bolt | peters, sponsor of the Remote Usability blog, pointed me to the first part of a two part series at MarketingProfs with info on free and cheap usability tools. The second part is also available. The series is aimed at marketers, and so contains some rudimentary discussions of what usability is and how you do it. Nonetheless, it is worth a read for the links.

Labels: methods, tools

The temptation to skip lab or field testing in favor of unmoderated remote usability testing is great; it can save hundreds or thousands of dollars and hours of time. But when is this type of testing actually viable? Arthur Moan offers a list of times when doing unmoderated remote testing is called for, and it not all the time.

Labels: methods, tools

Adobe has released a new version, numero 8, of Robohelp, and version 4 of Captivate.

Should you or shouldn't you? Check out reviews of both at WritersUA: Matthew Ellision tooks at RoboHelp 8 and Scott DeLoach looks at Captivate 4.

Labels: tools

I think I am in love with a technology. Now, if I could just figure out how to use it for online support or documentation. Start by checking out this augmented reality demo at GE, called the Smart Grid.

Augmented reality is a means of super-imposing computer generated data onto a video image in real time. A user must print a "platform" image and then display it on-screen by holding it up to their Web cam. The software then superimposes the CGI image onto the platform and, as the user moves the platform around, moves the image as well. Wikipedia article

I stumbled on a discussion on IxDA's mailing list and that sent me off exploring. The first site was a testing site put up by interaction designers at Mini (the really cute little cars). It's in German, but just click Hier Making Of-Video anzeigen to start the video.

I then went to the Smart Grid, a site (in English) mentioned by another poster in the discussion. You can print a platform and play with the technology at this GE site.

Lastly (I do have to get some work done this morning), I went to the site of the company that makes Magic Symbol, an augmented reality software. They have more examples.

Labels: inspiring, interface, tools

Peter Morville of Semantic Studios is working on a new book about search patterns, and the process inspired him to rethink UX deliverables, particularly how to collaborate with other team members, like graphic designers. This blog entry on User Experience Deliverables explains how he arrived at his list of new IA deliverables.

Labels: collaboration, tools

While there is lots of research and analysis time spent on the Web or in libraries, most usability specialists agree that there is nothing like going into peeping Tom mode to really learn how users act and think.

While browsing Boxes and Arrows just now, I rediscovered this 2004 review of the Observing the User Experience: A Practitioner's Guide to User Research

I had almost forgotten it is on my bookshelf. It has become a textbook at some colleges, so I feel safe in recommending it to anyone who is new to usability work.

Labels: methods, tools

Whether you are assessing usability of a site or designing a site, there are always times you get stuck wondering if there is a better way to design a menu, a search form, or almost anything else.

Pattern libraries are often used by development teams to reuse code and to provide consistency across multiple sites or products. Yahoo! even publishes their pattern library so people creating Yahoo! stores and such can make use of their code and designs.

In the pattern library at Welie.com, Interaction Design Pattern Library - Welie.com, you get patterns from a variety of different sources that Martijn van Welie at Phillips Design has collected.

Each pattern is shown as a solution to a problem and there are sections on when, how, and why to use the pattern. There are also additional examples.

Unless a particular pattern is clearly marked as free for you to use, consider all of these simply inspiration.

Labels: interface, tools

When you are working on user research that involves people from all over the world, as I am right now, scheduling means you need to know your time zones.

To help with that, I turn to the Meeting Planner page at time and date.com.

Pick a date, enter your own location, and then pick up to four cities in the world, and you get a timetable showing what time it is for everyone you want to contact.

But what if all you have as a phone number? How do you know what country that phone number is in?

Aha! If the phone number begins with the country code (which means you need to remember to ask people to give you that), then you can find out which country using this. Reverse look up for country code 255 That is how I found out this participant is in Tanzania.

Put to two together, and I am going to be conducting a remote usability session at 5 am Pacific Standard Time with a dude in Tanzania who is about ready to go home for the day.

Labels: methods, tools