The cognitive jogthrough

Walkthrough techniques have been shown to be an effective supplement to empirical testing methods for evaluating the usability of software systems 3, 4. Unfortunately, structured walkthrough procedures tend to be time-consuming and unpopular with evaluators when used on substantial tasks. To maximize the useful information obtained from walkthroughs while minimizing the overhead of the procedure itself, a fast-paced methodology was developed and used within the constraints of a real-world product development environment. By using video recording equipment and an informal, interactive evaluation session, the “cognitive jogthrough” procedure revealed significant user interface problems that could then be studied using other techniques.