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Novice–Expert+

By Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering

This extension logs the steps a user takes to perform a task and estimates the time an expert would take to complete each step.

View Chrome Web Store

Time on the storeAbout 3 years or moreA rough range, not an exact date

Store users236As shown on the Chrome Web Store

Chrome Web Store rating5.0 / 514 ratings on the Chrome Web Store

Last store update20 Mar 2024Version 1.0.5, 2.5 years ago

Inside the extension

Novice–Expert+ developer product preview 1

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Reviews

Dinesh Bhathad12 months ago
This extension is a lightweight yet powerful tool for usability testing. It logs every step a user takes to complete a task and automatically estimates the time an expert would need for each action. Interaction designers can quickly spot potential points of friction through the novice-expert ratio. The ability to export results as CSV files makes the tool very useful in terms of analysis. It is grounded in established HCI and usability research, adding scientific rigor to its insights. It integrates Fitts’ Law calculations to estimate expert pointing times across different input devices which is a valuable feature for testing on varied hardware. Users should check the tutorial to correctly carry out their testing and understand what the data means.
Wront Halen12 months ago
I had been using the Novice–Expert+ extension for a while. I found it useful to dig into a meta-awareness of my browsing actions and consciously prod myself into moving faster. While it did not cover most of my use cases, I would go back once in a while to just accelerate my work process! Loved how it contributed to my productivity!
Vivek Das13 months ago
I've been using this extension for my academic projects, and it's become my go-to tool for usability testing. It's easy to use and understand, and clearly shows where users struggle in websites. This makes it the perfect tool to evaluate websites, and identify areas to improve. For anyone doing user research or projects in UX, it's a simple yet effective way to get meaningful insights.
Vishesh Sharma15 months ago
I found Novice-Expert+ to be very useful and insightful when it comes to understanding how the users are experiencing the prototype compared to an expert user. When it comes to the usability of the extension, it is pretty intuitive for a user researcher and even students would find it to be very useful as it provides a great learning experience, interactions become very intuitive after a few mock runs. I use it often for user research while collecting data to identify gaps in my design and to improve its usability. I would highly recommend this tool for its accurate readings and intuitive interactions.
Varun Dinesh2 years ago
This extension takes the guesswork out of the equation by providing quantitative measures of usability problems. What I really love about it is how easy it is to use! With just a few clicks, this browser extension logs each step of a user's journey, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where they might be struggling. What makes it even more powerful is the ability to compare your product's performance with other competitors, allowing you to see exactly how your design stacks up in the real world.
Mehul Agarwal2.5 years ago
The 'Novice-Expert+' Chrome extension is an impressive tool for user testing that streamlines the process of evaluating the usability of websites and applications. It proves to be an invaluable asset in identifying and enhancing usability issues by tracking user activities and calculating the time taken by experts to complete tasks. Its strength lies in its straightforward features and user-friendly interface. However, what truly sets it apart is the ease with which findings can be exported in CSV format. I highly recommend trying out Novice-Expert+ as it is an exceptional tool for conducting NEM (Novice-Expert-Modelling) evaluations, taking into account multiple critical parameters. Earlier it wasn't tracking actions taking place in a modal, but with the latest update even that has been fixed. Its an amazing tool and everyone working in the field of UX and Usability should use it for identifying and improving usability issues.
Danny varghese2.9 years ago
I was quite impressed with the use of 'novice-expert+' for user testing. Novice-Expert+ is a great Chrome plugin that makes evaluating the usability of websites and apps easier. It turns as a vital tool for identifying and improving usability problems by monitoring user activities and calculating expert completion times. It stands out due to its simple features and easy-to-use layout. The ease of exporting findings in CSV format, though, is what really makes it unique.I strongly recommend giving Novice–Expert+ a try since it is an excellent NEM evaluation tool that addresses a number of crucial parameters.
Sumukh Nagendra3.1 years ago
Novice–Expert+ is a useful Chrome extension that helps you evaluate how user-friendly a website or app is. It keeps a record of what users do and estimates how long an expert would take to do the same tasks. This can be super helpful to spot any issues and make improvements. I'd give it 5 stars because it provides valuable insights for enhancing usability.
Nisarg Rajpura3.1 years ago
Novice-Expert+ is a UX evaluation tool that has managed to redefine the way I approach usability testing and Novice-Expert Ratio calculations. As someone deeply immersed in the world of user experience design, I've come across my fair share of tools, but Novice-Expert+ has truly left a lasting impression. What truly sets Novice-Expert+ apart is its ability to calculate expert times using Fitt's Law. This feature is a game-changer, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of usability and efficiency. The developers have put thought into creating a tool that caters to the nuanced needs of UX professionals. Adding times for System Response and "Think" times is intuitive and straightforward. The resulting CSV is not just a jumble of data but a neatly organized resource that enhances task exploration and analysis. There is a lot more you can do with this Chrome Extension, highly recommended.
Keerti Hegde3.1 years ago
After using the Chrome extension 'novice-expert+' for user testing, I was highly impressed with its user-friendliness. The features it offers are straightforward and easy to comprehend. What particularly caught my attention and appreciation was the presentation of the final results in CSV format. I found it exceptionally convenient and valuable. I am considering sharing a detailed review to highlight the extension's ease of use and its effective presentation of results in CSV files. There are very few tools available for NEM evaluation. this one is must try.
Sagar Mhatre4 years ago
One way to measure the usability of a website or application is using KLM-GOMS, where the model predicts experts’ task execution times from keystrokes, pointer movements, thinking times, etc., which are compared with novice users’ task times to evaluate the efficiency of an interface. As a UX designer, I have previously used CogTool in combination with user event logging tools to make this comparison. However, my PC hardware, despite it being recent, was unable to run CogTool and logging software can be difficult to install for security reasons. In the end, I had to borrow someone else’s computer and manually insert each step in CogTool for each task that the user performed. In light of these issues, Novice-Expert+ is much more accessible because it is a Chrome browser extension: Apart from the browser requirement, which prevents Novice-Expert+ from logging user events on desktop applications, there are no hardware compatibility issues. Additionally, it logs all the user actions with time taken, and compiles it in a single CSV file, saving time and removing the potential for human error in creating a design storyboard in CogTool. Also, because of its accessibility, you can let users log their events remotely, thus removing the necessity of setting up a computer with logging software for user testing.
Robert Green4.1 years ago
I have searched for years for years for a tool like this and now have found it. This extension makes recording user actions and calculating expert user time estimates using KLM/GOMS a piece of cake. It is easy to add times for System Response and "Think" times as well. The resulting CSV is easy to read to additional exploration of your task. Novice-Expert(+) would be a great tool for capturing user trials on there own. The addition of calculating expert times using Fitt's Law is an excellent addition. Kudos to the devs. I have used CogTool in combination with other recording tools but that is very cumbersome.