Category: Tools

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Ten ways to improve the usability of products that Agile teams build

Software development that uses a waterfall method is likely to deliver the wrong thing, too late. The intent of the Agile method is to deliver working software sooner, so the intended users—our clients and their customers—can provide feedback that steers us to deliver the right thing.

There’s a tension between delivering on time and delivering the right thing. In fact, the rush for on-time delivery can result in the wrong thing—an unusable product. There are ways to prevent this. User research is part of the solution.

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The ease of user research goes in cycles

The tools of user research have evolved substantially over the past three decades, and need to evolve more.

Here’s a history from last century through today, based on my experience.

To observe and record how people use devices, user researchers have had to learn to test

  • computer software, by using expensive usability labs,
  • desktop software, by using other desktop computers,
  • smartphone apps, by using apps,
  • household appliances and outdoor digital experiences, by using portable usability labs,
  • self-powered and motorised vehicles, by using GPS and streaming apps.
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