CONDUCTING A TEST #12

Laboratories

A special place designated for testing makes it easier to conduct a test because:

• the situation can be more easily simulated;
• camera views can be more flexible;
• can record events with a computer-aided data logger, and;
• member of test team and visitors an talk about their observations without disturbing the test participants.

There are many benefits of lab:

• increased visibility of group;
• increasing awareness of usability in the organization,
• lab can be used for other activities (meetings),
• and focus groups can be conducted privately.

A laboratory doesn't necessarily need to be filled with high tech equipment if the budget does not allow it. Both the Dumas and Redish (1993) and Rubin (1994)  books go into quite detail of how a lab can be set up and what equipment could be used.

BUT REALLY.....  the sole piece of equipment that can be purchased fairly inexpensively is a video camera. This is piece of equipment that will make testing much easier and is invaluable. It enables tests to be reviewed so that no information is lost between tester observations. Tapes can be edited to highlight usability problems which can give the usability specialists leverage when attempting to convince the rest of the design team to change the product. They can then be stored for future use which may be more useful than the final report of a test (Neilsen, 1993; Dumas and Redish, 1993).