As a usability expert, I decided to quickly review Userfly (http://www.userfly.com) and share my findings with the community.
Userfly is indeed a great service. Eseentailly, here is what Userfly does:
By installing a simple script on your site, Userfly can record your users actions for usability and testing purposes. Upon playback, you get a number of cool features including exact click locations of the user, their exact paths, and even mouse movements. The system records all of the movements of the user and plays them back to the usability expert (or whomever) for review.
So why do I feel that applications like this are not only ahead of their time, but a needed tool in the old toolbox (besides the obvious)?
Overseas testing within companies.
Simple. In today’s day and age, with companies doing more and more business overseas, it becomes increasingly difficult to test sites and applications with users in different countries. You basically have three options to run a userability test overseas. You can:
- Travel there.
- Ask someone at that location to run the test.
- You attempt to run the test remotely.
Some of these may sound doable, but keeping in mind language constraints as well as cultural differences, it is far easier – and might I add reliable – to run these tests using something like Userfly. This way, not only are you the one implementing the test, but also the one reviewing it. Instructions to the user become clearer. Analyzing the results becomes a snap. Reliance on other people (except users) becomes nil.
Testing sites with overseas customers.
Obviously, there is money to be made on the internet. Quite frankly, the sites with more of an international customer base tend to fare the best. So how does your site stack up to international customers? With Userfly, you can find out. You can poll users overseas and record their actions as they navigate your site. It makes it easy to pinpoint cultural design differences, as well as international design flaws. It shows you exactly how easy it is for international customers to use your site. Honestly, the list goes on and on.
Optimizing usability tests.
When running usability tests, asking users to think aloud, trying to track mouse movements by eye, etc, all are a large part of the test. Even asking them to perform tasks can often illicit questions in return. Most usability experts even recommend you video tape your user tests to capture the test, as well as to show the customer. Userfly puts all that in the past. Userfly records the testing without a video camera, which some believe, can hinder the test. There are no questions by the user. Also, as I like to point out, you can actually test users in a normal user environment. They don’t have to go to a lab, or have you peering over their shoulder. This is what I refer to as “naturalizing” user testing. This is a great reason to use Userfly.
So are there negatives?
Yes, there are some, but not many. One negative is attempting to use Userfly on a large scale. Though I am sure the software can handle it, larger companies are very wary of this type of tool. It can record keystrokes, passwords, etc. Now of course, for security reasons, Userfly doesn’t exactly do this – in fact, they make it a point NOT to record passwords. But try telling the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company that…
Secondly, I don’t feel Userfly should replace standard testing, but instead accompany it. (For the record, Userfly does not claim it should replace anything either.) Standard user tests will still have their place in the world. But this is one fine tool to use in the arsenal.
All in all, Userfly is a great product, and one I highly recommend. They have great pricing points, and even offer a free subscription. For those of you interested, I suggest you visit their site for more at www.Userfly.com.