Log files for testing usability

The aim of this study is to gain insight in the usefulness of log file analysis as a method to evaluate the usability of individual interface components and their influence on the usability of the overall user interface. We selected a music player as application, with four different interfaces and two different databases of music tracks. The music player only allowed the user to (a) select and (b) playa music track. An experiment was carried out in which all the user actions with the application were recorded in a log file. These log files were analysed. The preliminary results indicate advantages and disadvantages of the method of log file analysis for testing usability