[Sigia-l] Usability Testing comments from Giga

[Coon, Sean]

"To this degree testing an IAs hypothesis is very similar to true 
application testing, not the simple bug testing you seem to think is the

world of coding.  Yes, an IAs recommendation may work, but is it optimal

for the users?  Have we set bench marks to validate?  Hence, we test. 
We are professionals.

All the best,
Thomas"

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I am a proponent for testing. I like to iterate my designs. It's
natural. But at the same time I understand the very real need for speed
to market in certain situations. You could very well design, test,
iterate, repeat process until the perfect usable product for the
targeted persona has been developed. But your competition might have
made "professional" design decisions/assumptions along the way, skipped
testing for a first iteration, and landed in an unsaturated market ready
to reap the benefits of such a position.

See: Microsoft
See: Datek
See: Amazon
See: Ebay

Testing and design iterations followed suit, along with improved
usability, and each of these companies were able to continue to hold a
large part of their particular market. But it was primarily because they
were first to market.

I'd never back zero testing for life/death interfaces. I'm not aware of
too many life/death information architectures, but if there are some
(and I'm sure someone would point one out if there is) then make sure
you test first!

sean patrick coon
sr. interaction designer
ameritrade inc.
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