Product evaluation

• Why do we evaluate products before buying them?

  To get the "best buy"
• What is the purpose of designers evaluating products?

  To improve them or identify market opportunities
• What methods do consumers use to evaluate products?

  They compare products, look at them, touch them, and ask friends for opinions
• Why is it important for designers to look at existing products?

  To develop and improve new products and learn from past mistakes
• What should designers ensure when comparing products?

  That the products are similar and tested against the same criteria
• What is the purpose of user trials?

  To test a product by real users in a controlled setting
• What can result from user trials?

  A 'problem list' that provides information for improving usability
• What do users complete during user trials to provide feedback?

  A questionnaire rating ease of use from 0 to 10
• What are test rigs used for?

  To perform physical tests on products
• How do test rigs simulate extended use of a product?

  By repeating many actions over a short period of time
• What types of features can test rigs check?

  Durability or safety of products
• What types of tests can be set up using test rigs?

  Crash tests, drop tests, water tests, overheating tests
• What must be considered when designing a questionnaire?

  Clarity of information required
• What should be decided regarding the respondents of a questionnaire?

  Who will be questioned to encourage a wide range of opinions
• How can questionnaires be completed?

  Online, face-to-face, or by telephone
• What type of questions are often used in surveys to produce quantifiable data?

  Closed questions
• How would you rate the importance of having up-to-date equipment at a leisure center?

  Very important, fairly important, or not important
• What can be learned by observing a product in detail?

  Information about its construction, materials, and assembly processes
• What can designers learn by observing target market members using a product?

  How the target market interacts with the product