[IxDA Discuss] Feature control on user interfaces

[Oleh Kovalchuke]

Oliver wrote:
"Basically, I guess what I am trying to understand is that - how can we
validate the application's UI during real time usage?"

I would recommend this well written book by Isaaks and Walendowski:
http://tinyurl.com/egeud . It describes usage testing including log analysis
among other things. Good book.

-- 
Oleh Kovalchuke
Interaction Design is Design of Time
http://www.tangospring.com/IxDtopicWhatIsInteractionDesign.htm


On 9/19/06, oliver green <oliverhci at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> [Please voluntarily trim replies to include only relevant quoted
> material.]
>
> Hi Nasir,
>
> Thanks for the reply.  You are right - I am aware of the standarized
> methods
> taught in school. I am trying to learn the "practical" aspects of
> usability
> testing.
>
> The problem that I am pondering over is that after we have done the
> contextual enquires and usability tests etc.  When we actually deploy the
> application, what techniques (if any) are used in practice to keep track
> of
> the "most used" features (e.g. perhaps by using log analysis). Also, are
> these tests done on-the-fly, or only before a version release?
>
> Basically, I guess what I am trying to understand is that - how can we
> validate the application's UI during real time usage?
>
> Thanks,
> Oliver.
>
>
>
> On 9/19/06, Nasir Barday <nbarday at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Oliver,
> >
> > Your e-mail alias has "hci" in it, so I'm assuming you're already
> > comfortable with the academics, and that you want to know about
> real-life
> > industry applications. Here's how I've done it at my company:
> >
> > -) Put up a quote from Kelly Goto outside my workspace: "Ask users, and
> > they will guess at what they do. Watch them, and you'll know." I recite
> this
> > in meetings when people bring up topics like "cool features this client
> > *has* to have next quarter."
> > -) Have product developers and engineers help you conduct contextual
> > inquiries
> > -) Run usability tests on the existing product as a benchmark
> > -) Model users with your team on the whiteboard and come up with
> insights
> > about workflow together. The most useful information to get out of this
> are
> > personas and their goals.
> >
> > In short:
> > -) "Wants" vs. "Needs" can be easy to ferret out once you have your
> users
> > modelled, not only for you, but for the whole team.
> > -) Failing that, usability tests (well-benchmarked with the original
> > design) show if a feature really is useful or just gums up the works
> >
> > If you want more info on implementing UCD (with a focus on IxD), I'd
> > highly recommend About Face 2.0 as a read. I feel like I'm spitting out
> > standard stuff you already know-- let me know if you're looking for a
> deeper
> > cut.
> >
> > - Nasir
> >
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