Usability Testing
This evening at our local iOS Meetup I had an opportunity to present my upcoming app to unsuspecting users.
How it worked was, after introductions, people who had an app that they wanted to submit raised their hand and we all stood together. Everyone else just grouped up in twos or threes and away we went.
Everyone in our group of four introduced themselves, then I gave a very brief introduction to my new app. The idea was to provide the bare minimum necessary for the user to start using the app.
After that, I started the app on my iPhone and then handed it over to the first user. I can’t tell you how humbling and yet how helpful it is to have someone with new eyes use your app for the very first time. I thought I was 99% done but after tonight… Well, I have a page of notes that I still need to review but there’s definitely room for improvement.
The first-run experience really does seem to make a difference. The very first thing the user did was not what I expected a user to do, so I may need some sort of first-run popup or overlay.
They did have some good things to say about the app though, so I know I’m on the right track. But it can be difficult look at your own app objectively. A few other tricks that I’ve tried:
- Start using the app or its prototype first thing in the morning
- Every day, try to find something that sucks about your app
All in all, if you ever have a chance to get some new user experience, it’s worth it.