Usability Testing

Designing and testing your product with consumer needs in mind prior to product launch can help you save valuable time and money in potential redesign. Our Usability Assessment Program will determine any of the following:

• Ease of use of the product controls
• Weight and balance of the product
• Comfort and fit
• Maneuverability
• Ergonomics
• Usefulness of special features and accessories
• Clarity and accuracy of diagrams and instructions
• Ease of use by the elderly or disabled

Intertek can work with you to determine the usability of your product in the following ways:

• Expert Ergonomic Assessment: Our in-house ergonomics expert will assess your products overall ease of use. This will be based on human capabilities and limitations, particularly those related to age or disability.
• In-Lab Usability Assessment: Using a checklist developed by our ergonomics expert, our trained staff will operate your product as if they were the end user, assessing things like overall ease of use, controls, maneuverability, instructions and usefulness of product features.
• User Trials: ‘Real life’ user trials carried out by consumers are one of the best methods of assessing the usability of your product. User trials can be done to compare a range of similar products for benchmarking purposes or to assess a single product. Based on the level of information you need user trials can be conducted with a large panel to provide you with more robust statistical data or with a smaller panel to provide you with anecdotal feedback. Typically, user trials are conducted in consumer’s homes in order to replicate typical usage, but where this is not possible, they are carried out under controlled conditions in the laboratory or at local venues.
• User Trials with the Elderly And Disabled: User trials can also be conducted with a targeted panel of consumers with disabilities ranging from visual impairment (including the blind), hearing impairment, restricted mobility (including wheelchair users), poor grip, arthritis and general age related frailty.
• Focus Groups: Our in-house ergonomics expert can run structured discussions with specific groups of consumers to explore particular issues and products or to review the usability findings of a product that has been previously assessed by user trial.