1. Usability testing and paper prototyping REBECCA TOPPSUX DESIGNER SIGMA

2. What is usability?Usability really just means making sure that something works well whether its a website, a fighter jet or a revolving door. Steve Krug 3. Usability is affected by: The users - who is using the product? e.g. are they highly trained and experienced users, or novices?Their goals - what are the users trying to do with the product - does it support what they want to do with it?The context of use - where and how is the product being used? 4. Usability Testing: a technique used to evaluate a product (e.g. a website) by testing it on users 5. Image credit: http://www.mediamatic.nl/49341/en/usability-testers-manual 6. Guerilla usability testing 7. Doesnt involve Gorillas! Guerilla user testing is a low cost method of user testing. The term guerilla refers to its out in the wild style, in the fact that it can be conducted anywhere e.g. cafe, library, train station etc, essentially anywhere where there is significant footfall. 8. Advantages Quick and easy to performResults can be fed back into the design process almost immediately with no loss of signalYou have to recruit participants, arrange locations and write tests yourselfFamiliarity with the website may introduce personal biasInexpensive so can afford multiple testsDisadvantages 9. Recruiting participants: Think about who your target audience isAsk friends, family, tutors or studentsAsk people at coffee shops or a public place where your target audience will be(Ensure you get permission before testing at events or public places) Use social media to advertise for participantsCreate flyers and posters advertising for participants Image credit: http://www.uxbooth.com/articles/theart-of-guerilla-usability-testing/ / 10. Setting up the testing environment You need very little resources to set up a good testing environment.Make sure to reserve a room that you can test in a quiet environment without a lot of distractions.You will need: One laptop (or computer) with recording software Silverback for Macs or Bandicam for WindowsA USB-mouse, for ease when people don't like using the trackpadSeparate paper slips which include every scenarioA notepad for keeping notes during user testsSomething to drink (and to eat) 11. Planning Book a room (e.g. Media factory meeting rooms)Recruit participantsSchedule in times and dates with your participantsCreate tasks and scenariosWrite a usability testing scriptConduct a risk assessment on your testing environmentOrganise your equipmentDownload usability testing recording software (Bandicam or Silverback)Print out copies of the tasks for the user and permission forms 12. Creating usability testing tasks Bad example: Search for a bookcaseGood example: You have 200+ books in your fiction collection, currently in boxes placed around your living room. Find a way to organise them. 13. Task 1A (15 minutes) 1. Choose a website 2. Write down 3 tasks for a usability test on the website 14. Being a facilitator A facilitator is the person who carries out the usability testThey guide the participant through the entire test, including greeting the personThe facilitator should listen to the participant, including asking them what they think about the website and how they would use it when at homeGuidance on what a facilitator should say: http://www.sensible.com/downloads/things-a-therapist-would-say.pdf 15. Task 1B (30-40 minutes) 1.Get into pairs2.Choose a person in the pair to be the facilitator (and the other person will be the participant)3.Facilitator conduct a usability test on the participant using the website and tasks you created earlier (if it helps take notes of the main findings during the test)4.After you have completed the usability test swap roles and carry out the usability test again 16. Paper prototyping 17. A usability testing technique which is used to observe the human interaction with user interfaces even before these interfaces are designed and developedImage credit: http://usabilitygeek.com/paper-prototypingas-a-usability-testing-technique/ 18. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wQkLthhHKA 19. Advantages Fast way to mock up an interface no coding requiredFinds a wide variety of problems in an interfaceAllows an interface to be refined based on user feedback before implementation beginsA multidisciplinary team can participateEncourages creativity from the product team and users alikeDisadvantages Does not find all classes of problems with an interface Can affect the way users interact with the interface Makes some development teams nervous because they fear users will think it unprofessional Has stronger benefits in some situations than in others 20. POP POP is an iPhone application that gives you the ability to take photos of your paper prototypes, make them interactive and test the prototype on users. Image credit: https://popapp.in/ 21. Task 2A (30 minutes) 1.Read over your findings from the usability test you did earlier2.Draw a new design for the website You can choose any pages you think need re-designing and draw them out using the desktop and mobile templates provided.Image credit: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/popprototyping-on-paper/id555647796 22. Task 2B (30 minutes) 1.Use your own (or a university) phone/tablet and download the POP application2.Take photos of your designs on POP3.Link up your designs on POP4.With the pairs you were in earlier, take turns to ask the other person to click around your prototypeImage credit: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/popprototyping-on-paper/id555647796 23. Resources 24. Usability recording softwarehttp://silverbackapp.com/http://www.bandicam.com/ 25. Useful Books 26. Useful links Steve Krug websiteWebsite usability testing toolsVideo of a Sigma employees guerilla testing presentationAn article about the art of usability testingInformation from Gov.UK on guerilla usability testingSlideshow from Silverback about guerilla testingSlideshow explaining how to run your own guerilla usability test 27. Any questions? Get in touch Email: rebecca.topps@sigma.se LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/rebeccatopps/ Twitter: @beckytopps