Comments on: 2 things to put usability in your sights http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/ Jots. Jabs. Jokes. Gems. Sat, 10 Jul 2010 04:41:22 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Linda http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1241 Linda Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:23:48 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1241 Luke, thanks for sharing some feedback on the importance of testing with multiple age ranges. I do agree that familiarity with technology and the controls bridges the gap when trying something new. Experience with similar environments plays a role in exploring new territory--where to look, how to try, etc. Suspecting that I am in your "parents' generation," I appreciate the reminder. In our courses we are exploring navigation techniques, but in some ways they are all super-familiar to us and we are more likely to be able to figure out other navigation systems. But if you have a user that is less emersed in navigation structures and alternatives, they may get lost more easily. That's why you hear stories of users facing the "awesome layout and navigation" and saying "what am I supposed to do?" It's just not as obvious to everyone. Glad to hear from you. Luke, thanks for sharing some feedback on the importance of testing with multiple age ranges. I do agree that familiarity with technology and the controls bridges the gap when trying something new. Experience with similar environments plays a role in exploring new territory–where to look, how to try, etc. Suspecting that I am in your “parents’ generation,” I appreciate the reminder. In our courses we are exploring navigation techniques, but in some ways they are all super-familiar to us and we are more likely to be able to figure out other navigation systems. But if you have a user that is less emersed in navigation structures and alternatives, they may get lost more easily. That’s why you hear stories of users facing the “awesome layout and navigation” and saying “what am I supposed to do?” It’s just not as obvious to everyone.

Glad to hear from you.

]]> By: Luke A. (UU) http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1236 Luke A. (UU) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:53:02 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1236 Usability testing is such an important step to take with technology now-a-days and this blog is great insight as to why. In my experience I have seen the need for a broader age range of testers as technology has begun to grow and change more rapidly. I see this most of all with respect to my generation's (teens-20's) ability to adapt to new technology compared to my parents' generation. The things that we as the younger generation find very user friendly are sometimes only user friendly because we know where to look on websites, remote controls, iPods, etc. for those aspects. It is thus important to test the ability of multiple generations to use a design prior to production. Usability testing is such an important step to take with technology now-a-days and this blog is great insight as to why. In my experience I have seen the need for a broader age range of testers as technology has begun to grow and change more rapidly. I see this most of all with respect to my generation’s (teens-20’s) ability to adapt to new technology compared to my parents’ generation. The things that we as the younger generation find very user friendly are sometimes only user friendly because we know where to look on websites, remote controls, iPods, etc. for those aspects. It is thus important to test the ability of multiple generations to use a design prior to production.

]]> By: Federico http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1072 Federico Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:18:01 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1072 Linda, Excellent post. I particularly loved the part about involving the whole design/development team in the testing, so everyone can see what issues arise and get some specific feedback about how what they do affects the final product and the user. Usability testing as a team effort/activity/ task. I love the idea. I normally get the impression that we think about evaluation in a very narrow way. They way that you presented this team usability testing would provide way more information and distributed feedback than other options that are probably used more. Fantastic! Linda,
Excellent post. I particularly loved the part about involving the whole design/development team in the testing, so everyone can see what issues arise and get some specific feedback about how what they do affects the final product and the user. Usability testing as a team effort/activity/ task. I love the idea. I normally get the impression that we think about evaluation in a very narrow way. They way that you presented this team usability testing would provide way more information and distributed feedback than other options that are probably used more. Fantastic!

]]> By: Linda http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1032 Linda Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:05:01 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1032 How terrific to have a comment from Dana Chisnell. We'd certainly love to hear any further thoughts you'd like to share with us. How terrific to have a comment from Dana Chisnell. We’d certainly love to hear any further thoughts you’d like to share with us.

]]> By: Dana Chisnell http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1028 Dana Chisnell Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:28:52 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1028 I'd be honored! Let me know what the timing is like. You can DM me on twitter at danachis or email me at dana@usabilityworks.net. I’d be honored! Let me know what the timing is like. You can DM me on twitter at danachis or email me at dana@usabilityworks.net.

]]> By: Michael M. Grant http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1023 Michael M. Grant Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:44:20 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1023 Thanks, @Dana, for jumping in. I believe I already have that article bookmarked. Would you like to join our discussion the week my course is talking usability? ~michael g Thanks, @Dana, for jumping in. I believe I already have that article bookmarked. Would you like to join our discussion the week my course is talking usability?
~michael g

]]> By: Dana Chisnell http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/2010/02/09/2-things-to-put-usability-in-your-sights/comment-page-1/#comment-1017 Dana Chisnell Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:39:09 +0000 http://www.viral-notebook.com/wordpress/?p=1140#comment-1017 It's so cool when someone finds something good in something I've done or said or written. Thanks! You might also be interested in an article I wrote on A List Apart: "Usability Testing Demystified," available here: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/usability-testing-demystified/ (By the way, the last name has two Ls: Chisnell.) It’s so cool when someone finds something good in something I’ve done or said or written. Thanks! You might also be interested in an article I wrote on A List Apart: “Usability Testing Demystified,” available here: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/usability-testing-demystified/

(By the way, the last name has two Ls: Chisnell.)

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