Usability Testing for Yetihome
Palomäki, Maija (2022)
Palomäki, Maija
2022
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202203253981
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202203253981
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this project was to provide usability data for the client company Kuori Oy. The thesis focuses on the Yetihome device which is a large tablet targeted at older users and users with disabilities. Yetihome is a new device that the company is launching next year.
Thesis project does not examine all the aspects of the device but is intended as a base for more accurate and extensive usability testing. With this thesis the author became more acquainted with various usability testing methods.
This report highlights different ways to explore usability and attempt to identify testing methods that are best suited for a specific user group of seniors. As users of digital services, the elderly represents a unique user group. Their needs are different from the people who have lived in the digital world their whole life. They need more time and guidance. It’s important to physically meet them and be present in the moment with them. The usability data for Yetihome device was collected by observing videos where users perform simple tasks on the device. The report contains an analysis that compares usability of the new device with the usability of the old Yetitablet device. The usability of the Yetitablet was researched with a user survey. Surveys were conducted by email. The questions were related to the normal usage of the device. The usability analysis follows Nielsen’s guidelines. There have not been many studies on how to test usability of digital devices with senior users.
The thesis addresses the question of whether seniors are still able to learn new things even at advanced age. Yetitablet is supposed to be easy to use so a senior user who doesn’t have a lot of experience with technology could learn to use it. According to the customer data, users who don’t have a lot of experience with computers are not so eager to use the device on their own. The users who are used to using technology find the device very useful. The devices bring experiences of success and joy to the lives of the elderly. At best, the device is genuinely useful in everyday life. The screen brightness and size seem to be good enough for the users. One problem that came up, was that users need more ways for adjusting and moving the screen. The device has a voice-over function that is especially useful for users with bad eyesight. In the future the device could have an artificial intelligence option so it could communicate with its users. One small issue is the navigation bar, it is confusing to the senior users. Navigation could be developed together with a user group. Unusual new navigation designed just for the elderly user could be a competitive advantage.
Thesis project does not examine all the aspects of the device but is intended as a base for more accurate and extensive usability testing. With this thesis the author became more acquainted with various usability testing methods.
This report highlights different ways to explore usability and attempt to identify testing methods that are best suited for a specific user group of seniors. As users of digital services, the elderly represents a unique user group. Their needs are different from the people who have lived in the digital world their whole life. They need more time and guidance. It’s important to physically meet them and be present in the moment with them. The usability data for Yetihome device was collected by observing videos where users perform simple tasks on the device. The report contains an analysis that compares usability of the new device with the usability of the old Yetitablet device. The usability of the Yetitablet was researched with a user survey. Surveys were conducted by email. The questions were related to the normal usage of the device. The usability analysis follows Nielsen’s guidelines. There have not been many studies on how to test usability of digital devices with senior users.
The thesis addresses the question of whether seniors are still able to learn new things even at advanced age. Yetitablet is supposed to be easy to use so a senior user who doesn’t have a lot of experience with technology could learn to use it. According to the customer data, users who don’t have a lot of experience with computers are not so eager to use the device on their own. The users who are used to using technology find the device very useful. The devices bring experiences of success and joy to the lives of the elderly. At best, the device is genuinely useful in everyday life. The screen brightness and size seem to be good enough for the users. One problem that came up, was that users need more ways for adjusting and moving the screen. The device has a voice-over function that is especially useful for users with bad eyesight. In the future the device could have an artificial intelligence option so it could communicate with its users. One small issue is the navigation bar, it is confusing to the senior users. Navigation could be developed together with a user group. Unusual new navigation designed just for the elderly user could be a competitive advantage.