Archive for May, 2008
Screencast Video Tools Options for Usability Testing
Windows Platform
Cam Studio (Free, released under the GPL Licence)
Creates AVI video files and using its built-in SWF Producer can turn those AVIs into bandwidth-friendly Streaming Flash videos (SWFs)
Debut (Free)
Compatible with Windows 98/2000/XP/2003/Vista. Records video in many different file formats including .avi, .wmv, .asf .mpg, .3gp, .mp4, .mov and more.
uTipu (Free, share online)
Compatible with Windows XP and Vista. Record up to 20 minutes. Saves videos in Flash Video format. Allows for zooming and still in Beta.
Mac Platform
iShowU ($20)
Comes with built-in video presets. Supports QuickTime compression. Compatible on both Tiger and Leopard.
ScreenFlick ($29)
Offers the ability to display keyboard commands, and highlights mouse clicks to better communicate which actions are being performed during screen recording. Compatible with tiger or later.
ScreenFlow ($99)
Compatible with Leopard. Powerful editing tools. Highlight using ‘Callouts’. High quality exporting.
Both Platforms
Jing Project (Free, share online)
Snap a picture of anything on your desktop. Record video of what you do, or what you see. Instantly uploaded. Share in email, IM, or blogs.
Screen-o-Matic (Free, share online)
Screencast-O-Matic is the free and easy way to create a video recording of your screen (aka screencast) and upload it for free hosting all from your browser with no install but again still in Beta.
No commentsMore Usability Resources
Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
A must read book about web site usability. Check his download list on the home page.
The Elements of User Experience by Jesse J Gareth
The planes of user experience presented in a graphical form.
Fast and Simple Usability Testing by Natalie Downe on 24 Ways
“Everyone knows by now that they should test the usability of their applications, but still hardly anybody actually does it. In this article I’ll share some tips I’ve picked up for doing usability tests quickly and effectively.”
For you Clients by Robin Williams
“Are you a client for any web designer?
This section is for you.
Web sites are a relatively new invention in the world, and…”
How To Quantify The User Experience by Robert Rubinoff on Site Point
“Many look to the user experience as an overall indicator of Website success. Analyzing how effectively a Website provides for a net positive user experience can often turn into a subjective affair, rife with opinion and short on objectivity.”
“This is the companion web site for the book Paper Prototyping by Carolyn Snyder. Here you’ll find downloadable versions of materials presented in the book, examples of paper prototypes, references, and more. Whether or not you’ve read the book, you’ll find useful resources here.”
Check the download page
Seven Common Usability Testing Mistakes by Jared M. Spool on UIE
http://www.uie.com/articles/usability_testing_mistakes/
“What’s the easiest way to conduct a usability test? Well, you could just sit a person down (it doesn’t matter who) in front of your design and ask them to do something (it doesn’t matter what).
If this is so easy, why does a standard usability test contain all that other rigmarole? Because that rigmarole goes a long way to ensure that the test will produce quality results.”
Usability Testing Materials on InfoDesign
“The following is a list of materials that we regard as a minimum when running a test. Links to samples (in PDF format) are included where appropriate.”
User Experience Design by Peter Morville on Semantic Studios
“When I broadened my interest from IA to UX, I found the need for a new diagram to illustrate the facets of user experience - especially to help clients understand why they must move beyond usability - and so with a little help from my friends developed the user experience honeycomb.”
What Is User Experience Design by Kimmy Paluch on Montparnas
“User experience design can sometimes be a slippery term. With all the other often used terms that float around in its realm in the technology and web space: interaction design, information architecture, human computer interaction, human factors engineering, usability, and user interface design. People often end up asking “what is the difference between all these fields and which one do I need?” This article examines the term and field of user experience to plainly extrapolate its meaning and connect the dots with these other fields.”
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