
perceives.
• Use open questions.
• Show the first step only if the user is completely
off-track.

”Now that you have turned the
device on, you can see the
green light on top of it. Is the
light bright enough?”


too much. ”What happened when you pressed that
button?”
For the most fruitful findings, bear in mind: - I guess I turned the device on.
perceives. ”What do you mean?”
• Use open questions. - Well… I’m not sure. There is no indication
of it being turned on.
• Show the first step only if the user is completely ”What did you expect to happen?”
off-track. - I was hoping for some kind of a led lit or
something.

”Now that you have turned the ”Ok. Did you notice the green light on top
device on, you can see the of the device?”
green light on top of it. Is the - No, where? Oh there! No, I didn’t see
light bright enough?” that at all.


Tip 6: Respecting the user
Quite often you face the fact that
• Users can be stupid.
• Users can be wrong.
• Users can dislike your product.
They can still have valid opinions and help you
develop the product’s usability.


Final thoughts
Why test usability?
Because there are just so many ways a design
can be understood and remembered.
• Designer’s reality
• User’s reality
• Is either one the true reality?
Testing with users helps you make users realize what
was meant with the design.


1.9. Thank you!
Contact
Liisa-Maija Keinänen
User Experience Specialist
liisa-maija.keinanen@adage.fi

Adage
Arabiankatu 12
FI-00560 Helsinki
Finland


Pmc tips and tricks for usability testing

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