UTE FAQ

  • What is the Usability Testing Environment (UTE) Tool?
    • UTE is a Microsoft Windows-based software tool that:
    • Automates user experience testing of websites and web-based applications
    • Reduces overall testing costs and testing time
    • Significantly increases accuracy in test data collection and analysis
    • Consolidates user experience test planning, test running, and test reporting into one tool
    • Automatically generates usability test reports
    • Facilitates quantitative as well as qualitative usability tests
    • Helps enforce rigor and consistency in the usability testing process
    • Allows testers to run as many tests with as many participants as is practically possible without encountering additional charges
  • What specifically does UTE do?
    • Provides a software interface for designers, developers, and usability testers to create, administer, and report scenario-based usability tests of websites and applications
    • Handles all interactions with test participants, including:
      • Demographic questionnaires
      • Pre-test and post-test questionnaires
      • Usability scenarios
      • Collection of performance and preference data
    • Records all interactions between the test participant and the user interface
    • Automatically generates usability test reports in Word, PDF, and other formats
    • Automatically generates spreadsheets of test result data
  • Do I have to be a usability expert to use UTE?
    • UTE was designed for intermediate to advanced usability practitioners. UTE users will be most effective if they understand user-centered design, usability testing methodologies, and usability metrics. However, many customers with little usability experience, including web designers and web managers, have successfully used UTE to test their websites and web applications, gaining valuable usability experience in the process.
  • Do I have to be an information technology (IT) expert to use UTE?
    • No, UTE does not require any programming or IT expertise. It was designed for non-technical staff, and it has undergone usability testing and extensive beta testing to make sure it is easy to use.
  • Are there any special technical requirements needed to download UTE?
    • For UTE version 3 you must have the .NET framework version 3.5 on any computer on which you wish to run either the UTE Manager or the UTE Runner. You can get this free from Microsoft at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
    • UTE runs on the following Microsoft Windows versions: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, and Windows Server 2003.
  • Where is the test data collected during testing stored?
    • By default UTE test data is stored locally in "My Documents\UTE" folder on the hard drive of the computer used in testing. However, this is configurable. Test result data may be stored in any folder, including a network folder, which may be written to from the computer used for testing.
  • Does UTE collect the audio and video in the usability test?
    • UTE does not collect audio and video data. However, UTE was designed to integrate nicely with TechSmith's Morae Recorder software that digitally collects the audio and video portions of the usability test making use of an inexpensive web camera. The UTE developers worked closely with TechSmith to be sure that the integration is seamless and easy to use. You can also use other commercially available audio/video software to collect this data.
  • Who developed UTE?
    • UTE was developed by Mind Design Systems in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
  • Is there training available on using UTE?
    • Yes. Requests for training on UTE should be sent to Mind Design Systems at UTEinfo@mindd.com or 801-782-5544.
  • Is UTE available in other languages?
    • As of its release date, UTE v3 was only available in English. However, the UTE Runner was specifically designed to support testing in other languages. These languages will become available as demand for them warrants.
  • Who uses UTE?
  • How much does UTE cost?
    • A single user license of UTE costs $2,999 which includes 1 year of UTE Maintenance and Support. Additional years of the UTE Maintenance and Support Plan cost $1,499 per year. Government agencies, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations qualify for a 10% discount from these prices.
  • What does the UTE Maintenance and Support Plan Cover?
    • The UTE Maintenance and Support Plan includes:
    • ALL UTE software upgrades, both minor and major
    • Telephone and email support
    • Advanced training and tutorials
    • Access to remote usability testing using UTEremote (additional charges apply)
    • Custom UTE reporting (additional charges apply)
    • This is a great way to always be up-to-date and never pay full price for UTE again. One year of Maintenance and Support is included in the purchase price of UTE.
  • Is a free evaluation version of UTE available?
    • Yes, there is a free 30-day fully-functional trial copy. Interested parties should contact Mind Design Systems at UTEinfo@mindd.com or 801-782-5544.
  • How do I get a copy of the UTE software?
    • Contact Mind Design Systems at UTEinfo@mindd.com or call 801-782-5544.

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