User Experience & Design Research


Mobile device filming rig.

For filming usability testing with iPhone, iPad and android mobile devices.

The pictures above were taken to share a very simple design for a 'build it yourself' usability testing sled for mobile devices. It's ultra lightweight and doesn't interfere with the user experience you're trying to capture.

There are other approaches to this involving, tabletop cameras, over the shoulder cameras and head mounted cameras - all have their downsides, either preventing natural use, not being close enough to see the action, or making viewers seasick (eeurgh!).

This setup works fine works fine for a one-off setup, but you'll need several versions to work well with devices of different sizes and different cameras.

We've built loads of these and tried many different setups, building custom rigs for friends and colleagues at leading usability labs and user research companies.

...Now we've perfected the design and are putting a much improved model into production, which will make filming all types of mobile device a piece of cake, from smartphones to iPads ...and we'll save a few people burning themselves on the toaster* while we're at it.

If you'd like to be notified when the new rig goes into production, email nick@mrtappy.com or visit the new website for 'Mr Tappy'.

For the lo-fi approach, we suggest you build a rig yourself like the one above.
In the past we've used a strip of perspex (acrylic) to make the 'sled' shape.
You'll need to heat it to bend it - this is possible by *holding it over one slot of a household toaster (Kids, ask an adult first), you'll feel it when it starts to become bendable.
Alternatively you could use a strip of aluminium.
Bend it over the edge of a tabletop, Making sure it's square to the edge.
The dimensions will need to vary depending on the devices you want to film and the camera's viewing angle.
The one above is set up to use a CCTV camera with analog output, but a webcam can be used too.

I'm happy to answer any questions about this (and frequently do) so don't hesitate to get in touch.