User Testing

User testing refers to an observational research technique where representative end users are recruited to participate in realistic scenarios in a simulated environment in order to assess the appropriateness and ease of use of a system prior to its introduction into the real world.

Using the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation's state of the art multi-tasking simulation environments and usability labs, high fidelity clinical environments are configured using theatre style props and actual medical equipment. Possible environments include:
 

» Operating rooms

» Intensive care units

» General patient wards

» Waiting rooms

» Patient homes

Representative end users are recruited and are asked to work through realistic scenarios and tasks with the technology while they verbalize their thoughts and impressions. The HHFG has unique access to University Health Network’s staff and patient populations to aid in the recruitment process. Digital audio and video collected during the sessions are analyzed for to determine safety and usability issues. These along with recommendations for redesign are fed back to the development team so that refinements can be made prior to the next round of iterative usability testing.

When circumstances, timing or resources do not permit for in-lab user testing, remote user testing methods can also be utilized. For both remote and in-lab user testing, videos of test sessions may be streamed in real-time to external sites so that stakeholders, including technical development teams, can view issues as they arise.