The advantages of a usability test
By conducting a usability test, the developer of the product or service receives direct feedback from end users about the product’s weaknesses and features they would like the product to have. This feedback is valuable because the test users have field-specific experience that a usability expert, for example, does not necessarily possess. In addition, a true end user is the best person to give feedback on the user experience.
We offer our clients the opportunity to come and observe usability tests in our laboratory. Clients often say it is an extremely eye-opening and unique experience.
Usability tests in a nutshell
In a usability test, the problems related to the usability of a product or a service are discovered by testing it with users.
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The test users are given tasks related to the system being tested which they will complete in the way they desire and at their own pace.
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Generally, the users are asked to think out loud during the tasks so that the reasons behind their actions or inaction can be discovered.
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The test is conducted and observed by a usability expert.
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Typically, the usability test will include only one test user at a time, but especially with younger users, testing is more effective when conducted in pairs rather than individually.
We have developed a usability testing method which can easily be adapted to our clients’ agile software development processes.
Test users
The people chosen as test users of a usability test represent the target group as accurately as possible. When testing on users of the wrong target group, the problems faced in real use will not surface.
There are thousands of users in our user database, and they form a diverse group of test users ready to be recruited to any type of target group.
The test environment
Usability testing can be organized in various environments, such as a laboratory, if there is one available, but the test setting can just as well be created at the work station of the test user or test conductor, or at a home. The most important thing is to create a testing environment that imitates as closely as possible the true use environment of the product.
At our office in Vilhonkatu, there are two modern and cosy usability laboratories, one of which has a one-way mirror between the laboratory and the observation room. In addition, we have a field laboratory which enables us to test products and services in any location. In fact, we execute field projects every year in over ten countries all over the world.
Our clients have the possibility to follow our tests anywhere in the world through online real-time video transmission. This gives them the unique opportunity of observing users from different countries and cultures directly from their own computers.