Scope Statement
Project Name: The Open Virtual Usability Laboratory (VULab)
Prepared by: Ron Owston
Date: October 20, 2008
Project justification/background: |
VULab is an open source software tool designed for remote accessibility and usability testing. VULab records, on its server, a video of a remote user's on-screen interactions with a web site together with any user talk. The application also has a built in survey tool that allows researchers to ask users questions at the beginning and end of their usability testing session. The video and survey data collected on the VULab server can be viewed within the tool and exported for detailed analysis to identify accessibility and usability issues with the website. Two unique features of the application that set it apart from other usability testing tools (e.g., Techsmith's Morae) are: (1) that it does not require remote users to install a software application on their computer which facilitates usability testing in public locations such as libraries or school/university labs; and (2) since all data are stored on the server they can secured and backed up on the host server rather than stored on the tester's hard drive. |
Project goal: |
To develop and field test version 1.0 of VULab. |
Project description: |
Usability studies in VULab are organized by project. A project consists of a URL to be tested and optional pre- and post-session survey questions. The application consists of two modules: a researcher module and a tester module. In the researcher module all of the parameters of a project are set (e.g., the url to be tested, the pre- and post-survey questions, user directions, the activation and end date of the project); users are managed; and project results viewed. In the tester module users are presented with the pre-session survey, provided with task instructions, and re-directed to the website being tested. As the tester navigates the site being tested, all screen interactions are recorded; and if the user has a microphone and a 'talk-aloud' protocol to follow [PeterR: where would they get this protocol to follow?], all audio is captured. Once the website testing is completed, the tester is re-directed back to VULab where post-session questions are completed. The research is able to video the recordings and survey responses for each tester and export the data for detailed analysis. |
Project deliverables: |
|
VULab 1.0 |
VULab 1.0 will consist of the following components:
|
Schedule objective: |
Release of web interface for testing by the community - Oct 15, 2008 |
Project constraints: |
The deadline for completion of version 1.0 is March 31, 2009. However, since no tool with the features of VULab has been developed before, considerable research and trial-and-error testing will have to be done and and this makes it hard to accurately predict the time required to accomplish this. |
Project assumptions: |
The project assumes that remote recording and uploading of the recorded screens can be accomplished with reasonable efficiency so as not to impair the user's interaction with the website being tested. |
10/13/2008