Here, there, anywhere

This paper will report on advantages and disadvantages of various remote testing tools, modifications to procedures and protocols of traditional testing, and the project findings, including usability problem identification, which establish the effectiveness of remote usability testing.

Abstract

Usability testing is regarded as a key element in user-centered design. Several studies from the Standish Group have shown that usability testing increases the chance of developing usable software. Companies are faced with many challenges: their customers demand usable products at reasonable costs and the customer base is distributed and diverse. Unfortunately, usability testing is often perceived as impractical due to the remote and distributed location of users, limited access to representative users, or a work context that is difficult to reproduce in a laboratory setting. Additionally, for some companies, the cost of transporting users or developers to remote locations can be prohibitive. Interest in remote usability testing has grown in response to these concerns.