Distributed usability evaluation: enabling large-scale usability evaluation with user-controlled instrumentation

Lars Christensen; Erik Frøkjær

doi:10.1145/1868914.1868932

Distributed usability evaluation: enabling large-scale usability evaluation with user-controlled instrumentation

Datalogisk Institut

Abstract

We present DUE (Distributed Usability Evaluation), a technique for collecting and evaluating usability data. The DUE infrastructure involves a client-server network. A client-based tool resides on the workstation of each user, providing a screen video recording, microphone input of voice commentary, and a window for a severity rating. The idea is for the user to work naturalistically, clicking a button when a usability problem or point of uncertainty is encountered, to describe it verbally along with illustrating it on screen, and to rate its severity. These incidents are accumulated on a server, providing access to an evaluator (usability expert) and to product developers or managers who want to review the incidents and analyse them. DUE supports evaluation in the development stages from running prototypes and onwards. A case study of the use of DUE in a corporate environment is presented. The study indicates that the DUE technique is effective in terms of low bias, high efficiency, and clear communication of usability issues among users, evaluators and developers. Further, DUE is supporting long-term evaluations making possible empirical studies of learnability.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Titel	Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction : extending boundaries
Antal sider	10
Forlag	Association for Computing Machinery
Publikationsdato	2010
Sider	118-127
ISBN (Trykt)	978-1-60558-934-3
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1145/1868914.1868932
Status	Udgivet - 2010
Begivenhed	6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: extending boundaries - Reykjavik, Island Varighed: 16 okt. 2010 → 20 okt. 2010 Konferencens nummer: 6

Konference

Konference	6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction
Nummer	6
Land/Område	Island
By	Reykjavik
Periode	16/10/2010 → 20/10/2010

Emneord

Det Natur- og Biovidenskabelige Fakultet
automation, beta test, case study, distributed, evaluator effect, instrumentation, learnability, remote, screen video, software industry, think-aloud, usability evaluation, voice commentary}

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1145/1868914.1868932

Citationsformater

Distributed usability evaluation: enabling large-scale usability evaluation with user-controlled instrumentation. / Christensen, Lars; Frøkjær, Erik.
Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: extending boundaries. Association for Computing Machinery, 2010. s. 118-127.

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapport › Konferencebidrag i proceedings › Forskning › peer review

Christensen, L & Frøkjær, E 2010, Distributed usability evaluation: enabling large-scale usability evaluation with user-controlled instrumentation. i Proceedings of the 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction: extending boundaries. Association for Computing Machinery, s. 118-127, 6th Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Reykjavik, Island, 16/10/2010. https://doi.org/10.1145/1868914.1868932

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