Assignment: Testing ease of use for installing a device
A large manufacturer of medical devices in the US was interested in seeing whether their target audience in Europe was able to unpack, install and use a specialized medical device. This device would allow heart patients to monitor their health at home and automatically send a status report to their physician. To determine the usability of the product, tests were planned in various European locations.
Method used: Global Usability test
Close collaboration within the UXAlliance made it possible to quickly and easily set-up usability tests in different countries. One of our partners, User Centric, was responsible for the general organization of the tests. They made sure the test conditions were similar in all the locations (e.g. target audience and test scripts).
Partners in the individual countries were responsible for providing the test facilities, recruitment, translation and moderation of the sessions. This set-up ensured that local knowledge and expertise were used during the preparation and carrying out of the tests. User Intelligence was asked through the UXAlliance to conduct the tests in the Netherlands.
Project specific support
For most projects we use a standard lab set-up, but if needed we can rearrange our lab to fit specific needs. For this usability test we rearranged our lab in such a way that it resembled a living room and installed several cameras for detailed client observation. Next to that, in order to make it possible for the client to follow the tests live, we arranged simultaneous translation of the sessions (Dutch to English).
Because a very specific type of participant was needed for this test, we couldn’t make use of the recruitment agency we normally work with. In order to find 10 patients with an implanted heart device we closely worked together with a recruitment agency that specializes in finding participants in the health sector.
Results: Valuable feedback to improve product
During two days of testing, ten heart patients participated and provided valuable feedback on the usability of the product.