Hi Fred, it's a bit difficult to comment without knowing the nature/function of the device, but most usability testing principles should be the same no matter the target platform. Specifically for hardware devices I can thing of the following:
* Ergonomic issues with the device interface (buttons, displays, sounds etc.). Try testing in the *natural setting* where the device will be used. You may be able to hear an alarm in a quite setting of a lab but maybe not in a busy street. Same for reading displays (problems with sunlight or other ambient lighting) or pressing buttons (people wearing gloves, sweaty hands etc.) * Out-of-the-box usability: if the device needs to be set-up/installed, especially by non-trained users, I suggest you test this phase, rather than have the device fully functioning at the start of the test. There's a great website on out-of-box usability by IBM: http://www-03.ibm.com/easy/page/577 * Power issues: what happens when the device runs out of battery or if the power is interrupted. Is the behavior consistent to what users expect, do they get a timely warning for almost empty battery etc? * Portability issues: can/will it be somehow carried by users? Where will it be placed while carrying? You may see users carrying devices in unexpected ways that may damage the device etc. Hope this helps -- of course, not all of the above will probably apply to your device, and hopefully most of them have been considered during the design phase :) Cheers, Alex On Dec 18, 2007 3:51 PM, Fred Beecher <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi all, > My company is currently working on a project in which usability testing of a > hardware device will be required. While we have deep experience with > usability testing for the Web, Web apps, and desktop apps, none of us have > much experience working with hardware devices. > > Do any of you who have such experience have any recommendations about books > to read, Web sites to look at, or best practices you've discovered through > trial and error? > > Thanks for any help, > Fred > ________________________________________________________________ > *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* > February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA > Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
