The primary goal of usability testing is to improve the usability of a product. An important secondary goal is to apply the lessons learned from usability testing to the design and development process so as to avoid future and follow-on products. Usability testing is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process throughout the entire design, development, and deployment life-cycle. Each usability test is conducted using persons who are representative members of the group of people to whom the product is targeted. These users are asked to perform real-world tasks which they would normally perform on the job while using the product. All actions, thoughts, and verbalizations of the user are observed and recorded during a usability test. The quantitative and qualitative data is analyzed and combined with tester observations and user comments to diagnose and document product usability problems and recommended solutions.
Return to Function and Discipline View...