Trusted Testers Studies

I adapted and co-founded a research method for the Android Wear team at Google in 2016 - "Trusted Testers". The team still uses it today.

Role: I plan, moderate, analyze, and report all Trusted Testers studies. I continuously adapt the method to include different tools for data collection, or analyze the data in different ways. I have included non-traditional methods of analysis and data capture that are valuable for the team's needs. And I have mentored and trained other researchers on how the study is run.

Inspiration: I identified a gap in the utility of the smartwatch for users - therefore I set out to find out how the smartwatch might be able to help people with their lives.

Question:

"How might we provide a watch-first experience to the user that can help make their lives easier?"

Method: Many details confidential, please inquire for more details.

Demographics: Many details confidential. Inquire for more details.

Advantages:

• Versatile in testing broad and specific issues - using a broad range of hardware or specific ones.
• Able to capture onboarding usage all the way to discovery and acclimatization with the device.
• Tracking sentiment, positive and negative experiences, and more.
• Identify where the product falls short of user expectations or needs.
• A testing-ground for trying new methods.
• Benchmarking platform .

Team implications:

• Trusted Testers studies have become a determining factor for the team to decide how deeply they should investigate issues.
  • The team have been able to settle debates and cut discussions short by simply asking "Have we seen this with Trusted Testers?" I pull up the data and show them, which reprioritizes and focuses the team on the important issues.

Google Confidential - Proprietary

Examples of deliverables include:

• Addressing P0 issues with partner devices (e.g. ZTE Quartz, Fossil, Huawei, LG etc...) and working closely with stakeholders to keep them informed of major issues, even before the study is complete.
• Many details confidential. Please inquire for more details.