tips about involvement of users in tests and assessments

How to Improve the Usability of Your DTN System or Product

Tips about involvement of users in tests and assessments

The topic of this lesson

•Putting the usability in focus when designing the interface components •Through involving people in assessment and tests while developing your network or product •Why and how?

21 April 2023 2www.elearning-dtn.eu

People make the network work

• When developing a DTN network, as any system, a small or large group of people will be involved

• The same will be the case in the use situation, when the network or product is deployed

• Remember to have a broad view on the intended user – the group may show to be wider, or different than initially assumed

A group of staff and presumptive end users during a DTN test event, Swedish Lappland 2010

The use situation is decisive

• Eventually, it is the user who will make the product work

• If it is difficult to handle or understand, it might not be used

• If that happens, your network or product will not even have a chance, to prove its technical merits

Usability makes technology Attractive

• Therefore, keeping an eye on the usability aspect

• And involving people in assessment and tests • Can be the decisive step that ensures the

success of your DTN system and products• Remember, that different people may notice

different aspects of the usability

How to do? The basics:

* Include friends, family, volunteers* Test between each development step* Gather useful input* Test in several steps before deployment


• An Internet café in a traditional Sámi tipi, set up to attract testers. The solar panel provides power for the equipment

The more advanced approach

• A development team can have different ambition levels, according to needs and resources

• Identifying the accurate ambition level will then be of interest


There are three main levels commonly used:

1.Next-bench testing

2.Laboratory testing

3.A fully inclusive process with users continuously involved, starting from the draft design

Next-bench testing Simply means trying your ideas out and discussing with colleagues, letting them try your accomplishments and asking for their opinions

Who is the ”best” tester?

Think about the mix of people you interact with, for the assessment of your design and product – are they both women and men? What age? Things like education and job experience can matter. A mix of people bring different preferences and know-how to the tests and can give the varied feedback you will benefit from.

Do not engage only with people who are just like yourself!

The testers can for instance be students, who one might be able to engage via their

teachers and the school

Laboratory testing is when you engage a test group in a test that you have designed.

Laboratory tests need not take place in traditional ’laboratories’. The picture shows a

DTN test event in Swedish Lappland 2006

Last but not least: A user-driven design process in action. The picture shows feedback to an end user involved in

application design for DTN in Slovenia 2010

Advanced level user involvement

For the “how to” of designing an advanced user involvement scheme several hand books and learning sites are available.

The “Guidelines for mobilizing and involving people” by CDT are available via www.cdt.se or direct link:

http://www.cdt.ltu.se/main.php/Guidelines_handbok_low.pdf?fileitem=8126513


http://www.cdt.se/



Finally, the rationale: Why involve different

people in assessment and tests?

•Others might notice things you have not thought of•Involving possible user groups can speed up the process to ready-made product


User involvement for success

The success of the network or product depends on how well it suits the intended use situation and the preferences and conditions of the people who will use it

Involving users increases the likelihood that the product will be both Useful and Usable


tips about involvement of users in tests and assessments

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