DIY Mobile UX Testing – SxSW 2012
William
In Accessibility, Mobile, SxSW, Usability, User Experience Posted March 20, 2012
It’s important to record testing – it serves both as memory aid for the tester as well as a powerful tool (evidence) for clients and stakeholders. I can also serve as an empathy aid for dev and design teams.
Handsets matter. Users want to test to test with their own phones. If that’s not possible, users should do test runs and practice with the phone that needs to be tested.
Don’t use Wi-Fi in your tests, using 3G is more likely for the field.
In comparing Field vs. Lab, everything is about equal, so keeping things easy, just do lab tests.
Document cameras are useful but expensive. The major problem with the DocCams are the stationary nature. Phones must be manipulated in 3D space.
When viewing remote screengrab software, it doesn’t work on all devices. No current platform supports all devices. Remote viewing also shows no fingers when swiping. Mouse movements on emulators don’t work either as touch is best.
Mounted devices are best for testing. The can be amazingly expensive, however, as well as heavy.
DIY rig is easy. It weighs 125g, is less than $200, won’t damage the phone, and the recording software is open source. (it even works with physical keyboards!)
See Also
http://goo.gl/rJi7M
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