Research company Asia Market Intelligence (AMI) has added Netusability
to its portfolio of internet research products.
According to AMI, the software enables a site developer to design a
usability test, capture a test user's experience of a site and review
the entire test experience afterwards.
AMI Online director, Guy Potter, said the software goes beyond a
"traditional group or depth approach".
The software produces a 'movie', which shows the web pages seen by the
user, cursor movements as they happen during the test and any text that
was entered.
A synchronised audio and video recorder captures the test subject's
verbal comments and non-verbal communication during the test.
As problems during a test are bookmarked, the person reviewing the test
can skip from one problem area to the next without having to go through
a full video.
"This makes it a lot easier for our clients to review the results, and
for those results to be presented visually to top management," said
Mandy Tam, AMI spokeswoman. She added internet portal MSN used the
system as part of its ongoing programme to "understand consumer
reaction".
The system also produces a complete report in all relevant statistical
data associated with the test, such as time spent on each page, or time
elapsed from the beginning to the end of the task.
Netusability chief executive officer, Michael Ingemann, said the system
"seeks to become the standard for how to test and benchmark website
usability, detect design flaws, and determine the best way to correct
those flaws".
