USABILITY TESTING

USABILITY TESTING

     Usability testing is a type of technique used in user-centered interaction mode to evaluate the pro's and con's of  a product by testing it on users.It gives direct feedback on how real users use the system.

     Usability testing usually involves in determining how well people can use the product.both qualitative testing and usability testing are used in combination in Usability testing,to better understand users' perceptions, in combination with their actions.

     Setting up a usability test involves in the creation of a scenario, where the user performs a list of tasks using the product while makers watch and take feedback.

     Hallway testing  is a general method for usability testing. Instead of using an, trained group of testers, just five to six random people are selected and  are brought in to test the product, or service.

     Expert review is another common method of usability testing. As the name indicates, this method relies on bringing in experts mostly from companies that are specialized in usability testing to evaluate and give feedback on the usability of a product. 

     A Heuristic evaluation or Usability Audit is the evaluation of an interface by one or more Human Factor experts.Evaluators measure the usability, efficiency, effectiveness of the interface based on the principles of usability.

  

     On similar lines of expert reviews, automated expert reviews provide usability testing but through the use of programs which have good heuristics The main advantage regarding this is,although they  might not provide as much detail from people, they are more quick and consistent. 

The numbers of users that might be required for usability testing is generally given by the mathematical formula

where p is the probability of one subject identifying a specific problem and n the number of subjects or test sessions. 

REFERENCES:

retrieved april 18th 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability_testing

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retrieved april 18th 2014 from http://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/usability-testing.html