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| Using Beta Testers to Find the Flaws in a Product |
Beta testing is not the same as usability testing. They are
similar, but not the same. Usability testing is done in an environment when you
are still trying to figure out the direction of your website or app. A
usability test in that instance gives you some direction in which to head. When
you are in beta testing, you should already have an idea of where your website
or app is heading. All that should be left to do is finding bugs and making
small tweaks to the design, if any.
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| Usability (Testing Environment) vs Beta Testing (User's Own Environment) |
Usability Testing Goals
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Beta Testing Goals
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Decide what platforms you are optimizing for
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Users report issues that they have
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Decide what works and does not work for your design
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Very limited design changes
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The test is done in a lab, so the person observing the test can
observe where the user is having difficulty
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Fix issues with broken code
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Fix any design issues before writing any code
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Test is done in the comfort of the user’s own environment
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The tester is able to ask the subject about issues they had with the
design
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The tester is able to observe the body language of the subject
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| Beta Testing Cycle |
As can be shown from the cycle above, the outcome for
usability and beta testing are similar. The end goal of both test is to better
the project. While usability testing focuses on the interaction with the
product, beta testing focuses on coding problems. Beta testing is a highly
recommended step in making websites and app making. Beta testing allows you to
catch errors before your product is out in the open. The goal of beta testing
is not to get rid of all the bugs in your code, that is not practical. What is
practical though is flushing out as many bugs as you can.
If you are trying to do beta testing, here is a website that
gives you some tips on how to conduct a beta test: Beta Testing Tips
Sources:
- "Beta Testing." Web Development,web Designing and Internet Marketing Firm. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
- Carter, Breck. "SQL Anywhere." : August 2011. N.p., 24 Aug. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
- "Recording Usability Tests on the IPhone." :: Capstrat. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
- Richmond, Nadyne. "Go Ahead, Mac My Day." Beta Testing vs Usability Testing. N.p., 5 Apr. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
- Spolsky, Joel. "Joel on Software." Top Twelve Tips for Running a Beta Test -. N.p., 2 Mar. 2004. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
- Thadani, Rahul. "How to Become a PS3 Game Tester." Buzzle. Buzzle.com, 15 Apr. 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
A very good survey on the difference between Usability Testing and Beta Testing. Maybe a few of your own experience with this could be interesting to the readers. I like the cycle image and your table. It makes more sense to me when I look at your table and figure out the differences. You could explore more on the benefits of beta testing to the users.
ReplyDeleteYour post is well documented. I hope to see more on the how beta testing can help your project become better, or any problems you are facing as a developer when you beta test it.
Glad to read your post.
Thank you for the comments Phuc. I would have liked to use some real examples of that, but I do not have any with me that I can show. I have participated in a couple of Beta games, but that is not my own intellectual property. I think the differences between Usability and Beta testing become very clear when you start listing out what each one wants to achieve. At first I was unclear about how they were different but as I did more research on the topic it became more clear. When all else fails I try to do tables because it helps me conceptualize the idea.
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