Usability Testing
- Skype.com, Skype Usability Testing - Completed with a partner, not all the work is mine.
- Test Rational and Objectives
- Test Type
- User Goals and User Profiles
- Recruiting Participants and Screening
- Lab Configuration Plan and Lab Equipments
- Test Methodology:Testing Agenda and Checklist
- Consent Form
- User Profile Survey
- Test Protocol-Scenarios and Tasks
- Experimental Instructions
- Measurement Plan
- Post Interaction Surveys
- Recruiting Ads
- Skype Usability Testing Overview
- Test Rational
- Objectives
- Product Overview
- Test Type and Collected Data Type
- Executive Summary
- Testing Process and Methodology
- User Profile
- Study Design
- Users' Goals
- Collected Data
- Session Procedure
- Lab Configuration
- Findings
- Test Results
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Global Usability Problems
- Local usability Problems
- Summary
- Overall Findings
- Recommendations and Solutions
- Contact Information
- Appendix
- 1. Users’ understanding of the value proposition of Skype :
Novice users did not have clear understanding of what features were offered for free and what equipments were needed for using Skype. - 2. Test the ease of use of various tasks on the application and website :
When more complex tasks where users have to go from application to the website, the rating of ease of use and users’ performance were dropped. - 3. Verify the download process is accessible for users, which will increase the application’s download rate :
It was verified that 90% non-users find the downloading very easily and quickly due to less number of clicks to take and short search time. - 4. Evaluate overall usability throughout the site and application :
When users engage in more complicated tasks involving both the application and the website, the users were more confused of where to begin the tasks. Simpler tasks were achieved more easily. Skype should work on improving on details of the website and application for better usability.
Introduction:
The primary reason for conducting the usability test on the Skype website (www.skype.com) and the application was to evaluate the user experience while engaging with important functions. We measured users’ performance, behavior and preference by asking them to accomplish several hypothetical scenarios. The goal was to identify difficulties and pain points from the users’ perspective and make recommendations to resolve them.
This testing engaged in every step of formal usability testing from constructing a test proposal, test script development, participant recruiting, testing with pre-determined performance measures, result analysis and delivering the findings. I and my partner conducted this project in Usability Testing class at SJSU.
Evaluation Steps:
1. Skype Test Proposal-After an initial phone call with imaginary client, we submitted a simple test proposal to understand and confirm the test purpose.
2. Skype Test Plan-The test plan defined the goals and obectives for the Skype testing. It described the specific users’ goals and task which were later evaluated. The characteristics of the users who were be recruited for the test were also presented. The plan outlined the procedures and activities chosen for the test. Test plan included:
3. Testing and Data Collection-We conducted total of 7 testing sessions including 5 non-Skype users and 2 Skype users. The number of participant did not follow the exact number proposed in the test plan due to time and resource limitation as a school project. Detailed results were reported in the test report.
4. Skype Test Report-This report contains mainly the test methodology, main findings including quantitative and qualitative data, global and local problems found according to the testing results, study implication and recommended solutions. All the forms are also included in the appendix.
Result:
We addressed the summary of the findings on the proposed test objectives as follows: