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Usability tests are an integral part of designing the application as well as the quickest and most effective way to check its functionality. They help to identify and fix design flaws as well as reduce the risk of mismatching between the application and the user’s needs. Thus, they have a significant role in the overall quality of the final product. In this article, I’ll focus on internal tests and why they’re worth conducting.
Every product is now user-centred. What’s the best way to check if the given solution is intuitive? Perform usability tests!
It’s one of the method of software testing. Here we’re checking the functionality of the product by its target users and a part of UX research. In the process, the testers complete a set of given tasks on the app and make observations. These comments are essential in the consecutive stages of app development.
There are usability tests for websites, mobile apps, augmented reality apps or even e-commerce. The possibilities are infinite. You can truly perform it on anything innovative or new to check if it meets users needs.
Internal tests allow the team to gain an insight into the user’s needs and to improve ideas by tracking their activity. Then, the collected information is used to rebuild the prototype before the product is available to its target users. This process lets to use the app more comfortably and contributes to its success.
Want to know about other UX tests that we did? Read this article.
What can you gain from such tests? Learn about the benefits and see why it’s a necessary step in creating a digital product.
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Throughout the years of collaboration with different clients, we got a chance to observe and experience what works best for them. It had an enormous impact on our process of application development. The integral part of this procedure are internal tests. They usually concern research on the navigation within the app and whether the user can perform the tasks logically and satisfactorily.
Our team had the opportunity to conduct an in-house test for one of our clients – NuroKor. It’s a company that provides the latest solutions in bioelectrical medicine. They aim to improve the quality of life in the most natural way.
This time, our client came up with an idea to use EquiPod, and our job was to design the application for it. The device emits bioelectrical currents for show horses and those that are used for horse racing, especially the ones that are exposed to specific types of injuries. For this reason, the target audience consists of horse trainers, owners and physiotherapists. Depending on their needs, users will be able to choose one of the multiple programs available:
Some of EquiPod functions include:
Before testing, our designers explained to users who is the client and what is the product so that they could get a better understanding of the application. The recruited group consisted of 7 users. According to user experience studies, this number of people is usually sufficient to verify the digital product intuitiveness.
Our two designers spent around half an hour with each of the users. To concentrate better on the performed activities, one of the designers was supervising the respondent, while the other was taking notes. 8 prepared assignments tested mainly the design functionality and intuitiveness.
Our team conducted internal tests which aim was to check:
The team also seeks to gain information about the time spent on assignments, perceived difficulty, and subjective satisfaction of completing a piece of work.
Our testers were asked to externalise thoughts, ideas and feelings when using the app, since various factors may directly or indirectly affect the completion of the tasks.
The test ended when the user reached the screen marked as final on the designed path. In this way, our team could detect the elements that required improvement to make the application even more user-friendly.
The majority of the users managed to complete the designed tasks successfully. Some of them, however, spent most of their time completing specific ones. What’s interesting is that some of the implemented solutions that were clear-cut for the team posed a problem for users. It illustrates how the perception of the product differs between someone who designs it and the customer. It also shows the importance of conducting these type of tests on a group of users not related to the project to get better results.
Thanks to internal tests, we can identify the problems, improve the app functionality and make it more aesthetically-pleasing for customers. This contributes to better user experience and the overall app success on the market.
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