Buffered screen capturing software tool for usability testing of computer applications

• US 6,237,138 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hameluck, Don E., Velocci, Vince V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN BA, HOANG VU A
• Application Number:
  US08/968,985
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 395/704, 395/500.43, 714/37, 714/46, 607/27, 345/329, 345/302, 345/326, 345/334, 717/4, 703/22, 702/57, 702/182
• US Class Current: 717/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/302 where the computing system component is a software system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3072 where the reporting involves data filtering, e.g. pattern matching, time or event triggered, adaptive or policy-based reporting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/323 Visualisation of programs or trace data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/34 Recording or statistical evaluation of computer activity, e.g. of down time, of input/output operation ; Recording or statistical evaluation of user activity, e.g. usability assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/865 Monitoring of software

Abstract

Present methods available to user centered design practitioners for gathering information pertaining to end-user usability of computer applications have proven be expensive, labour intensive, time consuming and somewhat ineffective. A usability software tool is described which results in relatively simple and effective feedback of end-users reactions to the use of software applications. A critical event is identified by the user and the screen activity for a period of time prior to the critical event is captured. A file of these screen-clips as well as textual information entered by the end-user is provided to the design practitioner for review and analysis.

Claims

1. A method for capturing application testing data while a user is working with at least one computer application in which the at least one computer application is operating on a computing system wherein the computing system includes a display screen and a user input device, the method comprising the steps of:

continuously recording a record of screen activity resulting from use of the at least one application by the user in a device accessible to the computing system by overwriting an oldest record;

using the user input device to identify a critical event of the at least one application;

capturing a record of the recorded screen activity for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event;

opening a window on the display screen in response to the identification of the critical event, the window enabling the user to enter information pertaining to the critical event and the at least one application; and

saving a record of the information entered by the user.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein a duration of the period of time is variable and selectable by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of discarding the record of the screen activity which occurred prior to the period of time.

4. A computer system for capturing reactions of a user during use of at least one application running on the computer system, the computer system comprising:

a display screen;

a user input device;

means for continuously recording screen activity depicting use of an application by the user by overwriting old recorded screen activity;

means in response to an activation of the user input device for identifying a critical event of activity occurring during the use of the application;

means for saving the screen activity occurring for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event;

means for opening a window on the display screen in response to the identification of the critical event for the user to input information pertaining to the critical event and the at least one application; and

means for saving a record of the user input information.

5. The computer system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

means to vary a duration of the period of time for which the screen activity is saved.

6. The computer system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

browser means for subsequently receiving and displaying the saved screen activity and the user input information.

7. The computer system of claim 4, further comprising means for discarding the record of the screen activity occurring prior to the period of time.

8. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing feedback data to be provided as to usability of at least one computer program application running on a computer, the computer readable program code means comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to effect continuous recording of screen activity resulting from use of the computer program application by a user by overwriting old recorded activity;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to identify a critical event of the computer program application in response to a user input;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to capture a record of the recorded screen activity for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to enable the user to enter information pertaining to the critical event and the computer program application in response to the identification of the critical event; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to save a record of the information entered by the user.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer readable program code means for causing the computer to discard the record of the screen activity which occurred prior to the period of time.

10. A method for capturing application testing data while a user is working with at least one application in which the at least one application is operating on a computing system wherein the computing system includes a display screen and a user input device, the method comprising the steps of:

recording screen activity resulting from use of the at least one application by the user;

using the user input device to identify a critical event of the at least one application;

opening a window on the display screen in response to the identification of the critical event for the user to enter information pertaining to the critical event and the at least one application;

saving a record of the information entered by the user;

capturing a record of the recorded screen activity for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event; and

discarding the record of the screen activity which occurred prior to the period of time, wherein the critical event is an aspect of the at least one application which the user found to be a strength or weakness of the at least one application.

11. A method for capturing application testing data while a user is working with at least one application in which the at least one application is operating on a computing system wherein the computing system includes a display screen and a user input device, the method comprising the steps of:

recording screen activity resulting from use of the at least one application by the user;

using the user input device to identify a critical event of the at least one application;

opening a window on the display screen in response to the identification of the critical event for the user to enter information pertaining to the critical event and the at least one application;

saving a record of the information entered by the user;

capturing a record of the recorded screen activity for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event; and

discarding the record of the screen activity which occurred prior to the period of time;

wherein the application testing data captured is usability data and more than one application is operating on the computing system.

12. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing feedback data to be provided as to usability of at least one computer program application running on a computer comprising;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to effect recording of screen activity resulting from use of the computer program application by a user;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to identify a critical event of the computer program application in response to a user input;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to capture a record of the recorded screen activity for a period of time prior to the identification of the critical event;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to discard the record of the screen activity which occurred prior to the period of time;

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to enable the user to enter information pertaining to the critical event and the computer program application in response to the identification of the critical event; and

computer readable program code means for causing the computer to save a record of the information entered by the user;

wherein the computer program product forms a part of the computer program application or of a different computer program application.