What practice involves watching real users interact with a prototype to identify problems?

What practice involves watching real users interact with a prototype to identify problems?

• A. Storyboarding
• B. Paper prototypes
• C. Mock-up
• D. User testing

Answer: (D)

Observing real users interact with a prototype to identify problems is user testing. In this practice, you have people try to complete realistic tasks using an interactive version of the design, and you watch where they struggle, what they misinterpret, or where the flow breaks. This direct, hands-on feedback helps you uncover usability issues that might not show up in a written plan or in static visuals, so you can prioritize fixes that actually improve how the product is used. Storyboarding guides how a user might behave through a sequence of scenes; it’s about planning the experience, not testing a real interaction. Paper prototypes are low-fidelity, hand-made interface representations used to test ideas, often in quick sessions, but the focus is on the artifact itself rather than live observation of real users. A mock-up is a static or semi-static visual model to convey layout and look, not an opportunity for users to perform tasks and reveal usability problems.

Observing real users interact with a prototype to identify problems is user testing. In this practice, you have people try to complete realistic tasks using an interactive version of the design, and you watch where they struggle, what they misinterpret, or where the flow breaks. This direct, hands-on feedback helps you uncover usability issues that might not show up in a written plan or in static visuals, so you can prioritize fixes that actually improve how the product is used.

Storyboarding guides how a user might behave through a sequence of scenes; it’s about planning the experience, not testing a real interaction. Paper prototypes are low-fidelity, hand-made interface representations used to test ideas, often in quick sessions, but the focus is on the artifact itself rather than live observation of real users. A mock-up is a static or semi-static visual model to convey layout and look, not an opportunity for users to perform tasks and reveal usability problems.