Usability Testing on the cheap

There are 3 tools I've come to use so much that i cant live without but the thought dawned on me the other day that they might be able to be used for usability testing competitor sites, User acceptance testing and HTML Prototype testing. In conjunction they are a powerful set of tools. I've place them in order of price, the cheapest can be used on its own with the next 2 adding functionality.

The ideas here take for granted that you have your test subjects lined up and your test script is already written. For more information on how to do this check out Jacob Nielsen's site http://www.useit.com/

1. Log Me In
http://www.logmein.com/

This is a remote access tool designed to easily access a remote PC via a web browser. It basically gives full control of the host PC's functions. The funny thing is that whilst a PC is being controlled you can see everything that's going on, it looks like its possessed! Its great to install at a friends house then login and start playing loud music at 3 in the morning.

The visibility of the actions on the host PC can be seen from both sides. This makes it perfect for logging into a PC controlled by a test subject whilst their movements are viewed on the remote screen.

Best of all its free for access to 5 pc's per account.

1. Snagit
http://www.snagit.com/

Snagit in essence works as an advanced print screen utility. It has a great functionality to capture scrolling windows which is great for taking screenshots of long webpages. Something that used to take a lot of cutting and pasting individual screenshots. It also has the ability to capture videos of what is happening on the screen.

I've found this tool invaluable in creating user manuals, capturing errors that other users cant seem to see, marking up creative amends,The list goes on. Like they saw a picture tells a thousand words and the same is true with the notes of the usability test. Snagit will enable you to capture an mpeg video of user interaction, either on the PC they are using or remotely via logmein. If you setup a microphone you can ask your test subjects to describe their thought process as the audio track to the video.

3. Axure
http://www.axure.com/

This program made the producers at my company fight over who would create the prototype. Its fun, but its also extremely use full. It allows you to great html prototypes of a site which act as a working model for the site. This is great to demonstrate to clients how site functionality will work as well as usability test before and design or development has begun. It also generates documentation that can be used as a technical specification.