“Expert reviews are usability reality checks that result in immediate and concrete fixes to improve your customers' or staffs' experience. Fresh eyes review a design against industry standards and current research on how humans think and interact with things.

“An Expert Review is an important technique because it's often hard for designers to recognize usability trouble spots in their own designs. They created the task flow. They know how it works.

“When followed by Usability Testing, an Expert Review ensures that an organization's usability investment is optimized.”

Mary M Michaels, HFI's UX strategist and director of training

Mary M. Michaels

MBA, CUA, CXA

UX Strategist, Director of Training

Human Factors International

Assessment

Do you have an existing design or product you need to benchmark? Do you need to identify opportunities for redesign? Do you need a user experience (UX) reality check to identify showstoppers and determine your design’s performance and emotional impact?

At Human Factors International (HFI) we have defined a series of intense evaluation methods, formed and enhanced over the last 30 years of our collective experience, aligned to the diverse needs and challenges of projects.

Reviews

Conducted by veteran UX professionals without engaging end users

Tests

Conducted with representative customers or actual end users

Expert UX Review

What is it?

With HFI's Expert UX Review, our practitioners use their experience and knowledge to evaluate the UX of your product or service.It goes beyond a checklist of criteria and rules as in a more formal Heuristic Evaluation.

During our Expert UX review, the user is the main point of reference and analysis is done in the context of the business objectives, user's goals and overall experience.

HFI's expert review can be used to evaluate the UX of your product or service

Why do it?

  • Get strategic feedback on your user journeys, goals and experience along with detailed design evaluation at any point of your development cycle
  • Get rapid and immediate feedback for changes before engaging with end-users

What do you get?

  • A detailed report that lists out potential issues and prioritized recommendations centered on the UX and based on best practices and scientific principles
  • A scorecard which provides a reusable framework for evaluating where improvements are most needed before your next release

Expert UX Review detailed consulting sheet (PDF)

Combine Performance and Persuasion (PDF)

Expert PET Review

What is it?

Modern UX and emotional design have evolved to focus on the "will do". Does the UX make people look forward to using your site or application and come back, and also recommend it to others?

During our Expert UX review, the user is the main point of reference and analysis is done in the context of the business objectives, user's goals and overall experience.

Why do it?

  • Identify missed opportunities to engage and persuade your site visitors
  • Clarify drives and motivators that lead to consumer persuasion
  • Identify and remove blocks and barriers to customer engagement
  • Increase the credibility of your site to earn the trust and loyalty of users
HFI's expert PET review analyzes if users look forward using your site or app and will they recommend it to others?

What do you get?

A detailed report with specific and concrete tactical recommendations to improve the persuasiveness and emotional impact of your website to meet your business objectives.

Expert PET Review detailed consulting sheet (PDF)

Combine Performance and Persuasion (PDF)

Competitive Review

What is it?

This method screens competitors' sites against a set of predefined criteria and tasks and provides insights into the competitive landscape. It can be combined with the UX and PET reviews to provide a holistic review.

HFI and your stakeholders first reach a consensus of which relevant competitors to assess. Next a UX professional reviews the competitors and your existing website or application and presents a detailed report about commonalities and potential areas of improvement.

HFI's competitive review can be used to analyze the competition and highlight commonalities and improvement areas.

Why do it?

  • Identify the advantages and disadvantages of competing approaches
  • Get insights into new features and presentation techniques and generate ideas for unique methods
  • Discover what is needed to compete in the same playing field

What do you get?

  • A detailed report that lists out potential areas for improvement and alternate approaches
  • A scorecard which provides a reusable framework for evaluating where your site or application currently stands against the competition

Usability Testing

What is it?

This method of testing with representative users helps identify ergonomic "bugs," and recommend precise design solutions and can be implemented throughout the system life cycle. We use a variety of testing techniques to match the deliverable being refined and the type of feedback needed. The most common technique is to identify typical tasks and observe users performing them in our usability lab.

When classical testing is not feasible because of costs and an inability to travel to various locations with technical infrastructure we conduct testing remotely. Remote Usability Testing (RUT) is the breakthrough HFI has achieved, wherein we successfully run tests across geographies and time zones from our sophisticated remote testing labs in our HFI offices.

Why do it?

  • Confirm the appropriateness of design
  • Minimize the need for recoding and redevelopment

What do you get?

  • A detailed report that outlines the methods and has an analysis of the results (metrics), along with design recommendations

Usability Testing detailed consulting sheet (PDF)

During HFI's usability testing, we identify typical tasks and observe users performing them in our usability lab.

PET Scan

What is it?

HFI's PET scan is a method that is complementary to our PET Reviews but involving real representative end-users or customers.

By exploring users' emotional reactions to current screens, and the impact on their decisions, we give you actionable solutions to improve the user engagement, trust and persuasiveness of your website to achieve your business goals.

HFI's PET scan explores users' emotional reactions to current screens to recommend actionable improvements

Why do it?

