This is the first of multiple articles about Raise’s development process. If you want a TL;DR of these articles, check this video we tweeted about our development process.
For the last month we’ve been developing Raise, specifically Raise v3. We’ve built 3 working prototypes, each improved after testing our hypothesis with users.
We tested with gamers, professional League of legends players, designers and coders. Although they all had some different needs and opinions, most of them were common ones. And a few of them surprised us.
In any company, every prototype is built to answer their designers questions. These questions are know as hypotheses and the answers validate or deny those hypotheses.
The process isn’t straightforward, you can’t just ask directly and get real answers. The best information always comes to genuine reactions so the questions must not influence the tester's answers. You must ask multiple open questions, listen to what they say, how they say it and observe them interacting with the product.
The first prototype was actually two prototypes, one functional and the other without electronics. We made the second so the testers could compare design features.
These were the differences between both prototypes:
In any company, every prototype is built to answer their designers questions. These questions are know as hypotheses and the answers validate or deny those hypotheses.
The process isn’t straightforward, you can’t just ask directly and get real answers. The best information always comes to genuine reactions so the questions must not influence the tester's answers. You must ask multiple open questions, listen to what they say, how they say it and observe them interacting with the product.
Prototype 1 - Ergonomics
The first prototype was actually two prototypes, one functional and the other without electronics. We made the second so the testers could compare design features.
These were the differences between both prototypes:
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Left Symmetrical, right 60% (it’s called 60% because it’s has 60% the keys of a regular keyboard)
The 8 hypotheses that we validated with our testing:
Hypothesis #1: Symmetrical is much more beautiful
We thought this was going to be a big negative thing but actually it wasn’t even notice. Most testers didn’t notice any difference between both prototypes even when comparing them one next to the other. Conclusion 1#: No visual difference.Hypothesis #2: Symmetrical slightly difficult to use
Testers that have perfect touch typing technique write as fast with the keyboard split and feel more comfortable
Hypothesis #3: Being able to remove the palm rests is highly valued
All testers except one said they preferred the palm rests. The surprising thing was how they said it, they were completely sure about it. And the only situation that they would remove them was to transport the keyboard. Conclusion 3#: Palm rest really liked. Removable not really valuedHypothesis #4. Magnetic connectors and joints are highly valued
This is what created the most “wow moments”. No one expected the magnetic cable connectors or the middle joint connectors. Some testers didn’t notice the magnets but reported a pleasant feeling while joining both keyboard sides together. Conclusion 4#: Everyone loved themHypothesis #5: The palm rests make tilting unnecessary
Tilting (elevating the back part of the keyboard) is proven to be harmful for our wrists. During our testing we confirmed that is unnecessary with palm rests
