[IxDA Discuss] Testing usability of mobile applications

[Jeff Howard]

In grad school I used Flash Lite to prototype a few of the later
iterations of a mobile wayfinding application. In that case, testing
in the mobile enviornment was critical since the design relied on a
combination of environmental landmarks and interface cues and you
don't get that combination in a lab. It was also helpful to see how
the interface performed under a range of lighting conditions. 

In these tests, I gave the user a phone (s60) with the prototype
installed, and then shadowed them as they used the device to perform
a series of tasks. I took notes and encouraged the user to think
aloud during the test, and followed up after with a brief interview.

These tests took place over the course of a week, with nightly
iterations on the prototype to accomodate feedback and push certain
facets of the design.

// jeff