@Centralis_UX November 22, 2014

Usability in the Gallery:Missing Methods in the Museum Evaluator's Toolkit

Hi from Centralis!

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Museums

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Evaluating the Visitor Experience

Before the Visit After the VisitExplorer

Experience Seeker

Recharger

Facilitator

Professional/ Hobbyist

Pilgrim

Evaluating the Visitor Experience

What about during the visit…?

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In-Gallery Research Questions

Do they want it?

Can they find it? Can they use it?

In-Gallery Research Questions

Can they find it?

Questions about Discoverability:

• Do visitors know about it?

• Can they determine what it does?

• Can they uncover all its features?

• Can they find all the information for a given object or experience?

In-Gallery Research Questions

Questions about Usability:

• Can visitors interact with it?

• Do they understand how to tap, swipe, pinch, zoom, etc.?

• Does it behave the way they expect?

• If visitors make a mistake, can they recover from it?

Can they use it?Can they find it?

In-Gallery Research Questions

Questions about Usability:

• Can visitors interact with it?

• Do they understand how to tap, swipe, pinch, zoom, etc.?

• Does it behave the way they expect?

• If visitors make a mistake, can they recover from it?

Can they use it?Can they find it?

In-Gallery Research Questions

Do they want it?

Questions about Desirability:

• Is it something visitors want to use?

• Does it enhance their overall experience?

Can they use it?Can they find it?

Risks of a Poor Experience

Discoverability Usability

Desirability

Apathy

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Usability testing is seeing your experiencethrough your visitors’ eyes.

3 Simple Rules for Usability Testing

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#1: Test with real users. (Hint: that’s not you, or your colleagues)

3 Simple Rules for Usability Testing

@Centralis_UX@Centralis_UX

#1: Test with real users.

#2: Give people tasks.

3 Simple Rules for Usability Testing

@Centralis_UX@Centralis_UX

#1: Test with real users.

#2: Give people tasks.

#3: Ask questions (carefully)

Got the tools…but what to fix first?

Discoverability Usability

Desirability

Apathy

The Starting Point

What’s the Impact?

Techniques of Observation

Techniques of Observation

Let users help you. Help them think aloud.

What’s the Cause?

Q: What’s the Cause?

Techniques of Observation

Let users fail. Prepare them first.

Q: What’s the Impact?

Case Study: Mobile Tours

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Field Museum Mobile Tours

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Recording Equipment

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“Usability” Issues in Action

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“Discoverability” Issues in Action

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“Discoverability” Issues in Action

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Design Mindset:

Tour (specific)

Instructions (general)

Items on tour (specfiic)

User Mindset:

Tour (specific)

Instructions (specific)

Items on tour (specfiic)

Next Steps

Evidence Priority Revision

Don’t Forget to Diagnose the Good

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The Goal

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Questions?

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