Evaluating the user Interface: Videotaping without a Camera

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Abstract
A user interface evaluation technique has been developed that: a) accurately documents user inputs and system responses; b) follows the logic behind user actions; c) obtains behavior that is not biased by the evaluation technique; d) does not cause the participants to feel uncomfortable; and, e) easily illustrates user interface problems to others. The basic technique involves participants working in pairs, direct video recording of screen images without a camera, and audio recording on the same videotape of the users' verbal interactions. The result is a real-time record of the interactions, which, when replayed on a monitor and speaker, provides a very faithful reconstruction of what happened during the evaluation. The main advantages of this approach over other data collection techniques, such as computerized recording of data and video recording with a camera, are that it is easier and less expensive to implement, and it is unobtrusive.

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