Usability test on the 
Korg
GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner
Introduction
Procedure
Participant Data
Conclusions
Appendix
Reference
What is a
usability test?
Today in the world people perform tasks
with the help of much help of electronic equipment. The little
gadgets that can make any person's life easier to accomplish or the
complete opposite by
confusing the user into a state of electronic overload.
Electronics
not only makes are jobs easier to perform the task but allows the user
to fall into a less likely hood of error. With more and more
electronics available for use, companies and manufactories have to get
an edge on the competition by making their product far superior to all
others. Ease of use of the product is at the up most attention
every aspect must be looked at for possible errors that could go wrong
while using the particular piece of equipment.
This is where usability tests come into play. Usability testing
is a
research tool according to Jeffery Rubin ( 1994) in “which a process
that employs participants who are representatives of the target
population to evaluate
the degree to which a product meets specific usability criteria.”
Companies
will spend thousands of dollars performing these usability tests, to
ensure
that there product is user friendly. The more user friendly the product
is
the happier the user will be.
Introduction:
The purpose of this usability test is to determine
whether
a user can accurately tune an acoustic guitar using the Korg
guitar/bass
tuner GA-30. The guitar tuner will pick up frequencies form the
guitar and display them on an LCD screen. No help is supplied or
given to the user in during
the
process. It is based solely on the users ability to use the product
with
outside support. Suggestions will be taken from the user to
improve future models of the Korg
tuners. All information will be kept confidential.
To
learn about tuner terminology, click here
Procedure:
All the users were tested in the testers home in a
room
free of distractions and noise. The user set up
appointments
with the tester to perform the test they were told that the result of
test
was to be kept confidential and it was entirely voluntary.
The user is asked to take a seat so the test can
begin
can begin. The tester again thanks them for performing the test
and
ensures them that the results will be kept confidential. The task that
will
be asked of the user is to correctly tune an autistic guitar using a
Korg
bass/guitar tuner GA-30. The user will have no instruction manual
of
how to do this. This is not a test of their ability, it is
whether
they can accurately tune the guitar using the tuner that they may or
may
not be familiar with. Through out the test the user will be
asked
to think out loud and if they encounter a problem, try to talk through
it.
The tester may take some notes on things the user say or do.
Before
the test can begin the tester must make sure the user knows the task
asked
of him and if they have any questions. The user then must take a
quick
pre-test, asking primarily how experienced they are using the
guitar.
Once the pre- test is complete the tester hands the guitar and Korg
guitar/bass
tuner GA-30 to the user for the test to begin. Once the user is
done
performing the task asked of them the guitar and the tuner are handed
back
to the tester. A quick post test is given to the user to ask
question
about ease of use of the Korg guitar/bass tuner GA-30 and whether they
completed
the required task.
Participant Data:
6 people were administered this test, all of them had backgrounds
playing
guitars.
Pre test data-
-
Average age of guitar playing time- 2 years
- 4-6
people tested played the guitar weekly
-
Of those tested 4 played acoustic guitars, 1 electric, 1 bass(
the test only used an acoustic gutiar)
- The
average of them rating themselves playing the guitar was a 7
- None
of them had ever used the Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner before
- All
of them believed the task would be easily be accomplished
Post test data-
- Of
those tested only one person found the Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner confusing
- Two
encountered a few problems with the guitar, one was a complete failure
by breaking the guitar string
- All
the users thought the manual would help, but 2 believe it to be the
last option
- 4-5
completed the task asked of them
- Yes,
with the different level of flats, any type of music could be
played
- They
all believed the buttons were arranged accordingly
- One
out of the five felt confused completely during the test, two other
just a had a few set backs while performing.
-
Suggestions can be found in the conclusion section
Conclusion:
The test indicated that the Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner
did in fact have some minor problems, but overall it proved
to
be well worth the cost. The compact design proves it to be very space
saving and of those tested seemed relatively easy to use. Only
one person tested
couldn't correctly perform the task asked of them. The Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner according to my test
only
needs to make a few small changes.
- The mic has some difficulty picking up the low E
cord,
the tuner must be really close to pick up the sound wave.
- The LCD screen is small and some what hard to read at
times,
when the needle moves it shows the cord being played. Some users
had a
hard
time reading what cord that was.
- For the price isn't bad tuner but isn't a universal tuner
and doesn't display the F cord, next one should display all cords.
Appendix
A
Basic instructions
Welcome the test subject in to the testing
environment.
The testing environment in a room with no distractions and the door is
shut. Set up are a table and two chairs. The tester asks the user
to take a seat so they can begin. The tester again thanks them
for performing the test.
The user is ensured that the results will be kept confidential, and is
entirely
voluntary and at any time in the test if they feel like they want to
quit
they should do so. The task that will be asked of them is that
they
tune an autistic guitar using a Korg bass/guitar tuner GA-30. There
will
be no reference material given to the user.
Script:
In this test I will ask of you to correctly tune a acoustic guitar
using
the Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner. By
performing
this test the Korg corporation will get a better understand of its
clientele
and their personal wants and needs of their products.
Through
out the test I would like you to think out loud and if you encounter a
problem, try to talk through it. I may take some notes on things
you say or do,
but pay no attention to me just complete the task asked of you.
Any
suggestions
are welcome in the redesign or functions that are available on the Korg GA-30 Guitar and Bass Tuner would be much
appreciated.
Any questions?
We will begin by taking a quick pre-test to find out about your
background of playing guitar.
Appendix B
Pre-test
How long have you been playing guitar?
How often do you play the guitar?
Daily
Weekly
Bi-weekly
Monthly
Score yourself 1-10 on your ability to play a guitar, with 10 being the
highest.
What type of guitar do you generally play?
Have you ever used the Korg bass/guitar tuner GA-30 before?
Do
you feel as if the task ask of you was
attainable?
Appendix C
Post-test
Please answer the following question about the functions of the Korg
bass/guitar tuner GA-30?
1. Did you find using the Korg bass/guitar tuner
GA-30 was confusing?
2. Did you encounter any problems while doing the
test?
3. Do you
think you correctly performed the task?
4. Would it have been easier to perform this test
with a detailed instruction manual?
5. In your opinion did the Korg bass/guitar tuner
GA-30 accurately tune the guitar?
6. Are the buttons on the Korg bass/guitar tuner
GA-30 arranged accordingly?
7. At any time of the test did you feel confused or
under pressure?
The test is
now complete, the
information that was gathered and any suggestions will be kept
confidential.
Thank you for your time
Reference:
Rubin,
J. (1994). Handbook of Usability Testing. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
Nielson,
J. (1993). Usability Engineering. San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufman.
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