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Usability Test
Usability Test
Dropbox
Google Drive
Introduction
This white paper serves the purpose of comparing the usability of two cloud sync storage
software: Dropbox and Google Drive.
Cloud storage is a new technology that companies have begun to develop in the recent years.
Documents, files, photos, and other data can be uploaded to an offsite server from a users
computer. These files can be accessed from other computers by connecting virtually to the
offsite server. Many companies are starting to create cloud storage for their users. Google Drive
and Dropbox are two of the most commonly used software in this industry.
The usability tests are aimed at users who generally have little technical experience. The tasks
selected to test were based on what these users would do with cloud sync storage software. The
users targeted would understand how to operate a computer, how to create a document, and
how to use a basic browser.
Methods
Tasks:
1. Downloading the cloud sync storage software
2. Uploading a picture to cloud sync storage
3. Share a folder with another user through cloud sync storage
4. Edit a document on cloud sync storage
5. Download a file from a cloud sync software
6. Remove a link from cloud sync storage
7. Find synced devices on cloud sync storage software
Testing Environment:
The testing was taken in a private apartment in Moscow, Idaho, a common
residential environment for a potential user. The tests were processed on a PC
computer with Windows 7, a common desktop operating system.
Evaluation Criteria:
The usability of each task is based on a five point Likert scale for each of the following
statements:
The task yielded satisfactory results
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Results:
Task #1: Download the Cloud Sync Storage Software
Dropbox: The link to download the software was easy to find. When the software was
downloading there wasnt any information on how long the download would take. After the
download was complete, the application took me to Dropboxs website and the software that
was just downloaded.
Google Drive: The link to download the software was in the main page of Google Drives
website. Once the software was downloading, the loading page showed how long it would take
to download. After the download was complete the application showed me possible functions
that Google Drive is capable of doing. Then, Google Drive brought up the file on the computer
where the Google Drive documents would be saved.
Figure 1.1: The download tabs for each application. Google Drive is the left tab and the right is
Dropbox.
Task #1 Likert:
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Task #2 Likert:
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Figure 3.1: How to share a folder, file, or document and the options available for users.
Google Drive: Once I clicked on the file, the symbol to share becomes visible above. The symbol
is a classic image that a user would understand to connect other places to the file. There isn't a
lot of information on privacy settings or ways to share the file to another site.
Figure 3.2: How to share a file on Google Drive. The orange circle highlights the symbol to share
the file.
Task #3 Likert:
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Task #5 Likert:
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Figure 6.1: The view of the links on Dropbox. The red circle shows the setting symbol and the orange circle shows the
removal symbol.
Google Drive: I had to consult Google Help during this process. There wasnt a designated area
that informed what was linked to other sites
or people. By using Google Help, I was able to
find out how to remove a link for each
individual item. It was a complicated mess. I
had to click each individual link to the
document and remove them.
Figure 6.2 The Google Drive view of where I could
remove the individual links. The red line shows where I
had to click to view the settings to delete the link.
Task #6 Likert:
Scores:
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Task #7 Likert:
Scores:
satisfactory results
completed quickly
not needed.
Dropbox
Google Drive
Recommendation:
Summary of Results:
Dropbox makes it easy for a user to find what they need, complete their tasks, and finish them
in a timely manner. Everything is laid out clearly on the Dropbox website. Google Drive is a bit
more complicated. It can do the majority of the same things that Dropbox can do, but there are
just some features that are harder to find or dont exist that Dropbox has. For these reasons, I
suggest that new users utilize Dropbox for their cloud sync storage.