[Sigia-l] Where Can You Rent User Testing Labs

[Robin Good]

On the fascinating issue of using real-time conferencing tools
to run remote usability tests, Mitchell wrote:

"For many tests of computer-based products and websites, I do remote
usability testing, where participants are in a different location from
the  moderator and observers. I use a conferencing service, such as
PlaceWare or  WebEx, to let participants use a copy of the product
running on my  computer, and I interact with them during the test
sessions by speakerphone. "

That is a timely idea. I am glad somebody else has awoken to it.


"Test participants can be anywhere in the country, they can
participate from work or home, and observers don't have to leave the
office. With some refinements to the way I moderate, I'm getting nearly
all of the findings I get from in-person testing at a fraction of the
cost of conducting tests in other cities."

I find Mitchell comment about utilizing Web conferencing tools to run
usability tests an excellent idea.
I was very recently entertaining this as an idea while discussing with my
Chief Information Architect about new ways of running such test, less
intrusively, more cost-effectively and even at-a-distance.

I have recently published an Official Guide that shows how you don't really
need to pay the money required by the big names of Placeware, WebEx, Centra,
Raindance, Horizonlive and many others as a breakthrough breed of new
real-time collaboration tools provides as much or more than these expensive
"enterprise" systems, at 1/100th (you read it right) of the price. For
example you could run unlimited remote usability tests over a month time for
less than $150, and without giving up on any of the features available on
those top of the line tools.

"The drawbacks - participants must have a  high-speed Internet connection,
and we can't see their faces - are almost  always outweighed by the cost
and time savings."

With the solutions I have identified people do not need to have high speed
Internet connections.
They can even voice talk on the Internet while interacting with less than a
14.4 Kbps bandwidth!
Not only that, there are solutions that allow you to see each your usability
tester at work with good quality even on dial-up lines. Though hard to
believe, I have tested it and can reassure you that this is indeed possible
today.


"It's especially valuable when participants are hard-to-get professionals
who can't take the time to  come a test facility. For my biggest client, all
of the studies I've done in the last year and a half have been remote
studies."

Mitchell, I think you have made an important point and shown that it is
indeed quite applicable in today's reality. Once you can make it even more
cost-effective, feature-rich and performing, all parties are going to gain.

If you want to find out more or know all about the 15 new tools I have
identified and which can provide a tremendously cost-effective solution to
usability professionals see:
http://www.masternewmedia.org/reports/webconferencing/

I hope this can be of help to many of you.


All the best, till I see the rest..




Robin Good
from Sharewood

Understanding comes from exploration
http://www.masternewmedia.org/