All May 2017: Volume 12, Issue 3 articles

Introduction to Volume 12, Issue 3, May 2017

For our May 2017 issue, Gerry Gaffney has contributed an editorial on “The Revolution Will Not Be Handheld.”  He provides a thoughtful essay about user experience research and design when there are no screens–think voice, Internet of Things, and robots. In addition to the editorial, this issue includes three research papers, two on variants of […] [Read More]

The Revolution Will Not Be Handheld

Introduction For those working in UX through the past several years, the shift from desktop to mobile has seemed a major event. No longer are our devices clearly situated. Instead they travel with us. “Technology is now an appendage—always available in every moment of time, anywhere” (Holtzblatt & Beyer, 2017, p. 7). The shift has […] [Read More]

Eye Tracking in Retrospective Think-Aloud Usability Testing: Is There Added Value?

Abstract Eye tracking is the process of recording users’ eye movements while they are looking at the location of an object. In usability testing, this technique is commonly used in combination with think-aloud protocols. This paper presents an experimental study involving 24 participants; with the aim of comparing two variants of retrospective think-aloud (RTA) methods, […] [Read More]

To Intervene or Not to Intervene: An Investigation of Three Think-Aloud Protocols in Usability Testing

Abstract This paper presents the results of a study investigating the use of three think-aloud methods in website usability testing: the concurrent think-aloud, the speech-communication, and the active intervention methods. These three methods were compared through an evaluation of a library website, which involved four points of comparison: overall task performance, test participants’ experiences, the […] [Read More]

Lab Testing Beyond Usability: Challenges and Recommendations for Assessing User Experiences

Abstract In the “third wave” of human-computer interaction (HCI), the advent of the conceptual approach of UX broadens and changes the HCI landscape. Methods approved before, mainly within the conceptual approach of usability, are still widely used, and yet their adequacy for UX evaluation remains uncertain in many applications. Laboratory testing is undoubtedly the most […] [Read More]