Comments on: Fun GUI Bloopers

By: Jacksonville Ad Agency

Jacksonville Ad Agency — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:56:41 +0000

No option for Universe wide distribtion?! This site is great….

By: Jacksonville Jewelry

Jacksonville Jewelry — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:56:42 +0000

I control all rights to music! hahaha!

By: JamesD

JamesD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:10:11 +0000

Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting

By: Chris Drake

Chris Drake — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 05:18:05 +0000

You’re one day from being a full month without a blog post. You act like you’re dating a beautiful woman or something. Sheesh.

By: John Hyde : Site Doublers

John Hyde : Site Doublers — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:05:16 +0000

I guess just the fact that the subject has frozen suggests that the UI is hosed.

In this scenario the biggest value of the comments is to shock the client into action:

“I’ve got no idea what to do…”

“I’m stuck…”

“I can’t figure out which model to buy…”

“Is a microwave in whiteware or kitchenware ?”

I like to make an executive summary of any usability testing – a video with these kind of comments can help the client to think clearly.

By: Editweapon

Editweapon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:04:42 +0000

“Pretend I’m not here” is my standard line…up until the point they get so super-frustrated that it’s time for the test to be over. Hey, we’ve all designed crap and/or had a user just really REALLY not get what was going on…No need to continue that pain train for either party.

“What are you thinking about?”…I never thought of that as a leading question. But I usually like to re-prompt the early instruction of “Can you think out loud for me?” I have noticed that it’s easier to get feedback from extroverts who automatically “think out loud”.

By: John Hyde : Site Doublers

John Hyde : Site Doublers — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:23:38 +0000

Hi Patrick – thanks for the kind words on the Grokky blog.

2 more things I’m still working on in usability testing – I’d love some input / suggestions:

1) The subject asks me for help – eg: “which button should I press now ?”

Currently I make a hiding gesture and say “Pretend I’m not here”.

2) Subject freezes – not scrolling, not reading, not saying anything.

I want to discover what her mental process is at this point – if any. But if I say “what are you thinking” it’s a leading question – she may not be thinking. She may be re-reading or just daydreaming.

Currently I say “Talk to me”. Have you got anything better ?