Usability Testing
We offer you a concerted range of methods for the reliable assessment of your application’s usability. Based on our approach – which is just as much founded on theoretical knowledge as it is tried and tested in practice – you will thus gain comprehensive insight on the user perspective, be able to identify potential problems early on and implement optimizations in a budget-friendly way.
In a preparative workshop, we will first define precise targets and identify the target group relevant for your application. Then we will compile selected test scenarios representing the expected usage of the system. Accurate target group specification serves to support recruiting representative test subjects. At our lab, these subjects will handle the presented test scenarios under typical work conditions. All behavioural information (such as gestures, facial expression, verbal comments or “thinking aloud”) as well as user-system interactions and navigation paths will be diligently documented. Our analysis will not only identify usability barriers but in particular also those aspects of the application perceived as positive by the test subjects. This will serve to deduce optimization recommendations for individual application.
Ergosign usability lab
The well-equipped Ergosign usability lab provides separate user and observation rooms connected by a one-way mirror. Depending on the test’s intention, user-system interactions and related behavioural information are recorded by means of digital screen capture, audio and video recording, eye-tracking protocol or detailed observation notes.
Mobile lab
Our mobile lab facilitates empirical usability tests involving users in realistic usage environment. For instance, machine control units can be analysed time-efficiently and without any need for test subjects to travel in the respective usage context.
Testing mobile devices
Portable devices such as smart phones or tablets are tested with special equipment. For instance, gooseneck cameras allow for identifying user interaction with keyboard elements or the portable device’s touch display in detail while a “head-mounted eye-tracker” records the users’ respective eye movements.
Complementary methods
- Semi-structured interviews – Planning, execution & analysis of user interviews in the context of use
- Focal groups – Moderated group discussions in order to identify requirements and potential
- Eye tracking – Evaluation of eye movements and resting time in individual sections of the interface
- Benchmarking (System Usability Scale) – Comparing operating quality to competing products
- Guerilla testing – Tests performed with subjects recruited on last-minute base to quickly gain information
- Competitive product comparison – Compares the operation quality of various products
