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Remote Testing

4 min read

Remote Testing

With remote UX testing, the UX lab test simply moves online.
The main difference is that test participants, researchers and observers aren't in the same location. Participants are in their natural environment and use their own devices to test digital products – both desktop and mobile. Anything can be tested this way: from wireframes to prototypes to the finished product.

Probandin testet eine Website auf dem Smartphone

25 years of interactive tools – we test the future

Testing must be possible from anywhere. This isn't an experience we've only had since the pandemic. Many topics of the future speak in favour of remote testing: climate protection through fewer trips, testing products in their natural environment, flexibility in the face of unforeseeable events, accessibility and inclusion. For our 25th anniversary, we're addressing these and other questions about the future – find out more on our 25-years page.

25 years of interactive tools

Remote testing: how it works

Test moderation takes place via an online tool. This way, impressions and expectations of participants, as well as questions or notes from the test facilitator, can be exchanged in real time – just like in the UX lab test.
When testing websites or prototypes, both the screen and participants' facial expressions and voice are recorded via the testing platform. These videos are available after the sessions and can be exported in good quality and made available to everyone.

In remote testing, users test digital products in their natural environment.
Nina Scharfenberg, User-Research-Expertin

Observe live and collect and prioritise the results together

The participant sessions can be observed and evaluated together in our workshop room. Via the testing platform, however, the sessions can also be live streamed to up to ten observers. Remote observation is a practical option for continuing testing seamlessly even when the relevant stakeholders can't come together.

For example, with online whiteboard tools, observation can also be carried out entirely remotely. The observations are then collected, clustered and prioritised on a digital whiteboard.

Remote Testing Illustration

Larger sample sizes through unmoderated or automated tests

Remote testing can also be carried out unmoderated. Here, participants independently work through use cases made available to them via testing platform. This way, (moderation) effort can be saved, e.g. to test a larger number of participants. Further questions or notes aren't possible in this case, or could only be captured via a subsequent questionnaire. Automated remote tests that rely on quantitative data go a step further. Here focus is on question of what users do on a website, without gaining concrete insights into the why from test subjects.

Advantages and disadvantages of remote testing

Benefits:

  • Hard-to-recruit target groups can be reached better

  • More flexible and diverse, as test participants can join from anywhere

  • Even more realistic results, since participants use their own device in their natural environment

  • Can potentially be carried out faster and more efficiently than tests in the UX lab

  • With unmoderated and automated tests, larger sample sizes are possible

Disadvantages:

  • Change of perspective made somewhat more difficult by lack of eye tracking and mouse clicks

  • Participants need to be somewhat more tech-savvy and have suitable technical equipment

We also carry out many other testing methods remotely: whether it's online surveys, in-depth interviews or card sorting to optimise information architecture.

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