Persona

Persona Lab - Usability, Accessibility and Functionality Testing

Like any user experience agency worth it's weight, we're proud to have a dedicated usability lab on site at Persona. However, unlike other labs, ours is a friendly, informal room that's been specifically setup for testing web sites and applications on a range of PC's, Macs and Mobile phones (not a cold, clinical laboratory full of mirrored glass and spy cameras)

What's in the lab?

In the lab, we've hand picked the most popular setups for browsing the web, so you can test and more importantly experience your chosen sites just like your end users; helping you to identify opportunities for improvements.

• Windows PC's running XP and Vista
• Emulators for: Nokia Symbian & Windows Mobile
• Coming Soon: Apple iMac, Sony PS3, Nintendo Wii, Linux

The machines themselves range from desktops to laptops and are configured with a mix of screen resolutions:

• Mobile & PDA Resolutions: 240x320, 640x480
• Standard Definition @ 4:3 Ratio: 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024
• High Definition @ 16:9 Ration: 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1024

You can also find a mix of browser software too, including:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer: 6, 7 and 8
• Mozilla Firefox: 1.5, 2 and 3
• Opera
• Flock
• Coming Soon: Safari

Accessibility for real people

Something else that was pretty obvious to us when creating our lab was to make it accessible to REAL PEOPLE. With so much obsession about web site accessibility, many other expert labs often neglect the needs of human beings - of course, you'd know Persona better than that by now.

Just key features of the Persona lab to help make your visit that much more pleasant:

• Wheelchair friendly access to the building, lab and toilets
• Free Parking and easy access (make sure you reserve this when you book though; it is the city centre after all, spaces are limited!)
• Ergonomic Chairs
• Ergonomic Desks
• Multiple input methods
  • Normal/ergonomic keyboards & mice
  • Laptop track pads
  • Laptop intellipoints
• Comfy Sofas
• Yummy Refreshments
• And of course, friendly staff to help you should you need it

How to conduct your usability testing

When using the Persona Lab for web testing, you have a number of choices for how to make the most of your session:

1. Just hire the lab and hit the ground running (so long as you know what you're doing of course)
2. Hire the lab, along with either your own test plan or one we help you create in advance
3. Get the lab hire for free when you work with our user experience team

You can use the lab for end user testing, focus groups, workshops and training

You can organise your own test delegates or we can do it for you from our growing bank of real-life testers; ranging from complete web novices to seasoned e-commerce shoppers and bloggers. Our Persona database (see what we did there ;) holds a whole host of valuable criteria to profile against; just have a look at the user testing screening form they complete for a taste of some of the information we can query against.

To book your session, you can either give us a call, drop us an email or fill out this initial query form and we'll get back to you - whichever you find easiest.

Hire Charges

Just as with all of our services, the Persona lab is the most cost effective one of it's kind in the UK; providing fantastic value for money. The latest rates are in the table below, so you can have a look, shop around and if you'd like to book - just get in touch by phone, email or by completing the booking form.

Thanks for checking out the Persona lab online - hope to see you here soon.