VOTEC Handheld Evaluation Tool — Human Factors & Trial Design

Client: VOTEC
Period: 2012
Focus: Human factors, performance evaluation and trial design

VOTEC, an engineering company, had developed a handheld evaluation tool designed to capture and record performance against defined measures. The technology could be configured to record different types of performance, including scores, pass/fail outcomes and other performance metrics.

VOTEC engaged IGOR to help develop the product for demonstration to potential customers. IGOR’s role was twofold: to provide human-factors and ergonomic input into the design of the tool, and to develop a trial that could demonstrate its practical value and viability.

IGOR reviewed the way users would interact with the tool and provided a range of recommendations and updates to improve its usability and application. The focus was on ensuring that the technology worked effectively as an evaluation instrument — allowing performance information to be captured consistently and meaningfully in the context in which it would actually be used.

IGOR also designed a trial methodology that would allow VOTEC to demonstrate the capability of the product under realistic conditions. The trial was structured to provide prospective customers with clear evidence of what the technology could do and how it could be applied to performance evaluation.

VOTEC retained responsibility for delivering the trial itself. IGOR’s contribution was to provide the human-factors expertise, product-development input and experimental design that gave the company a stronger basis for demonstrating its technology.

The project is a useful example of IGOR applying its human-factors and experimentation expertise outside Defence, working alongside an engineering company to translate technology into a credible, user-focused evaluation capability.

IGOR’s contribution: IGOR combined human-factors assessment with practical trial design to help an engineering company refine a new performance-evaluation technology and demonstrate its value to prospective customers.