Silverback: Usability Testing for Mac
July 25, 2008
Clearleft has just announced a new software usability testing application for Mac called Silverback. Silverback uses the built-in camera found on most current Mac models to record video and audio of your user while simultaneously capturing screen activity. There’s a free 30-day trial, and the app costs a mere $49.95. Which, in the outrageously pricey world of eLearning development software, is practically free. Not to mention all the typical testing equipment (and setup grief) this app (and Apple hardware) renders unnecessary.
There’s also a video demo of the application in action on the website.
Sadly, my organization has a total of zero Macs (pathetic, I know). I may have to sneak in my personal MacBook or iMac and do some eLearning usability testing on some of our customers using Silverback. I really need some “hard data” to provide management to support my arguments that our Articulate-developed stuff is vastly better than our horrible LCMS-developed stuff. Sure, the email messages I receive from our customers (as well as my own personal rantings and ravings) say it all, but you know how management prefers “test results” to “anecdotal evidence.” Wish me luck.
Mac-using eLearning developers, give Silverback a look.
And non-Mac-using eLearning developers, what the heck are you waiting for?
Posted in Apple, eLearning Design, eLearning Development Tools
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July 31st, 2008 at 12:38 pm
As a part-time Mac user, I will have to check this one out. I too would love to be producing on a Mac, but there’s still some ground for the platform to cover to catch up with PCs.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Ah, that “catch up ground” can be so ably covered by VMWare Fusion or Parallels Desktop. With these tools, there’s no reason not to be a “full-time Mac user.”