Extending Low-cost Remote Evaluation with Synchronous Communication

Write-along Low Cost Remote (LCR) evaluation is a highly efficient method for remotely evaluating usability problems with prototype interfaces. A previous study noted that this efficiency comes at the cost of a loss of the conversational nature of the evaluation. In this paper, we assess this loss through a comparison with an extended LCR, which uses real-time conferencing tools to introduce synchronous communication. An experimental investigation was carried out on an interactive prototype interface with known usability problems. In this way the effectiveness of the new method using real-time conferencing tools could be assessed and recommendations for best practice set out.