[IxDA Discuss] Testing usability of mobile applications

[Mark Schraad]

We have had some good luck going slightly beyond paper prototyps with Axure. It exports html from a visio/ grafle like ap. We do not use it on the small screen, but can simulate a lot of interactivity. Another product we looked at was PhotoProto... but frankly, Flash seemed better and nearly as quick to develop.

Mark



On Monday, December 04, 2006, at 11:54AM, "Barbara Ballard" <barbara at littlespringsdesign.com> wrote:
>On 12/4/06, Anu Leponiemi <anu at lepo.net> wrote:
>> I'm planning on usability-testing a S40 application, and would like
>> to hear about the ways you tend to test usability of mobile
>> applications. Paper prototype is always an option, however, is that
>> all you do, or do you test with real devices? If so, do you capture
>> the input some ways, possibly with a software or a camera, or do you
>> just watch the user use his mobile?
>>
>
>I recommend avoiding simulators and emulators, and restricting
>yourself  to paper prototypes and on-device code.  Of course, each of
>these reveals different issues.
>
>Right now, there is no reliable way (across multiple devices, S40 may
>be a single-platform exception) to capture user input on the device.
>When such a method becomes available, test it carefully to ensure that
>it does not adversely affect device performance.
>
>A couple years ago, I posted an overview of mobile usability testing
>on my site:
>http://www.littlespringsdesign.com/analysis/utest/
>
>The information is still valid, but we will be updating it soon.
>
>We built a sled to hold the device and a camera focusing on the
>device, then used a mounted camera to capture the user's facial and
>body expressions.  This left our video tech/photographer in the room,
>who could now capture telling still shots as well.  This has been
>working quite well.
>
>
>-- 
>Barbara Ballard
>barbara at littlespringsdesign.com 1-785-838-3003
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