  • Validate users' drives, blocks, feelings and beliefs identifying any missing elements that need to be addressed in the designs
  • Improve your designs and increase the credibility of your site to make them achieve PET Objectives and earn the trust and loyalty of users

What do you get?

  • A detailed report with specific and concrete tactical recommendations to improve the persuasiveness and emotional impact of your website to meet your business objectives.

Expert PET Review detailed consulting sheet (PDF)

International Assessments

What is it?

As more companies move into global markets, there is an urgent need to test products and services in many countries. Don’t lose out on your potential user population that requires very specific localization.

HFI conducts these assessments to understand essential differences in terms of culture, values and environments. We have demonstrated our ability in adapting to infrastructure needs, the ethics of conducting studies in different countries, and the local regulations and customs in these countries.

Why do it?

  • Get a deep understanding of different cultures with different values and subtleties that will impact your design
  • Improve your designs and ensure they meet business objectives

What do you get?

A detailed report with specific and concrete tactical recommendations to improve the localization of your website to meet your business objectives

HFI conducts international assessments to get a deep understanding of different cultures and their impact on your design
 

Contact Us

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Remote UX

Think locally, win globally - designing for emerging markets

Privacy policy

Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014

This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which Human Factors International, Inc., an Iowa corporation ("HFI") collects, uses, maintains and discloses information collected from users (each, a "User") of its humanfactors.com website and any derivative or affiliated websites on which this Privacy Policy is posted (collectively, the "Website"). HFI reserves the right, at its discretion, to change, modify, add or remove portions of this Privacy Policy at any time by posting such changes to this page. You understand that you have the affirmative obligation to check this Privacy Policy periodically for changes, and you hereby agree to periodically review this Privacy Policy for such changes. The continued use of the Website following the posting of changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes an acceptance of those changes.

Cookies

HFI may use "cookies" or "web beacons" to track how Users use the Website. A cookie is a piece of software that a web server can store on Users’ PCs and use to identify Users should they visit the Website again. Users may adjust their web browser software if they do not wish to accept cookies. To withdraw your consent after accepting a cookie, delete the cookie from your computer.

Privacy

HFI believes that every User should know how it utilizes the information collected from Users. The Website is not directed at children under 13 years of age, and HFI does not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under 13 years of age online. Please note that the Website may contain links to other websites. These linked sites may not be operated or controlled by HFI. HFI is not responsible for the privacy practices of these or any other websites, and you access these websites entirely at your own risk. HFI recommends that you review the privacy practices of any other websites that you choose to visit.

HFI is based, and this website is hosted, in the United States of America. If User is from the European Union or other regions of the world with laws governing data collection and use that may differ from U.S. law and User is registering an account on the Website, visiting the Website, purchasing products or services from HFI or the Website, or otherwise using the Website, please note that any personally identifiable information that User provides to HFI will be transferred to the United States. Any such personally identifiable information provided will be processed and stored in the United States by HFI or a service provider acting on its behalf. By providing your personally identifiable information, User hereby specifically and expressly consents to such transfer and processing and the uses and disclosures set forth herein.

In the course of its business, HFI may perform expert reviews, usability testing, and other consulting work where personal privacy is a concern. HFI believes in the importance of protecting personal information, and may use measures to provide this protection, including, but not limited to, using consent forms for participants or "dummy" test data.

The Information HFI Collects

Users browsing the Website without registering an account or affirmatively providing personally identifiable information to HFI do so anonymously. Otherwise, HFI may collect personally identifiable information from Users in a variety of ways. Personally identifiable information may include, without limitation, (i)contact data (such as a User’s name, mailing and e-mail addresses, and phone number); (ii)demographic data (such as a User’s zip code, age and income); (iii) financial information collected to process purchases made from HFI via the Website or otherwise (such as credit card, debit card or other payment information); (iv) other information requested during the account registration process; and (v) other information requested by our service vendors in order to provide their services. If a User communicates with HFI by e-mail or otherwise, posts messages to any forums, completes online forms, surveys or entries or otherwise interacts with or uses the features on the Website, any information provided in such communications may be collected by HFI. HFI may also collect information about how Users use the Website, for example, by tracking the number of unique views received by the pages of the Website, or the domains and IP addresses from which Users originate. While not all of the information that HFI collects from Users is personally identifiable, it may be associated with personally identifiable information that Users provide HFI through the Website or otherwise. HFI may provide ways that the User can opt out of receiving certain information from HFI. If the User opts out of certain services, User information may still be collected for those services to which the User elects to subscribe. For those elected services, this Privacy Policy will apply.

How HFI Uses Information

HFI may use personally identifiable information collected through the Website for the specific purposes for which the information was collected, to process purchases and sales of products or services offered via the Website if any, to contact Users regarding products and services offered by HFI, its parent, subsidiary and other related companies in order to otherwise to enhance Users’ experience with HFI. HFI may also use information collected through the Website for research regarding the effectiveness of the Website and the business planning, marketing, advertising and sales efforts of HFI. HFI does not sell any User information under any circumstances.

