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Remote Website Usability Testing. Jessica Gardner MSIS Meeting, 9 May 2007. On the Web, usability is a necessary condition for survival. If a website is difficult to use, people leave. Dr. Jakob Nielsen, usability expert. Usability testing is quite easy. Find some representative users
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Remote Website Usability Testing Jessica Gardner MSIS Meeting, 9 May 2007
On the Web, usability is a necessary condition for survival. If a website is difficult to use, people leave. Dr. Jakob Nielsen, usability expert
Usability testing is quite easy • Find some representative users • Ask the users to perform representative tasks with the website • Observe what users do, where they succeed, and where they have difficulties with the user interface Source:Usability 101: Introduction to Usability, Jakob Nielsen’s Alertbox, 25 August 2003http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
Options for Conducting Tests • Sophisticated laboratory tests • Pen and paper observations • Remote usability tests Photo source: Sun usability labshttp://www.sun.com/usability/
Remote vs Lab Testing • Bolt Peters Usability Research study, 2002: • No reliable differences in the number and type of usability issues found • Lab testing 50% more expensive • Lab testing took seven times longer Source:Bolt Peters, Remote Testing versus Lab Testing, 3 February 2005http://www.boltpeters.com/articles/versus.html
The UNECE Experience • Website established 1995 • Change in scope since then • Hundreds of web pages • Limited resources for maintenance • Decision to review and redesign in 2006
Why we chose remote testing • Representative users • Locations across the world • Staff in Statistical Offices • Minimize costs • Minimize time required
WebEx Meeting Manager • Web conferencing software • Share documents, make online presentations, communicate and collaborate online • Observe or control a computer remotely
Methodology Prepare test scenarios Determine users and their needs Conduct tests (9) Analyze results Recruit testers 6 weeks
Conclusions • Remote usability testing a valuable tool • Possible with limited resources • Easy to recruit testers • You get really valuable feedback • A must-do!
Thank you – any questions? Volunteers for future usability tests wanted!Contact: jessica.gardner@unece.org