07-12-2009
Recently, I watched a usability test, with no eye tracking, and this happened:
The participant, describing an issue, said - ”You can see here how … “.
In the observation room my client and I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about! We couldn't see where his finger was pointing at the screen!
If we had the eye tracker running we could have easily seen what he was talking about, because, as he described the issue, he would have been looking at that exact spot on the screen. Seeing this real time video footage would have added so much more value to our experience as observers.
I can't understand how people can do usability testing without eye tracking!
If you don’t have an eye tracker, typically the moderator will say “can you indicate with the mouse” or they will simply articulate what the user is referencing for the benefit of the people watching in the viewing room.
I agree with Harry. This was a failure on the facilitator’s part. It is their job to seek clarification for themselves as much as the observers. Indicate with the mouse or seek oral qualification. Eye tracking can help, but it is not essential IMO.
Absolutely, I agree too. However, eye tracking shows the observers (and facilitator), in real time exactly where people are looking. This means that they can gain insights throughout the entire test, not just when the facilitator interrupts the task to point something out.