Using Usability Testing Software to Evaluate Websites, Databases, & Social Media Tools

USING USABILITY TESTING SOFTWARE TO EVALUATE WEBSITES, DATABASES, & SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS Kelsey Hall, Utah State University

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

ü Define  usability  ü Explain  why  usability  design  is  important  for  computer  &  mobile  applica;on  

ü Compare  &  contrast  usability  tes;ng  so=ware  ü Share  example  of  usability  tes;ng  with  Morae,  Camtasia  Studio,  &  Jing  

ü Discuss  equipment  needed  for  tes;ng  on  computers,  laptops,  iPads,  &  mobile  devices    

WHY CARE ABOUT USABILITY?

ü Have  you  ever…  – GoHen  lost  in  a  website?  –  Le=  a  site  without  finding  the  informa;on  you  wanted?  

–  Been  confused  by  the  naviga;on  of  a  mobile  app?  –  Seen  too  much  text  on  a  mobile  screen?    

ü “You  never  get  a  second  chance  to  make  a  first  impression.”  

DEFINE USABILITY

ü Usability  is  a  quality  a)ribute  that  assesses  how  easy  user  interfaces  are  to  use.  –  Jakob  Nielson,  2012  

5 COMPONENTS OF USABILITY 1.  Learnability  

2.  Efficiency  

3.  Memorability  

4.  Error  Free  ✗  

5.  Sa;sfac;on  

return  to  product,  app,  or  website  a=er  some  ;me  without  having  to  learn  things  all  over  again  

learn  how  to  accomplish  task  &  maintain  high  level  of  produc;vity  

accomplish  task  free  of  errors  and  recover  easily  from  any  errors  

quickly  start  working  on  a  task  

like  using  product,  app,  or  website  

USABILITY TESTING PROCESS Obtain  Representa;ve  Users  

Recruit  users  according  to  their  preferred  devices  

Screen  poten;al  users  using  survey  or  telephone  script  

Compose  Test  Protocol  

Construct  clear,  quan;ta;ve  objec;ve  goals  

Explain  tes;ng  procedures  

Develop  wriHen  scenarios  to  ask  users  to  perform  

Conduct  Usability  Test  

Use  wriHen  scenarios  

Survey  or  interview  users  a=er  tes;ng  

Interpret  Test  Outcomes  

Efficiency:  ;me  each  task  

Error  rate:  Count  ;mes  users  deviate  from  task,  backtrack  or  restart  

Learnability:  observe  how  quickly  users  understand  naviga;onal  layout  Sa5sfac5on:  Ask  open-­‐ended  ques;ons  about  experience  

Recommend  

Compile  data  into  report  

Include  quan;ta;ve  data,  users’  spoken  or  wriHen  words,  &  audio  or  video  of  users  

USABILITY TESTING TOOLS

ü Morae by Tech Smith

ü Usability testing tool

ü Camtasia Studio by Tech Smith

ü Screen & video capture tool

ü Jing by Tech Smith

ü Screen & video capture tool by Tech Smith

WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON DESKTOP USING MORAE

Room Configuration

Observer

User

Facilitator

WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON DESKTOP USING MORAE

USABILITY TESTING ON TABLET OR MOBILE USING MORAE OR CAMTASIA STUDIO  •  Record  with  an  external  camera  (webcam  or  document  camera)  

WEBSITE USABILITY TESTING ON LAPTOP USING JING

Task 1 – On the Library website, you must find a guide to doing research for a class in your academic major. It does not have to be for a class you are currently taking. Task 2 – Assume you are taking a class in a subject you know very little about, for example, psychology, anthropology, literature, film, etc. If you were assigned a research paper, how would you find information resources on that subject? State what is your subject before you search for the information resources.

COMPARING USABILITY TESTING TOOLS Morae Camtasia Studio

with Screen Sharing Tool

Jing

PC ✔ ✔ ✔

Mac OS ✗ ✔ ✔

Take screen capture (video)

✔ Unlimited time

✔ Unlimited time

✔ Maximum of 5 minutes

Webcam synchronization

✔ ✔ Video of the computer & video & audio of user

✔ Video of the computer screen & audio of user; no video of user

Video editing ✔ ✔ ✗ Must use video editing software like Camtasia Studio

COMPARING USABILITY TESTING TOOLS Morae Camtasia Studio

with Screen Sharing Tool

Jing

Screen sharing ✔ Uses Morae Observer to share audio & video in real time

✔ Can be used with Google Hangouts or GoToMeeting

✗

Mobile device testing

✔ Tablets & smartphones

✗ ✗

Remote testing ✔ ✔ ✔

Incorporates  survey/opinion  based  data  

✔ Built within Morae

✔ Use SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics

✔ Use SurveyMonkey or Qualtrics

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING USABILITY FOR WEBSITES & MOBILE APPS

ü Ask to accomplish fewer tasks on mobile device than computer or laptop

ü Use icons that are obvious & not rely exclusively on color

ü Use color, shape, & text to address colorblindness

ü Have consistent layout (OK or Cancel button at

far right bottom; search fields at top of page; social media tools in similar place & use same shape & color)

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING USABILITY FOR WEBSITES & MOBILE APPS

ü Test all major browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, & Safari)

ü Adjust length of titles & navigation bar titles for mobile devices

ü Avoid scrolling pages of website on mobile device

Thank You Questions? CONTACT DR. HALL AT [email protected]