SeamlessUK
The client
SeamlessUK is a one-stop citizen's portal which integrates
local and national information on health, education, employment,
rights, benefits, government and more. It is funded under
the NOF (New Opportunities Fund) Digitisation Programme
in the UK.
The project involves nine local authorities and 14 key
national information providers working together.
The managing partner is Essex County Council, and partners
include: Bexley, Brighton and Hove, Lewisham and Medway
Councils, Age Concern, BBC, HMSO, Learndirect and National
Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux (NACAB).
The project
Imetrix has been the sole provider of user testing services
to SeamlessUK for over two years. During that period we
have delivered several separate evaluations of the user
interface concerning usability and accessibility as the
development cycle has progressed.
Most of the user testing has taken place on the premises
of partner local authorities, keen to test the reactions
and experiences of actual local citizens on location in
libraries, community centres and council offices.
Test participants were set tasks to perform such as finding
particular items of content and satisfaction questionnaires
were used to gather feedback.
After each round of user testing, Imetrix consultants
prepared detailed reports covering all of the important
findings as well as recommendations for changes.
Reports were backed up with video evidence from the tests,
which were all recorded using picture-in-picture editing
to allow simultaneous footage of computer activity with
the facial and verbal responses.
Presentations to the client's management and design team
followed, which served as a Q&A on issues of best
practice.
The feedback
"Many thanks for the research and the reports. It makes
for very interesting reading and I personally feel you
could not have made youselves clearer on what needs to
be done."
- Senior Project Officer, SeamlessUK
