eValid™ -- Automated Web Quality Solution Browser-Based, Client-Side, Functional Testing & Validation, Load & Performance Tuning, Page Timing, Website Analysis, and Rich Internet Application Monitoring. © Copyright 2000-2011 by Software Research, Inc.

Introduction
How do you know whether a product is intuitive enough for your staff to use efficiently and effectively? The answer is, give them:

How Does This Work?
Start from scratch having only an ftp download address, an eValid license key, and a general idea of what the eValid product is supposed to do.

• If you haven't already done it, bite the bullet, fill out the form, and Download An eValid Evaluation License.
• Install eValid following the instructions given in the email that includes your license key.
• Install the license key per the instructions given.
• Launch eValid.
• Try to do something with eValid that you think it ought to be able to do!

To Make the 30-Minute Test Completely Valid
To make sure the 30-Minute Test is completely valid here is what you're supposed to do:

• Don't think; just do! Mess around some. Play. Fiddle. See what happens.
• Don't look at any instructions or memos or notes! Just run with what you have!
• Don't even think about looking at the User Manual! Don't even ask if there even is a User Manual!
• You can't ask anyone -- not even Technical Support -- for any help at all. Pretend it's the middle of the night and they won't be there anyway. You're on you own!

How Do I Know I'm Done?
You know you're done with the 30-Minute Test when any of these happens:

• 30 minutes have passed.
• You've been able to record and play a script successfully.
• You've been able to do a simple sitemap successfully.
• You've seen at least one results chart (timing chart, performance chart, 3D-SiteMap).

Why Is A 30-Minute Test Important?
Today's software products have to meet a dual requirement of having deep technical sophistication combined with a high ease-of-use factor. In other words, a product has to do something very well and it has to be very easy to use. Products that don't probably don't make it in the field.

Keeping Score!
Here's how to keep score! The 30-Minute Test will give you a good estimate of:

• Is the product trouble-free in basic operation?
• Are functions laid out intuitively enough?
• Did you find the thing you wanted where you expected to find it?
• Is it "naturally clear" how the product is supposed to work.
• Do you sense a natural "extensibility" for the product; for the work you did, could you see how to expand it to something more complex?
• Did you feel good about your success!

Administrative Caveat
All bets are off if you can't do the install on your machine because of administrative or security reasons. In that case, your 30 minutes in the sun doesn't start until AFTER you have install permissions!