First Usability Lab In The Philippines?
What is a usability lab? On wikipedia:
A Usability lab is an environment where users are studied interacting with a system for the sake of evaluating the system’s usability.
In other words, a Usability lab is a place where Usability testing is done.
Typically, the user sits in front of a personal computer, alongside a facilitator who gives the user tasks to perform. Behind a one-way mirror, a number of observers watch the interaction, make notes, and ensure the activity is recorded. Usually, sessions will be filmed and the software will log interaction details.
How does it look like?
More on usability labs here.
We’re setting up probably one of the first usability labs in the country. I’ve been looking online for any Philippine usability labs and I couldn’t find one. I have a good guess, thought, that some of the bigger companies probably have a version of their own User Experience lab.
Exciting work I’m in now.
MAGNIFICENT ELY The Technopreneur: This is my blog on usability, design, technopreneurship - with a dash of love, life and success thoughts. (Jozzua was my old 'telnet days' chat name).
Hi Ely, since usability labs are targeted to doing usability studies (heh), I think we will be among the first to have one… But in terms of having the space designed for such an observation to be possible, the FGD rooms at Nielsen or any other market research firms count. Some of my previous clients, the big MNCs (which I will not mention, hehe) also have an in house lab specifically for testing how their products are being used (like how you apply deodorant, seriously)… So yeah, good guess there, in a different light but in the same context.
I’m interested on usability din! Penge naman ng notes mo ha hehehe
I just hope we get to try out our personal websites. Kidding!
wow! must be nice to be there and take part as a specimen and see it all. firsts are always the best and it’s a great feeling to know more about usability labs from you.
BTW, if any of you guys might be interested to attend the Affiliate Marketing/Make Money Online Seminar 2008 Philippines, feel free to visit the link. This also hopes to be a first.
Sharing it here Mae. Sharing it here.
I think there’s an ergo lab in UP Diliman that has some software-related matters, as well as a lab in DLSU.
How expensive would it be to keep running a usability lab… if you gather enough data (quality or not), I bet it could be as lucrative as being the local Jakob Nielsen.
1) Purpose was to read this item again and comment. Trying to build the habit of saying hello to the writers I subscribe to.
2) duh
You can go bells and whistles with the usability lab (with an eye tracker worth at least 24 thousand dollars) or you can go as simple as a computer with a web cam (to record facial expressions) and a computer screen recorder (worth around 30 thousand pesos). And just get a private room where you can do the sessions.