Purpose
The purpose of our user testing was to get user feedback on our mockups. Specifically we wanted to know if the size of our mockups was appropriate and if they would be comfortable. We also wanted to learn how quickly and how easily each mock up could be used to create a loop with the athletic band.
Methodology
Our team has run one round of testing with Dr. Goldberg. We presented him 3 of our mockups, one constructed of foamcore and the other two being 3d printed. These three mockups were our buckle design, as seen in Figure 1, our chip clip design, Figure 2, and a design we call interlocking, Figure 3. We presented each mockup to Dr. Goldberg and had him use it and give us feedback. The tests happened in our DTC room and lasted about 20 mins. One member of our team talked with Dr. Goldberg while the others took notes.
Figure 1: Buckle Mockup
Figure 2: Chip Clip Mockup
Figure 3: Interlocking
Results/Feedback
Buckle: We found that the buckle is very good at holding the band but it takes a long time to create a loop. It also takes a long time to adjust the size of the loop. The buckle in its current form is almost a more permanent fixture of the band.
Chip Clip: We found the chip clip was very simple and easy to use. It was also very quick. It slipped a bit more than the buckle design. The chip clip was a little large for Dr. Goldbergs liking. It kept the band “stretched out” while he was using it. The balance between flexibility and functionality will be an interesting thing to figure out.
Interlocking: We found that the intersecting design was very quick to create a band. It did have a problem that when tension is released, like it is in some exercises, the loop becomes undone. The mockup used in testing was also very bulky, and Dr. Goldberg wanted something smaller.
Conclusion
We found that in general our designs need to be smaller and more comfortable. This was especially true with the chip clip and interlocking design. They were simple too big. For the next iteration we need to make these smaller and attempt to make them out of more comfortable materials. We found that the chip clip and interlocking were both fairly quick and easy to use. The buckle design took way too long to weave the band through it. We are looking towards integrating this design more with the interlocking design.
Limitations
We were a bit limited on time when we did our testing. We had to make sure everyone else had time with Dr. Goldberg as well. We also could only have two of our members at the user testing for the whole time.