[Sigia-l] Re: Equipment recommendations for a Mobile Usability

[Stephen Holmes]

RE:
 > Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 13:17:29 -0800 (PST)
 > From: Amanda McGuire <azmcguire at yahoo.com>
 > To: sigia-l at asis.org
 > Subject: [Sigia-l] Equipment recommendations for a Mobile Usability Lab?
 >
 > I've managed to convince my company to invest in a
 > mobile usability lab so that we can conduct usability
 > testing more often and on shorter notice, while still
 > capturing the right kind of media to demonstrate
 > results.  Now I need to put together a list of the
 > specific equipment we would need to purchase in order
 > to make this vision a reality.
 >
 > I would think two must-haves are:
 >
 > * Laptop computer
 > * Screen-recording software (to capture mouse
 > movements and user comments)
 >
 > And some nice-to-haves are:
 >
 > * Digital video camera (to capture facial expressions)
 > * Tripod (for camera)
 > * Monitor (so user doesn't need to use laptop screen)
 > * Keyboard (so user doesn't have to use laptop
 > keyboard)
 >
 > Am I missing anything critical?  Any recommendations
 > for how people have done this successfully before, on
 > a somewhat limited budget?
 >
 > I checked the archives, and don't think this has been
 > discussed before.
 >
 > Thanks in advance for your help,
 >
 > Amanda

Amanda,

Why an external keyboard as a requirement? You are testing mobile apps 
on a laptop and who packs an external keyboard when they are "mobile"?

Laptops position different keys such as "f1 to f15", "home" and other 
navigation aids and of course there is no separate number keypad, so you 
have to test mobile apps in a totally mobile situation and you have to 
design your app for ease of use on a laptop keyboard, NOT external 
keyboard (or monitor for that matter).

I'd even suggest that testing is done in a airplane seat and fold down 
table as well if you are developing a business app. (grin)

Things to remember when designing mobile apps:

* Keep mousing to a minimum or provide keyboard
   alternatives to navigation,

* If you also wish to migrate to Pocket PC or Palm,
   start the design process with all platform limitations
   in mind from the very start.

* Try to keep the structure as flat as possible on Palm-like
   apps since there is less screen area available for navigation
   aids such as bread crumbs or drill-down navigation bars.

Good luck

Stephen

-- 

     _________________________________________________________
    *                                                         *
   *  Stephen Holmes               sholmes at topladder.com.au    *
  *   Information Architect        http://www.topladder.com.au  *
*                                                               *
  *   Top O' The Ladder Design     Kew, Victoria,               *
   *  "new times, new solutions"   Australia 3122              *
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