jaffamonkey

 http://uselog.blogspot.com/2007/01/lab-usability-is-dead.html

The inherent issues with lab testing, are in its failure to emulate real-life scenarios.  However, this is not always the point to a test, and there are still benefits to a controlled test environment - even for usability testing. A lot of usability testing is based on standards in design and coding - ideally done early on in a project, but virtually always imossible to do so.  Projects generally move at an over-ambitious pace these days, and a lot that goes wrong AND right is to do with this approach. Why “Agile” has become a popular term to use to describe a project is the general Agile principles of short release cycles, and close project team relationships. Generally, in fast paced project, that is the only choice, otherwise theproject would fail a lot earlier.  It is becoming more impossible to lay down set standards for project management appraoches, it is a much more reactive and people-based form of directing. But in QA, it is possible to help identify problems from a more distant viewpoint.