Usability Labs Overview

Oracle's Usability Labs are the most comprehensive labs devoted to database technology and applications in the enterprise software space. All major Applications, Tools and Server products are tested at the labs. Approximately 50 new products and upgrades are tested every year. The results are reported to the product development teams to make improvements before products ship. There is a technical staff dedicated to lab operations and maintenance. This resource is open to all within Oracle who need user testing facilities for Oracle products.

Goal

To improve the usability of Oracle products by providing user input and feedback to product development in an iterative and timely way

Charter

To support collection of user requirements for development of Oracle products
To evaluate and test Oracle products with real users performing actual business tasks

History

Founded in 1994
Started with three rooms in a rented building
Original founder and staff continue to maintain the labs.

Locations

7,000 square feet HQ labs: 200 Oracle Parkway, 1st & 2nd floor, Redwood Shores, CA
5,000 square feet Auxiliary labs: Pleasanton, CA; Burlington, MA; Reading, UK; Hyderabad, India
Under construction: Denver, CO; Bangalore, India

Statistics

100 lab activities per year
25% remote testing (user is at his own facility)
800 test participants/year
32% product usability tests
29% user interface design feedback sessions
15% prototype tests
14% focus groups
5% research experiments
4% group task analyses and card sorts

Participants

Users are recruited from Oracle databases of over 3000 solicited names.
End-users are working in Apps related businesses
Technical users are recruited from OTN, Oracle Technical Network
Participants must complete a survey on http://ui.oracle.com to qualify.
Those with profiles most like Oracle customers are chosen

Participants receive incentives to participate

Types of labs

User Lab

Accommodates 1 participant at a time
Designed like a regular office
Adjoining control room for test administrator, data logger and developers

Participatory Design Lab

Accommodates up to 25 participants
Elevated control platform
3 cameras capture participants from all angles

Classroom

Accommodates up to 16 networked machines and users
Used for interactive focus groups
Used for studies requiring multiple machines

Information Visualization Lab

For research studies
Eye tracking and other research techniques

Special features in all labs

One way mirrors
Adjoining control/observation rooms for developers to watch
Rheostat lighting controls
Ergonomic Furniture
Custom built control interfaces
Independent temperature and ventilation controls
Sound attenuation treatments
Special lighting
Many with MPEG-4 digital audio/video recording, streaming & storage
Ample networking and machine hosting facilities

Types of Studies

Usability tests

Formal quantitative evaluations on late beta or released products
8-10 users per test perform goal-oriented tasks
Users range from novices to experts, and represent their business task domains
Tests are tailored to the nature of the industry and organization
Metrics of efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction are recorded
Performances are timed and observed by a moderator and data logger
Users are given the SUMI (Subjective Usability Measurement Inventory) questionnaire to compare their experience with industry usability norms
ISO 25062 Common Industry Format standard for reporting results

Usability evaluation

Informal testing of interactive prototypes or products not yet released
Involves fewer users and task goals

Group studies

For determining user requirements prior to product design and development
Consist of small groups of users (5 – 15) with knowledge of a specific job function or product type
Various methodologies are used depending on study goals

Competitive tests

For comparing usability of Oracle to competitive products

Research experiments

Conducted on novel user interfaces which are not yet a part of any product
Eye tracking and other measurement techniques are used depending on the goals of the study

Test Timing and Duration

Usability activities typically take 1.5 – 4 hrs. per participant
Competitive or special studies can take 8-10 hrs. or multiple days to complete
Tests are booked 4-8 weeks in advance
  GET INVOLVED!

Participate in the Usability Program at Oracle to help us improve our products!

Usability Program

 
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