Usability
The Usability services at HDTI support both individuals and businesses looking to develop new and improved products, aimed at supporting independent living and improved quality of life within the community healthcare market.
Why consider a Usability study?
The community healthcare market is changing with the power of purchase increasingly in the hands of the end user. Businesses need to ensure that the products and services they develop are fit for purpose and attractive within the marketplace.
Usability studies can support this development process by providing an independent and ethically approved means of validating an innovative product’s performance or design by having it tested by a group of experts – the intended users.
By gaining valuable feedback from the product’s intended audience, it can both inform the future design and development of the product, and provide evidence to support marketing activity.
How is the study conducted?
Led and guided by an academic from within Coventry University and subject to the University’s ethics process, the study explores identified areas of interest with end users. These may, for example, include a critique of the product’s design, how easy it is to use, aesthetics, practicality, and for new products, acceptable price, etc.
Dependent on the nature of the study, a usability study may take various forms, including focus groups, interviews, questionnaire-based studies or field trials, where a product is tested with end users over a period of time.
At the end of the study a report is produced which analyses feedback from the end users, providing a summary and a series of recommendations to inform the future product’s development and direction.
Funded support for West Midlands SMEs
A variety of funding schemes are available through HDTI. West Midlands SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) qualify for three days of fully funded usability testing, supported by Advantage West Midlands. A range of other funding initiatives are also available.
How do I find out more?
For an initial discussion of your requirements, or to further explore the usability services of HDTI contact: Sharon Simkiss, Project Manager - Usability:
email: s.simkiss@coventry.ac.uk
tel: +44(0)24 7615 8085
