UserTesting Unveils 'Virtual One-Way Mirror'

Video-based insights provider UserTesting has upgraded its 'Human Insight Platform' to help clients observe and understand how their customers feel and why. They include what the firm says is the virtual environment equivalent of a one-way mirror for focus group observation.

UserTesting, which a year ago announced plans to raise $227m in an IPO, has enjoyed a busy twelve months including launches of social media shopper features, Internet of Things test templates, and new features for its Instant Insights post-test analysis solution.

According to the company, the new team observer feature for the Live Conversation solution 'takes the concept of a one-way mirror, traditionally used in an in-person observation room and adapts it to how user experience and market research is conducted remotely, in a virtual environment today' - giving clients more methods for observing how people use products and services from any location. Researchers can seamlessly invite participants such as product managers, stakeholders and executives to view live conversation sessions without interfering with the session.

Other new features includes upgrades to the workspace experience and search capabilities. The former displays contextual thumbnail views of most recently engaged session content including tests, drafts and highlight reels; while the latter allows customers easy access to insights and resources that exist across multiple content categories. Users can also auto-generate visualizations, and view metrics alongside video feedback.

CTO Kaj van de Loo comments: 'We are seeing a greater demand for human insight earlier and more often during the product development process. Now more than ever, companies are looking for ways to get the most out of their limited resources and improve team collaboration. UserTesting's goal is to make it easier for teams to collaborate and continually increase the speed to insights and analysis for our customers'.

The firm is headquartered in San Francisco and online at www.usertesting.com .