Hacknight #243

10 Tips to Run Inclusive Usability Testing Remotely

with Marisa Bernstein

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Usability testing doesn't have to stop during the COVID-19 crisis; in fact, as some development cycles slow, it may be an opportune time to do user interviews, test prototypes, and collect feedback on betas. More importantly, testing can serve a critical role in ensuring that crisis-related technology works for everyone. Having successfully pivoted to conducting usability tests remotely, GRIT Toronto Manager Marisa Bernstein will share tips and insights for getting the most out of testing from afar.

Speakers

Marisa Bernstein

Marisa Bernstein is a member of the City of Toronto's Service Design & Delivery team (part of the new Customer Experience Division). They work closely with the City's Housing Secretariat to deliver housing-related digital and analog initiatives by leveraging an empathy-based, human-centred design approach. Marisa has a background in urban design and community engagement, which has helped her incorporate values of inclusion and accessibility into her work in the civic tech sector. Prior to joining Code for Canada, she co-founded a civic tech company that created digital tools to help communities to become better engaged in the urban improvement process.

Topic:

Usability testing doesn’t have to stop during the COVID-19 crisis; in fact, as some development cycles slow, it may be an opportune time to do user interviews, test prototypes, and collect feedback on betas. More importantly, testing can serve a critical role in ensuring that crisis-related technology works for everyone. Having successfully pivoted to conducting usability tests remotely, GRIT Toronto Manager Marisa Bernstein will share tips and insights for getting the most out of testing from afar.

Marisa is the Program Manager of two Code for Canada programs: Civic Hall Toronto and GRIT Toronto, where she works closely with government teams and tech and design practitioners to help make technology work better for residents. With a background in urban design and community engagement, she previously co-founded a civic tech company that created digital tools to help communities become better engaged in the urban improvement process.

Twitter: @CivicTechTo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/civic-tech-totonto Instagram: @CivicTechTo

Join us this week from the comfort of your own home, or wherever you are practicing social isolation, for a virtual civic tech hacknight!

Join us via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85847811289?pwd=THhwOEQvTlh5R3QvbWxha25xTWdGUT09 Webcams and mics optional, but encouraged!

Join via your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/wc/join/85847811289?pwd=THhwOEQvTlh5R3QvbWxha25xTWdGUT09

Dial-in by phone in Canada: +1 647 558 0588 Meeting ID: 858 4781 1289 Password: 008446

Check in with us on the Civic Tech Toronto Slack: https://link.civictech.ca/chat

We’re exploring ways to make our online hacknights more accessible, but at the moment we only provide video of the presentation slides and audio.

Our weekly civic tech hacknights bring together designers, coders, urban planners, government staff, mappers, policy-makers, students, communications strategists, and all other Torontonians who share an interest in making Toronto more responsive, prosperous, sustainable and equitable, through design, tech, and data. (Coders are welcome, but you don’t have to be a coder to contribute!) Come and be part of it!

6:45-7:00 = Civic Tech 101 7:00-7:10 = Welcome and Introductions 7:10-7:45 = Presentation and Q&A/discussion 7:45-9:00 = Breakout groups (go make something!)

For more info, visit http://civictech.ca Here’s our Code of Conduct: http://civictech.ca/about-us

Hope to see you Tuesday!

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