Usability Testing for Flash Applications

Transcription

1 Usability Testing for Flash Applications Th3A Asha Jyothi V Meruvu, AppLabs, India

2 Usability Testing for Flash Applications M. V. Asha Jyothi AppLabs Senior Software Engineer

3 Agenda» Usability Overview» Significance of Multimedia Testing» What and Why Flash?» Bitmap Vs. Vector Graphics» Testing Life Cycle» Checklist» Measuring Usability» Skills & Challenges» Conclusion

4 Usability Overview» Usability is the measure of the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a:» Product» System» Website» Software application» Mobile technology or» Any user-operated device» In other words, usability addresses the relationship between the features/content and their users

5 Significance of Multimedia Testing» Computer-mediated information that is presented currently in more than one medium» Significance:» Product demos» Computer based training» Advertisements» Entertainment» Games» Animations

6 What and Why Flash?» What?» Flash is an animation software developed by Macromedia» Used to create vector graphics-based animation» Creates vector graphics-based animation programs with interactive navigations» Why?» High quality» Small file sizes, hence quick to download» Browser and platform independent

7 Bitmap Vs. Vector Graphics» Bitmap Graphics:» Images using pixels» Vector Graphics:» Images using lines and curves» Editing a Bitmap image changes the quality» Bitmap images are resolution dependent» Editing a vector image does not change quality» Vector images are resolution independent

8 Testing Life Cycle

9 Checklist Content & Audio Proofing» Typo errors (content accuracy)» Uniform font size and style» Grammatical errors, punctuation» Spacing errors» British/American English» Subject related errors» Audio given accordingly» Uniformity in the pitch of the audio files» Clarity in voice Synchronization Testing» Audio with respect to video» Audio with respect to text» Audio with respect to the highlighted text» Audio with respect to the highlighted diagrams» Audio with respect to the situations in the application

10 Checklist Animation Testing» Transition slowly rather than rapidly» Add user controls» Avoid continuous looping transitions» Highlighting the required part» Highlighting Methods» Movie runs smoothly» Broken rings, lines, arrows etc while highlighting» Image appearing too dim/dull» Color combinations and pictures at required places Interactive Testing» Interactions for information presentation» Roll over» Buttons with respect to mouse events» Image display» List/Combo box display» Interactions for decision» Yes/No decisions» Drop and Drag» Interactions for input requirement» Self Evaluation quiz» Drop and drag with input from the user

11 Measuring Usability» Effectiveness:» Percent of tasks accomplished» Ratio of successes to failures» Number of features used» Efficiency:» Time to learn a product» Time to complete a task» Time spent on detecting defects» User satisfaction:» User feedback of the product» User satisfaction with functions and features

12 Skills & Challenges» Skills» Keen observation» Testing skills» Working knowledge of Flash» Aware of intended users» Aware of intended purpose» Experience in Usability Testing» Challenges» Knowledge on color dynamics» Subject matter expertise

13 Conclusion» Adobe s Flash technology has become one of the leading contenders in the Rich Internet Applications (RIA) market, with over 95% of all browser users able to access Flash content» Providing users with a content rich, interactive user experience places a significant emphasis on the quality and look and feel of the application» Minor errors that may have been overlooked on a static web page can become critical errors that leave users with a confusing, annoying or simply unworkable interface that destroys the user experience» Only through comprehensive usability testing can we ensure that an excellent user experience is built into the core of your internet application

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