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[MUSIC]

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It's often surprising how much valuable
insight we can learn just by talking to

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a small group of people.

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This can be done in many ways.

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In person, or remotely, moderated, or
unmoderated, structured, or informal.

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We'll discuss all these methods shortly.

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At its core, what defines usability
testing is asking people representative

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of your target audience to evaluate
your design by using your product or

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prototype to perform realistic tasks
while you observe, ask questions,

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and record everything that you see and
hear.

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Also known as empirical data.

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So again, what are the defining
attributes of a usability study?

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Well, it includes talking to
people from your target audience.

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Using realistic tasks with your product or
prototype,.

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Asking in depth questions.

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And collecting empirical data.

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In this short clip of a usability study,
watch how I interact with a participant

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who's using their phone to
navigate my paper prototype.

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I'm mostly listening, writing.

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The participant is talking by using
what we call the think aloud protocol

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to narrate what they're thinking and
doing.

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Once in a while I will
ask clarifying questions

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to get a deeper understanding of
their reasoning and motivation.

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One big advantage of usability testing

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is that you can do a study with a product
at just about any stage of fidelity.

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Notice how in this study,

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I'm just using paper sketches to walk
the participant through my idea.

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The more realistic and detailed your
prototype, the deeper the insights since

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the participant will more easily be able
to imagine themselves using your product,

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and therefore giving more feedback on it.

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However, the longer you wait to test
the idea, the more time you will be

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giving to a particular concept that
may ultimately be proven wrong.

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This is the trade-off you will need to
consider as you plan your product testing.

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Now, as you get started
with disability testing,

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you'll need to consider whether or
not it should be moderated.

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Which we'll discuss next.