USABILITY TESTING

What is Usability?

Usability Is a measure of how easy it is to use something

How easy will the use of the software be for a typical user to understand, learn, and operate.

“user-friendliness”

What is Usability Testing?

An empirical study of a product’s usability by observing actual users do real tasks with the product

Involves: Real users Real tasks Specific usability goals/concerns Observing and recording the testing Data analysis

What is Usability Testing?

Usability Testing is an attempt to quantify software user-friendliness according to: 1. Skill needed to learn the software2. Time required to become efficient in using the

software3. The measured increase in user productivity4. A subjective assessment of a user’s attitude

toward using the software

5-STEP PROCESS

Step 3:CONDUCT TESTS

Step 1:PLAN & PREP

Step 2:SELECT PARTICIPANTS

Step 4:ANALYZE RESULTS

Step 5:DEVELOP

RECOMENDATIONS

Step 1: Plan & Prepare

Develop a test plan: For simple testing, prepare a list of questions For more detailed testing, have a script prepared

Step 2: Find Participants

Who are your actual users? We may need to break the users into typical user categories. Demographics: age, education level, cultural background,

socioeconomic status,… Experience level with the product, with products of the same

genre, with required technology,... Other things:

▪ motivation▪ learning style ▪ subject matter knowledge▪ location of use▪ physical characteristics▪ people with disabilities or impairments (from color blindness and

learning disabilities to more severe disabilities)

Step 3: Conduct the Session

User will be asked to perform a set of pre-defined tasks

Make the user feel comfortable Collect basic data

Could the user complete the task? Did they need help? Track how much time it took them Note any stumbling blocks

(problems/obstacles) Overall observations, commentary Prepare a post-test survey

Step 4: Analyze Results

Identify difficulties and problem areas Identify why there was difficulty or the

source of any problems Identify any specific task-oriented issues

Step 5: Make Recommendations

Compile and recommend Gather all your compiled information and

translate into recommendations Concentrate on high-level functionality first Then focus on recommendations for improved

user experience (what works and what does not work well for users!)

Determine the implementation plan Write up a formal report

T H A N K Y O U