METAVERSE08 Usability in Second Life - Making sense of business

"The Otherland Group"-CEO Markus Breuer is presenting at Metaverse 08 and I'll take some notes ;)

It's important to optimize virtual environments in accordance with the functions and aims that my presence in this world has. Providing an agreeable environment is one of those aims. It makes people come back.

Usability optimization has a very positive effect in ROI, on the web this is compensated within 6 to 8 months.

In Second Life Usability is a problem because
a) you deal with user generated content
b) SL is a usability nightmare of it's own

* Make signs readable from the point where people arrive when teleporting
* If your cool architecture makes it had for avatars to navigate: offer them help.
* Design for avatars that have a cam 2m behind and 1m above them.
* Don't lead people into dead ends or hide access points.
* Help people find orientation
* Help people get their processes straight: what can I do?
* Bot that give cryptic instructions are not helpful
* Tell users exactly what you need them to do
* Price tags and orientation maps are cool, too

Hints for improvemets:
* Ask experts
* Ask users (best!)

There is even already a ISO standard for user involvement in usability design: ISO 13407

If people have more fun there is more ease and more ROI.

The Otherland Group developed a design pah that involves users and that is as fast as the classical "expert" path. What are the users needs, desires, abilities and what methods do they use?

Build personas and let them act in scenarios.
Test, test often, document your tests, analze quickly.
Document on video, have a second room for viewing.

Thus you develop a real understanding for the user.

My golden rule, says Markus, is: "Make UCD, involve the user, test often."

Usually 8-12 users find all the problems. (1000 do not find more.)
Testing is NOT expensive.
Not testing can become expensive.
The later you fix the errors, the more expensive by a factor of 10 to 100.

Design for the avatar.
Do walk-throughs often.
Do fly-throughs, too.
Set the viewing range to standard.
Show people where they are and what they can do.
Billboards and posters are not necessarily evil.

These principles don't lead to boring sites and SIMs.

Comments

[Alias Piek]

good to now the ISO 1407 number for ergonomy in the posting