Designed for Use, 2nd Edition

Preparing for the Test

Depending on the type of test you’re running, there are different things you need to do to prepare. In most cases, you will need a computer. Uninstall all the extraneous stuff that might interrupt the test, such as virus protection software. Install the product in a way that will allow you to easily reset the system to its default state (you don’t want to confuse testers with data other users have entered into the system). Install screen-recording software and a microphone. If you decide to record the user, you also need a webcam.

It’s important to be as faithful to the product as possible. For example, you wouldn’t test an iPad application running in a simulator on a computer if you could avoid it. Instead, you would get ...