All good suggestions. I would also add that recruitment is different for devices than it is for websites. For instance, some people simply refuse to setup any electronic device they buy- they have someone else do it. The same people may eventually use that device often but you may or may not want to test them, depending on what you are looking for.
Also, watch out for fingernails- it sounds silly but people with long fingernails have a really difficulty time using devices with lots of buttons. Paul Nuschke Electronic Ink On Dec 18, 2007 11:19 AM, Alexander Baxevanis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 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 > ________________________________________________________________ *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
