Usability Testing

Usability testing is the practice of testing how easy a design is to use with a group of
representative users. It usually involves observing users as they attempt to complete tasks and
can be done for different types of designs. It is often conducted repeatedly, from early
development until a product’s release.

Characteristics of Usability Test

- effective
- efficient
- engaging
- error tolerant
- easy to learn

Guerilla Testing
- simplest form of usability testing.
- going into public places to ask people about your prototype
- test participants are chosen randomly
- low costs and relatively simple testing that enables real user feedback

Types of Prototypes

1. Simulations
- digitally creating of a physical product to predict the performance of the product in
the real world

2. High-Fidelity
- realistic-looking, working simulation
- good for communicating a proposed product to stakeholders
- used in defensive user testing, not to see if they’ll like it, but to learn if they won’t

3. Proof of Concept
- earliest version of your product
- purpose is to show that a small subset of technology or ideas can be successfully
assembled, can be integrated into complex systems
- will not have the appearance of a final product
- may not be constructed of the same materials as later versions
- will be used simply to confirm the validity and viability of your product

4. Functional Prototypes
- A unit in all the features work, but the configuration has not yet been finalized
- Provides a clear demonstration of the viability of the product
- Allow for changes to increase the usability and desirability of final version