Create Ideal User Experiences
The User eXperience Lab (UXL) features instrumentation to study how people interact with technology and provides insights into improving those interactions.
About the User eXperience Lab (UXL)
The UXL is dedicated to the science of information studies and communication research, focusing on the design of human-information interaction. The UXL offers a full range of UX research services for university, government, and private organizations to understand and ensure that tools and interfaces meet users’ needs and expectations. User eXperience Lab space includes:
- Approximately 900 square feet
- Two participant rooms connected to an observation room with a one-way mirror
- Set up for single-user studies
- Reception area
The UXL was established in 2008 by the School of Information Sciences, with participation from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It became part of the User Experience – Message Effects Core Facility in 2018. In 2023, the User eXperience Lab was named a CCI Innovation Lab.
For more information contact us at uxlab@utk.edu
Technology and Instrumentation
- Biopac: Hardware and software biometrics tools that measure physiological reactions such as heart rate, galvanic skin response, muscle activation, and respiratory rate. This equipment is designed to be portable, and is useful for studies looking to gain insight into how users physiologically react to stimuli and environments.
- Loop 11: Usability testing Chrome extension tool to test product ease-of-use from a user perspective. Record and analyze success rate, time taken, click streams, and user feedback.
- Mod1000: Usability testing tool for mobile devices.
- Noldus FaceReader: Software that analyzes emotional responses of the user. Measures seven different emotions (happy, neutral, sad, angry, surprised, scared, and disgusted) and can test on a baby, a child, an adult, or an older person.
- Oculus Rift: Hardware and software designed to immerse users in virtual reality and enable advanced computations and graphics rendering to study how users will interact in different environments.
- TechSmith Morae: Software records on-screen activity, mouse clicks, and keystrokes to record and analyze usability studies. Most often used to investigate how users interact with a product, website, or an idea. Creates a rich presentation with videos, graphs, and charts.
- Tobii Spectrum, X2-60,Tobii Glasses 2 and Pro Lab: Eye tracking hardware and software to track a user’s gaze direction and quantify visual attention in both Lab and mobile environments.
We’re here to help!
Services & Rates
TYPES OF SERVICES
- In-person: Our experts will meet your users where they are, whether in the real world or in our Lab, to run tests and observe user behavior.
- Remote: Our experts will Collect and analyze data from users who complete user testing on their own devices, wherever they may be.
- Virtual: Our experts will guide and interact with users participating in remote user testing via video conferencing.
Below is a list of our standard services and prices. For more information or to set up a tour of the lab please contact the lab manager at uxlab@utk.edu.
| Expert Analysis | User Testing | Educational Training & Instruction | Lab Use & Access Fee | Industry & Professional Workforce Training | |
| UT Researchers | $150/hour | $100/hour | $35/hour | $65/hour | $125/hour |
| External Academics | $230/hour | $153/hour | $54/hour | $99/hour | $191/hour |
| External Market | $320/hour | $400/hour | $100/hour | $250/hour | $425/hour |
Effective Dates: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025
Expert Analysis: Expert analysis and evaluation to inform research and product development conducted without participants.
User Testing: CCI Labs led user testing to inform research and product development conducted with participants requiring IRB protocols and non-research activities (e.g., product development).
Educational Training & Instruction: Instructive and training activities to support a variety of learners and learning objectives.
Lab Use & Access Fee: Use of lab instrumentation, creative media, and technology and access to the CCI Labs for the conducting of research requiring IRB protocols and non-research activities (e.g., product development). (Additional Service Educational Training may be required)
Industry & Professional Workforce Training: Develop, deliver, and assess training, workshops, and curriculum to industry and professionals regarding the latest in user experience and related areas, including evolving user and workforce needs.