[Sigia-l] Usability Testing

[Lee Hsieh]

Ziya Oz wrote:
> Designers should test *whenever* there arises a need, not when some
> artificial schedule milestone demands it. That's deliverables culture.
>
> Sorry I forgot who it was now, but someone also mentioned user "feedback"
> with respect to design. Extremely slippery slope. Very hard to manage. 
> I am
> far far more comfortable with user/task observation than user "feedback."
>
> <snip>

I think observation is key to understanding user behaviour, but imjo,
insufficient as a sole gauge of usability.  It is also 'very'
subjective, as one observer's interpretation of system difficulty can be
misconstrued for another persons physical or mental limitations.

Likewise, user feedback -- while also important, is insufficient as a
sole gauge of usability, but should be used to augment other methods to
form a more well-rounded picture of user behavaviour and friction
points.  This latter method, i have found, is more conducive to
producing tangible/actionable results key to rapid iterative development.

..ymmv, whatever works best for you and your situation..

Lee


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