Usability Test Analysis

Test Task

Once we have done the market study and analyzed and defined how we can offer to our market segment the best service, we have designed a paper prototype of the mobile application. This step will help us to figure out how customers will interact with the application and how easy and practical it is for them to use it.

The prototype test was done in Spanish as the market targeted were Spanish consumers and it followed a process:

• Identify potential users.
• Instructions presentation. The test was introduced as a game in order to make it more dynamic and give the participant a trust environment.
• Small explanation of what is Q-Cocino about.
• List of ingredients they have: Pasta, cheese, tomato sauce, green beans, and olive oil. 
• They had between 0-40 minutes to cook
• They were advised to choose the first recipe on the list
• They were told they were already registered to the app
• To introduce the ingredients, it is only necessary to add the pasta, to not waste time the rest of the ingredients in the prototype where be introduced automatically.
• They were required to comment what they see
• Suggestions, comments and user satisfaction

Participants

User #1: 28 year old businessman

User #2: Student of 21 years old

User #3: Student of 25 years old

Qualitative Analysis

This analysis started from the beginning, as it was very important to see how the users interact with the prototype, answer the questions they had and be able to see how they react with the app.

• User #1

Observations: He felt awkward because it was his first time using an app with a paper prototype, but we tried to make it more comfortable by asking a little question about his daily mobile usability. The participant was very active when describing all what he saw in each step. He took out the advertisement and we could conclude that it was a good decision the idea to give the customer the option to make advertisement disappear. He didn't have any trouble using the prototype and he liked it a lot. From his personality it was reflected on the usage that he took his time and stopped and thought out each step, which was productive because he took the usability test seriously.

• User #2

Observations: He didn't know where to start, but it was because he felt a little bit weird with the camera and people looking at his movements. We used the same method to calm him down and then he started. He didn't have any trouble with the usability as he understood everything and he could do his recipe in one shot. He did not ask any questions and he showed that he did not hesitate with the options and he went directly to what he wanted. He did not comment all what he saw, but he read all written in each screen. We tried to motivate him, but it didn't work as he was busy and with no time, but this showed that a person under time pressure as some of our potential users can intuitively use the app with no problem.

• User #3

Observations: This user did the premium model. The test was completed successfully, however there was a little trouble with the introduction of the ingredients as they appear in English instead of Spanish. This inconvenience was changed immediately because it was a technical mistake of the prototype.  We had the same problem as we had with the User #2, he read everything but he did not comment as we were expecting. We observed that he did not stop to see the number of diners and it could be caused by the colors, the typography or users lack of attention.

Conclusions

We can say that the application prototype was design effectively and efficiently as all participants completed the task successfully, they got their recipe, they felt good and with positive feeling of the app at the end of the exercise. None of the users got lost using it and they said that the sequence was followed with common sense and it was simple to use. They suggested more colors and different typographic to make it more attractive.

Also, we conclude that the idea of advertisement and discounts was good as they were asking questions and they were enthusiastic to hear more about discounts and new recipe' ideas. They did not put attention to the fact that they could share their recipes and photos, so it confirmed our main idea to give them a solution for busy people who did not have time to think about anything else.

User #2 and #3 did not put attention to the number of people that the recipe was design to. It was a way to promote the premium version, as it can be changed and personalized for premium users. We concluded that we need to design and define a better strategy to make people realize and discovered the advantages of the premium version. Like for example include it in more places such as after the 'how much time do you have' step include one in the free version saying the premium would let them choose nutritional needs and number of diners and other advantages. Or on the recipe include the tag of video and once clicked tell the user it is only for premium users.

Eva&Silvia