iQ Content introduce unique user testing facility

— Posted April 28th, 2005  |  by Colm McBarron

iQ Content has acquired a mobile user testing lab that significantly expands our usability services to include on-site user testing and mobile device user testing.

User testing involves observing typical users attempting typical tasks with a web site, gadget or software application. Our new lab will help our clients ensure that their websites and applications are usable and effectively address their users' needs, thus improving results and enhancing customer satisfaction.

The lab is small and portable, and can be used to conduct user tests wherever required. It also has a video distribution capability, so that observers from the client's team can watch the user test in an adjoining room. In our experience, having the development team watch a customer use the product is the most effective form of usability issue reporting.

A key feature of the new lab is the mobile device camera. This is designed to attach to hand-held gadgets such as mobile phones, PDAs or tablet PCs so we can user test these devices and the applications they run. Portable devices are increasingly at the centre of our digital lives and a lot of innovation in services and user interface design is happening in this arena.

"We're delighted with our new lab, a facility that we believe is unique in Ireland," said Morgan McKeagney, MD of iQ Content. "Understanding and addressing user needs is an essential pre-requisite to developing effective websites and applications. This new facility enables our clients to efficiently and cost-effectively capture user requirements, and to create applications that are better for everyone."