week 5 reading assignment

According "Don't make me think" most of designers and developers tend to apply their own preferences and experiences designing web site. That means that they think that average user will act and like or dislike something what they like or dislike. In reality all the users are unique and there is no average user. So design should be developed basis on the general needs and practical reasons.

For that testing should be done on different levels of the work process. Right after start 1st test should be done. For shortening the budget hired group of people can consist of less people than usually. Let's say 8 people is a bigger group of people for bigger budget. 4 people is more than enough for a small testing. That can be even more effective in a sense of progress. Because if we use bigger group of people they will find more problems right at the start but will not pass to the next level. In case of smaller group of 4 people less problems will be found at this stage though after fixing those problems testing users will go to the next level and find other problems that need to be fixed.

Testing can be done in groups "Focus group" or individually"usability testing". First one is more effective for the early stages. Second one is effective during all the process. It needs to be done at different stages and as often as possible.

Who needs to be hired as testing users: At least once it needs to be group of target audience, the same time the process of hiring people for testing can be more loose. If site is being designed for specific target audience like women or kids than testing users from other groups will not be efficient.

http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/focus-groups.shtml

http://www.infodesign.com.au/ftp/UsabilityTesting.pdf

http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/usability-testing.shtml

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html