Disclosure of Information

HFI may disclose personally identifiable information collected from Users to its parent, subsidiary and other related companies to use the information for the purposes outlined above, as necessary to provide the services offered by HFI and to provide the Website itself, and for the specific purposes for which the information was collected. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information at the request of law enforcement or governmental agencies or in response to subpoenas, court orders or other legal process, to establish, protect or exercise HFI’s legal or other rights or to defend against a legal claim or as otherwise required or allowed by law. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information in order to protect the rights, property or safety of a User or any other person. HFI may disclose personally identifiable information to investigate or prevent a violation by User of any contractual or other relationship with HFI or the perpetration of any illegal or harmful activity. HFI may also disclose aggregate, anonymous data based on information collected from Users to investors and potential partners. Finally, HFI may disclose or transfer personally identifiable information collected from Users in connection with or in contemplation of a sale of its assets or business or a merger, consolidation or other reorganization of its business.

Personal Information as Provided by User

If a User includes such User’s personally identifiable information as part of the User posting to the Website, such information may be made available to any parties using the Website. HFI does not edit or otherwise remove such information from User information before it is posted on the Website. If a User does not wish to have such User’s personally identifiable information made available in this manner, such User must remove any such information before posting. HFI is not liable for any damages caused or incurred due to personally identifiable information made available in the foregoing manners. For example, a User posts on an HFI-administered forum would be considered Personal Information as provided by User and subject to the terms of this section.

Security of Information

Information about Users that is maintained on HFI’s systems or those of its service providers is protected using industry standard security measures. However, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and HFI cannot guarantee that the information submitted to, maintained on or transmitted from its systems will be completely secure. HFI is not responsible for the circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures relating to the Website by any Users or third parties.

Correcting, Updating, Accessing or Removing Personal Information

If a User’s personally identifiable information changes, or if a User no longer desires to receive non-account specific information from HFI, HFI will endeavor to provide a way to correct, update and/or remove that User’s previously-provided personal data. This can be done by emailing a request to HFI at hfi@humanfactors.com. Additionally, you may request access to the personally identifiable information as collected by HFI by sending a request to HFI as set forth above. Please note that in certain circumstances, HFI may not be able to completely remove a User’s information from its systems. For example, HFI may retain a User’s personal information for legitimate business purposes, if it may be necessary to prevent fraud or future abuse, for account recovery purposes, if required by law or as retained in HFI’s data backup systems or cached or archived pages. All retained personally identifiable information will continue to be subject to the terms of the Privacy Policy to which the User has previously agreed.

Contacting HFI

If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, you may contact HFI via any of the following methods:
Human Factors International, Inc.
PO Box 2020
1680 highway 1, STE 3600
Fairfield IA 52556
hfi@humanfactors.com
(800) 242-4480

Terms and Conditions for Public Training Courses

Reviewed: 18 Mar 2014

Cancellation of Course by HFI

HFI reserves the right to cancel any course up to 14 (fourteen) days prior to the first day of the course. Registrants will be promptly notified and will receive a full refund or be transferred to the equivalent class of their choice within a 12-month period. HFI is not responsible for travel expenses or any costs that may be incurred as a result of cancellations.

Cancellation of Course by Participants (All regions except India)

$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date.

Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (India)

4 Pack + Exam registration: Rs. 10,000 per participant processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the course (4 Pack-CUA/CXA) registration before three weeks from the course start date. No refund or carry forward of the course fees if cancelling or transferring the course registration within three weeks before the course start date.

Cancellation / Transfer by Participants (Online Courses)

$100 processing fee if cancelling within two weeks of course start date. No cancellations or refunds less than two weeks prior to the first course start date.

Individual Modules: Rs. 3,000 per participant ‘per module’ processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the course (any Individual HFI course) registration before three weeks from the course start date. No refund or carry forward of the course fees if cancelling or transferring the course registration within three weeks before the course start date.

Exam: Rs. 3,000 per participant processing fee (to be paid by the participant) if cancelling or transferring the pre agreed CUA/CXA exam date before three weeks from the examination date. No refund or carry forward of the exam fees if requesting/cancelling or transferring the CUA/CXA exam within three weeks before the examination date.

No Recording Permitted

There will be no audio or video recording allowed in class. Students who have any disability that might affect their performance in this class are encouraged to speak with the instructor at the beginning of the class.

Course Materials Copyright

The course and training materials and all other handouts provided by HFI during the course are published, copyrighted works proprietary and owned exclusively by HFI. The course participant does not acquire title nor ownership rights in any of these materials. Further the course participant agrees not to reproduce, modify, and/or convert to electronic format (i.e., softcopy) any of the materials received from or provided by HFI. The materials provided in the class are for the sole use of the class participant. HFI does not provide the materials in electronic format to the participants in public or onsite courses.