Taking Advantage Of Remote Usability Testing Tools
If you are launching a new application, you are going to need to use remote usability testing tools simply because usability testing is one of the most important parts of the process. After all, if the application is not easy and intuitive to use, it will never succeed. Through testing, you can spot flaws in your program that make it more difficult than necessary to use. Correcting these problems before you launch the application can make the product much more successful when it hits the market. In the past, usability testing meant actually bringing people into your place of business or into a lab with two-way glass where they could be observed as they used the application. This process was followed by an in-depth interview to get their feedback.
How Does The Testing With Remote Usability Testing Tools Look Today
These days, however, remote usability testing tools have completely changed the way that testing is done. Now, instead of having to bring people to your location, users can access the application remotely. That means that you can get test results from people all over the world regardless of where your company headquarters are located. Application lifecycle management tools mean that you can even involve multiple people and schedule multiple test projects at a time. As a result, you can get a far more comprehensive look at how people interact with your program, improving your chances of success.
During the testing process, users are asked to perform certain tasks using your program. This process is monitored by the testing tools, with important data being gathered along the way. For instance, the program may track how long it took for participants to complete a certain portion of the task. This type of data can help you spot areas where users are slowing down or becoming confused. You can then correct these problems to make the program easier or more intuitive to use.
Remote usability testing tools can either be used with a moderator or by allowing participants to go through the process on their own. There advantages and disadvantages to each method. For instance, one advantage of unmoderated remote usability testing is that you can use it to test a large number of people all at once. Unfortunately, because there is no moderator there to ask questions, it is difficult to know why people did things a certain way or to get real-time feedback.
Moderated Testing Provides More Data
With moderated testing, on the other hand, you are generally limited to a smaller group of people. However, because there is a moderator watching the process, you can get feedback from participants in real time as to why they did something a certain way. This can give you more usable data when trying to figure out how to improve your program.
Remote usability testing tools can be a valuable asset for your business. These tools provide you with the means to inexpensively test your program before it goes to market, allowing you to spot and correct any potential flaws or failures. As a result, you stand a far better chance of your application been well received by the public when it eventually does launch. If you are looking for an easy, inexpensive way to get feedback on your application from real people, this type of usability testing could be the perfect solution.
