Duet: A Distributed Usability Lab Supporting Displays Development for Space Station

A usability laboratory recently established at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center will support the development of interfaces to on-board Payload displays on the International Space Station. An unusual feature of this facility is its ability to conduct usability testing over the Internet. Test subjects interact with the remote application displays using the remote-view and -control package Timbuktu Pro. Both test subject and developer facility are typically remote to the lab; the only site requirements are appropriate viewing hardware and software and an Internet drop. The lab, called the Distributed Usability Evaluation Tool (DUET), utilizes off-the-shelf hardware and software. Included are Space Station-type laptops (IBM Thinkpad 760 XD), Windows 95 OS, a usability data-collection package (WinWhatWhere), and Timbuktu Pro. Data on test subject commentary and reaction are collected through videoconferencing when available, and through teleconferencing otherwise. Developers gain access to the test facility through instructions and software obtained from the lab's web site. DUET also serves as a display development support tool. The web site includes usability guidelines and templates. Moreover the staff consult on usability and standards compliance via telephone and net communication. Prototypes are evaluated using an electronic whiteboard. This tool is connected to the developer's displays via the same networking approach as is used for the test: the developer connects to the lab through Timbuktu Pro, the prototypes are displayed on the whiteboard, and comments and modifications are made collaboratively by the developer and the lab staff. Examples of support and test successes and issues will be presented.