an agile alternative to the ponderous usability test
DESCRIPTION
Argues that traditional usability testing is too slow and expensive to properly support an iterative approach to design. Presents the "design checkpoint" as a complement: an informal exercise in which 1 designer meets with 1 user for 1 hour every 1 or 2 weeks. From the "7 Minute Soapbox on User Experience" in Waterloo, Ontario on June 14/07.TRANSCRIPT
Robert Barlow-Busch, Terapath Inc.email [email protected] blog www.chopsticker.com
An agile alternative to the ponderous usability test
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Usability is not a science: 9 teams, 310 problems, 75% reported once.
See Rolf Molich’s CUE studies at http://www.dialogdesign.dk/cue.html
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Design & development need more frequent course corrections
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The Design Checkpoint: One designer, one user, one hour.
rinse & repeat every 1 to
2 weeks
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Discovery checkpoints for identifying requirements, testing assumptions, understanding customers
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Exploration checkpoints for testing alternatives and digging into specific questions
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Validation checkpoints for finding the showstoppers
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Keep it simple, do frequent checkpoints, and you’ll stay on course.