BW UXr lab offers real-world research to students

From classroom learning to client-based work, BW's UXr lab is a high-tech resource for BW students.

Located in the Austin E. Knowlton Center, the User Experience Research (UXr) lab uses techniques like observation, interviews, click-stream analysis and eye tracking to collect data that shows how people think, feel and use digital products and/or services.

The lab is under the direction of Dr. Rachelle Hippler, a professor in the software engineering major.

Among its clients is Qwickly, an Edtech company in Cleveland. The UXr lab did usability testing for a new application being developed by Qwickly. The opportunity is a win-win for the client and students.

"This gives students that work in the lab a first-person example," said Hippler. "Sometimes software seems so easy to use. But to someone who has never used it before, it could be confusing or complicated."

Qwickly has been developing a testing plan for its new product over the past few months. Details about the product currently can't be disclosed, but Qwickly is known for software that's integrated into Canvas, a learning management system (LMS) for schools, colleges and universities.

During these testing sessions in the research lab, participants in the study used eye-tracking technology for data collection. After the testing was done, the results were sent back to the company — with the possibility that further rounds of testing may follow.


Content for this story originally appeared in The Exponent, BW's student newspaper. Its edited version is used here with permission.