User research

Facilitating usability testing sessions with silver surfers

Vayia Malamidou, PhD, CPWA

Accessibility and Usability Consultant

things i will talk about:

About myself and AbilityNet

What did we do?

What did we learn?

What will we do differently?

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PhD in Archaeology
Career in web development and worked in the digital content profession since 2000
Facilitated antenatal preparation sessions for the National Childbirth Trust for ten years
Accessibility and Usability Consultant at AbilityNet

about me

vayia.malamidou@abilitynet.org.uk

Twitter: vayiam

LinkedIn: vayia-m

about me

User research projects: gather feedback from diverse users of websites and mobile apps

Method: remote, scripted, moderated usability testing sessions, combined with user interviews

Participants: people with disabilities and older adults (silver surfers)

What did we do?

〞

Researchers interested in older adults and computer systems often comment on the failure of ‘mainstream’ human–computer interaction (HCI) to consider people over 60.

Methods for human-computer interaction research with older people. A.Dickinson, J.Arnott and S.Prior, Behaviour & Information Technology, Vol.26, No.4, July-August 2007, pp.343-352.

〞

Older adults are a growing user group for technology, and usability for them is of particular importance since they often feel handicapped when interacting with technology developed by young people for young people.

Silva and Nunes (2010), 3 x 7 Usability Testing Guidelines for Older Adults - MexIHC 2010

1

are younger seniors, female as well as male

2

have an above-average formal education and disposable income

3

enjoy a high standard of housing (fast Internet)

5

have a positive attitude towards digital media

4

have been online since the 1990s

6

perceive themselves as confident users

Tobias Olsson & Dino Viscovi (2020) Who Actually Becomes a Silver Surfer? Prerequisites for Digital Inclusion, Javnost - The Public, 27:3, 230-246.

Silver surfers

Running remote sessions
The thinking aloud methodology
Having scripted tasks
Using rating scales

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

Testing environment
Confidence
Satisfaction

ChallengeS

Moderator in control
Prototypes

lessonS

Remote sessions

Constant reminders
Exam-like setting
Fatigue

ChallengeS

Extra time to think
Review after each task

lessons

thinking aloud

Tasks take longer
Irrelevant to reality
Not user-centred

Challenges

Gaps in data
Missed opportunities to gather experiences

lessons

scripted tasks

Confusing
Not related to task
Hard to remember

Challenges

Incomplete data
Corrections based on assumptions

lessons

rating scales

Moderator using a prototype
Engage in natural conversations
Run flexible sessions with the script as a guide
Simple feedback gathering techniques

WHAT WILL WE DO DIFFERENTLY?

Thank yous

Stay IN TOUCH

Email: vayia.malamidou@abilitynet.org.uk

Twitter: vayiam

LinkedIn: vayia-m

https://abilitynet.org.uk/

Abilitynet Helpline: 0800 048 7642

Email us at: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk