微软可用性工程介绍_第一部分

微软可用性工程介绍
序
在网上看到这位叫做dozing的朋友翻译的微软可用性工程介绍，发现有些东西很有价值，我就接着他的工作把他没有翻译的部分完成，并作了简单的校对，与大家共享。
这篇文章里简单介绍了微软可用性的概念，微软可用性研究团队的发展历史，规模，运作模式，可用性实验室的结构，组织，设备，用途，组织可用性研究活动的办法，用户测试的简单流程和测试技巧等。这些内容对于国内正处于起步阶段的同仁们具有实际的普及意义，使我们对可用性的认识从仅有的概念和纯理论的水平扩展到实际的可操作层面，也许，迫于条件所限，我们一时半会还没有机会去做这些事情，先了解学习能够使我们对这些先进的技术和手段不会太陌生，相信在不久的将来，机会总会有的。（大智 2007-5-18）
对于那些有志于Usabilty 研究的同学，如果你不知道该看什么书，使用什么方法，你可以在文章的末尾发现很多资源．．花时间去看吧．．这是微软的推荐读物．．也介绍了在微软跟 usability有关的工作职位，你可以从中清晰地了解这个职位的职业发展轨迹．翻译只是为了提供你信息，并不保证信息的准确性和完整性．．（dozing 引言 jack.lee注）
正文
What is the Microsoft Usability Group all about?
微软的Usability Group 究竟是什么？
Microsoft‘s Usability Group consists of over 120 Usability Engineers with a wide variety of educational backgrounds, including: human factors psychology, social psychology, industrial engineering, technical communications, developmental psychology, information science and computer science. 微软的可用性团队由120多位可用性工程师所组成，这些人具有广泛的多种教育背景，包括：　人因工程学，社会心理学，工业设计师，技术沟通，研发，信息科学和计算机科学。〕
The Usability Group was created in 1988 to bring user-feedback into the design of Microsoft products throughout the development process.
可用性团队组建于1988年．他的作用是把用户的反馈带给微软产品的设计，而设计贯穿于整个研发过程。
By demonstrating the value of user-centered design and providing the appropriate skills and information at the appropriate time, the Usability Group has become an integral part of the product design process at Microsoft.
通过展示以用户为中心的设计价值，适时提供适宜的技巧和信息，Usability Group 已经成为微软产品设计流程的一个主要部分．
What is Usability Research?
什么是可用性研究？
Most often, Usability Research at Microsoft refers to observational research done in usability labs in which a Usability Engineer records and analyzes exactly what happens when real users try to accomplish real-life tasks with pre-released software. This information is translated directly into product design improvements by usability engineers, user-interface designers and other product team members.
大多数情况，微软的可用性研究是指在可用性实验室中进行的观察性研究：可用性工程师记录和分析真实用户在使用发布前的软件完成真实的任务时所发生的一切。这些信息通过可用性工程师、用户界面设计师和其他产品组成员直接转化为产品设计改进意见．
Though the majority of our product evaluations is one-on-one observational research, Usability Engineers actually employ a wide variety of experimental methodologies to address the breadth of design questions that arise. For example, usability engineers also do
尽管我们的大多数产品评估是一对一的观察研究，可用性工程师实际使用很多试验性方法去面对产生的各种设计问题．例如，可用性工程师也做：
- Field research (nationwide site visits) －现场调查研究
- Expert reviews (heuristic evaluation)－专家评估（heuristic 评估)----（Dozer的译注：可以参考Nielson的介绍，这是比较廉价和有效的评估方法)
- Focus group research－焦点小组研究（译注：focus group经常是在marketing research中的术语，主要是让目标客户对产品进行测试）
- Competitive product research－竞争性产品研究
- Children‘s product research－儿童产品研究
- Hardware research－硬件研究
- Paper Prototype research－纸上原型研究（译注：paper prototype其实就是大家平时做的设计图..它不是用户可以实际交互操作的模型，而是用纸张上的图来模拟软件的交互过程，这是非常廉价的原型模式，便于快速评估产品设计）
- Co-discovery sessions－共同发现会议
- Product Support research－产品支持研究
What‘s the difference between Usability Research and Market Research?
可用性研究和市场研究的区别？
Broadly speaking, usability researchers observe small samples of people using a product in order to determine ease of learning and task accomplishment. Market researchers interview large samples of people about products, features and/or functionality in order to determine customer perception and willingness to purchase.
一般情况，可用性研究者通过观察少量人群使用软件的情况以便确定用户学习和完成任务的难易情况。而市场研究人员通过调研大量人群资料，以获得用户对产品、功能、特点的反馈，确定用户对产品的感觉和购买意向．
In practice, usability and marketing researchers often address related problems with similar methodologies.
在实践中，可用性研究人员和市场研究人员经常使用类似的方法来面对相关的问题．
Where is Usability Research done?
可用性研究在哪里进行？
In June 1989 we opened our first usability lab with four individual test suites, each with a test room and observation room. In 1992 we opened a second usability lab with five test suites. We added the Microsoft Home in 1995 as a research facility. Unlike our traditional research suites, the Microsoft Home is designed as a home simulation with living room, dining room, kitchen, home office and children‘s play area.
1989年6月我们建立我们的第一个可用性实验室，它有四个独立的测试单元，每一个具有一个测试房间和观察房间。1992年建立了第二个实验室．它有五个测试单元．在1995年我们增加了“微软之家”作为研究设施．不象我们传统的研究单元，Microsoft Home 设计为模拟家庭环境，具有客厅，餐厅．厨房．书房、儿童游乐区域等．
In 1996, we added a third lab with five test suites, including a specifically designed ergonomics lab, for evaluating products from our Interactive Media Division.
1996年，我们增加了第三个实验室，它具有五个测试环境，包括一个特别设计的人类工程学实验室，用来评估交互媒体部门的产品．
In the fall of 1998 we added a total of eight more labs on campus and a second focus group room. Winter of 2000 saw the completion of our latest labs in Mountain View, CA. We‘ve also recently "inherited" Visio Corporation‘s usability labs during that company‘s acquisition by Microsoft.
在1998年秋天，我们在园区增加了一个总共多于8个的实验室和第二个焦点小组房间．2000年冬天，在Mountain View, CA，见到我们最新的实验室完成了．最近收购Visio公司时继承了它的可用性实验室．
Where do you find people to participate in Usability Research?
从哪里找人来参与可用性研究？
For our local studies, we recruit people from the Puget Sound area to spend a few hours at our corporate campus working with products that we are developing.
在我们的本地研究中，我们从Puget Sound 地区招聘人员，在我们的公司园区内花几个小时使用我们正在开发的产品。
Since we are researching software, not people, we are interested in all levels of    computer experience ranging from non-users to experts.
因为我们正在研究软件，不是人，我们对从初级到专家级的计算机水平的用户都感兴趣．
We also conduct on-site visits with individuals throughout the United States. Thus, we recruit a variety of people in businesses and homes across the nation to participate in our National Research Program. Participants receive a gift as a token of our appreciation.
我们在美国也开展单独的实地调查．因此，我们也招募各种商务和家庭环境中的人员参与我们的＂全国性研究计划＂．参与者会会获得小礼物作为我们的感谢．
It sounds like fun to be a participant. How can I be one?
作为一个参与者听起来好象很有趣，我如何可成为其中一员？
If you are interested in participating in a product evaluation or national site visit, fill out our on-line questionnaire and we will add you to our participant database.
如果对参与产品评估和全国性站点访问感兴趣，填写我们的在线调查问卷，我们将会把你加入我们的参与者数据库。
Once your information is entered in our proprietary database, we will contact you when we have a study in your area that matches your individual profile.
一旦你的信息加入我们的数据库，当我们在你所属的区域有项目和你的个人情况吻合时，我们将会和你联系。
The information collected in this database is strictly confidential and will not be sold, distributed or otherwise publicized outside of the Usability Research Group.
收集到数据库中的信息是严格保密的，不会被出卖，散步或泄漏到可用性研究团体之外去。
Most of our research is conducted in Usability Labs based in Redmond, WA.    On average, approximately 750 participants per month evaluate our software.    A database of 35,000 people in the Seattle area helps us find the right person to match the profile required for each given study.
我们的大部分研究是在位于华盛顿redmond的可用性实验室中进行的．平均来说，每个月大约有750个参与者评估我们的软件．西雅图地区有一个35000人组成的数据库能帮助我们找到合适的人参与指定的研究。
Once an individual has enrolled to participate in the Usability Research program they are entered into this main database.
当个体登记到参与可用性研究项目，他们就进入了这么主要的数据库。
From this database, we will look to match you with an appropriate study or product evaluation.    If we find a match, we will then call to arrange a mutually agreeable time to participate in the study.
从这个数据库，我寻找适于你的研究或产品评估。当我们发现合适，我们就会电话联系，安排双方都同意的时间来参与研究。
On the day of your study, when you arrive at Microsoft, the Usability Engineer will greet you in the lobby, and give a brief tour of the lab.
你来微软参加研究的那天，可用性工程师会在大厅迎接你，并让你简要参观实验室．
The Usability Engineer will then ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which asks you not to discuss the products you are about to evaluate.    The reason for this is due to the fact much software we test in the labs is proprietary and not ready for public release.
可用性工程师会要求你签署一份保密协议，要求你不要讨论你评估的产品．原因主要是因为我们在实验室中测试的产品是保密的，还没有准备公开发布．
Once you have settled into the Participant side of the lab, the Engineer will then explain the technique of thinking aloud.    This allows the Engineer to understand the participant‘s opinions, expectations and thought processes. These perspectives help us to design products for people.
一旦你安顿成为实验室的参与者，工程师会向你解释发声思考技术．这让工程师理解参与者的想法、期待和思考过程等。这些视角能帮助我们设计以人为本的软件。
Once the study begins, typically you are then given a series of tasks to complete. While you are working on these tasks, the Engineer notes your actions and opinions.    Each study is unique based on the study you have been asked to participate in.
一旦研究开始，典型地你会被要求完成一系列的任务．当你开始执行这些任务时，工程师会记录你的操作和意见．每项研究都是唯一的．
Once you have completed the tasks given by the Engineer, you are then asked to fill out an online questionnaire to record your opinions and preferences.
一旦你完成了工程师指定的任务，你被要求填写一份在线调查问卷，记录你的意见和选项。
Finally, you will be offered a thank you gift from a list of Microsoft products, and the Engineer escorts you back to the lobby.
最后，你会被承诺从微软产品列表中获得一个礼物作为感谢．工程师会护送你回大厅。
We have over 25 labs on the Redmond campus. Each lab is separated into two sections: the Observer side and the Participant side. Our Usability Engineers sit on the Observer side, while our participants are on the Participant side.
在redmond微软园区，我们有超过25个的实验室．每个实验室分成两个部分：观察者部分和参与者部分。我们的可用性工程师在观察者部分，而参与者是在参与者部分．
The two sections are separated by a sound-proof wall and a one-way mirror (image below).
这两部分是由一个隔音墙和单面镜所隔离

The Observer side
观察者那边
The Observer side is where the Usability Engineer and other observers may view the study. The one-way mirror allows observers to clearly see the participant side during the study, while minimizing any distractions for the participant.
在观察者这一边，可用性工程师和其他观察者可以观看研究（过程）．单面镜让观察者清楚地看到参与者那边，把对参与者的注意力分散减到最小．
The wall and the one-way mirror are sound proof so observers can discuss design ideas in a normal tone without disturbing the participant.
墙和单面镜是隔音的，于是，观察者可以以正常语调讨论设计想法．而不打扰参与者.
We have several tools in the observer room to collect the usability data and efficiently analyze it. All of our tools have been designed to help us quickly get usability data back to the software team.
在观察者的房间，我们有一些工具用来收集可用性数据，并有效地分析它。我们的工具都是经过设计来帮助我们快速获得可用性数据，最终（反馈）给软件组。