The Alarm Clock Alley Rally

Free instructions and downloadable materials

This activity is offered free of charge for your use in educational settings or World Usability Day events.

On this page: Activity Summary | Learning Goals | Preparation | Setup | Moderating

Activity Summary

Description:

Six different alarm clocks are placed on a single table. Individuals are encouraged to predict how easy or difficult it will be to set the time on one or more alarm clocks, and how long it might take them. They attempt to set a clock, and are asked to compare their experiences with their predictions. Groups may undergo the same process, but "compete" against each other to see which clocks may be set the fastest and most easily.

Activity type:

Table-based activity

Good for:

individuals or groups of all ages

Requires:

electricity, six alarm clocks

Minimum activity time:

5 minutes

Docents/Moderators:

one to six

Equipment:

Six different digital or analog alarm clocks
Masking tape and a pen (or other means) for numbering the clocks 1-6
A table approximately six foot long by three feet deep and two feet high
2 Extension cords
2 Surge protectors
A stopwatch for each moderator
Three-hole punch paper for printing moderator tally sheets
Printer for printing moderator tally sheets
"Book" or "D" rings for binding the tally sheets into pads (one per moderator), ribbon or string will also serve
A clipboard for each moderator (optional)
Tablecloth (optional)
Easily seen analog or cardboard clock face with hands that can be set to a specific time (optional)
Laptop/desktop computer running MS Excel (optional)

Signage:

Download the Activity Signage (529K PDF)

Downloadable files:

Learning goals

To encourage individuals to think critically about the products they routinely encounter. To discuss ergonomics, display technologies, button types, and how these and other factors influence a product's ease of use. Encourages participants to consider function over form when considering products.

Activity Preparation

Acquire six commercially available alarm clocks, analog or digital. Seek out clocks that have a range of different features, button types, and interaction styles.
Ensure that the clocks will not work when unplugged by removing any batteries.
Using masking tape and a pen, give each clock a unique number between one and six.
Download and print out the Moderator Tally Sheets. If possible, print them double-sided on three-hole punch paper. (Note: The front of a printed tally sheet will support two individual activities, while the back will support two group activities. Each individual or group will use one tally sheet. Therefore 250 printed sheets will serve approximately 500 individual and group participants.)
Cut the individual tally sheets in half through the middle hole of the three-hole punched paper and bind them (optional) with a book ring, "d" ring, ribbon or string.

Activity Setup

Place a tablecloth over your activity table
Place the alarm clocks on the activity table near the front edge, spaced approximately 1 foot apart.
Run the alarm clock cords towards the back of the table, and plug three of them into a single surge guard/protector. Plug the remaining clocks into the second surge guard/protector.
Plug the two surge guard/protectors into extension cords (as appropriate) and plug them into a power outlet.
Ensure that you can switch all six clocks off easily by turning off the two surge guards/protectors. (This will enable you to reset the activity easily without unplugging the clocks.)
Safety Note: DO NOT let individuals, even docents, plug or unplug clocks during the activity. Do not plug the surge guard/protectors into each other. Observe all rules of safety and common sense around electrical appliances.
Print and place signage around the table
(Optional) Place the large clock with hands you can set in clear view of all activity participants, either by holding it up, placing it on a stand in the center of the table, or hanging it on a wall within reach.
Distribute one moderator tally sheetpad to each moderator.

Activity Moderation

This activity supports either individual (one person sets one clock) or "head to head" group interaction (individuals compete to set their clock the fastest). Tally sheets may be tabulated during or after the event using the downloadable Excel spreadsheet to determine which of the six alarm clocks was the easiest, most satisfying to use.

Individual participation

When an individual or group approaches the activity, locate the appropriate tally sheet.
Invite the individual to select an alarm clock.
Following the questions on the tally sheet, ask the individual to predict how easy or difficult they think it would be to set the clock's time to a specific time, how long they think it will take, and why.
Record these responses on the tally sheet, taking care to note which clock the individual has selected.
Invite the individual to begin setting the clock and start the stopwatch.
When the individual has set the time, or given up the task, record the time and follow the tally sheet to ask whether the task proved to be easier, harder, more or less time consuming than they had predicted, and why. Discuss the buttons, display mechanisms, ease of use, and overall satisfaction engendered by the alarm clock.
Invite the participant to select a second clock and repeat the process.
Tabulate the tally sheet results as time allows using the downloadable Excel spreadsheet to determine which of the alarm clocks was the easiest, most satisfying to use.

Group participation

When group approaches the activity, locate the appropriate tally sheet.
Invite the individuals to each select a clock.
Using the tally sheet as a guide, ask the participants how easy or difficult they predict their clock will be to set, and the time they anticipate it will take them to set it.
Give the group a target time to set, invite them to begin, and start a stopwatch. (Depending on the number of available docents, each individual may have their own interviewer/timekeeper.)
Encourage the participants to call out "done" when they have correctly set their clock. Note the time each finishes.
Once all participants have finished or given up, declare a winning clock and discuss which aspects of that clock made it easy or quick to set. Discuss the features of other clocks that made them less efficient or simple to operate.
Note: we encourage docents to keep the focus on the clock, not the individual. An individual "wins" because their clock, not they themselves, was better, and loses because their clock was less well designed. This is a competition in name only.
Encourage participants to select a different clock and repeat the process.
Tabulate the tally sheet results as time allows using the downloadable Excel spreadsheet to determine which of the alarm clocks was the easiest, most satisfying to use.

Enhancements/Variations

In Boston, MA we included two identical alarm clocks within our group of six alarm clocks to use as a control pair. We were able to show at the end of the day that the identical clocks received identical scores from participants.
In Boston, MA we have found it helpful to include clocks that illustrate a range of interaction complexities, for example, a clock that only keeps time and a clock that has many other features, such as a CD player, radio, or other functions.

Tips & Tricks

When you create your "pads" of moderator tally sheets, if you keep the individual activity sheets facing the same way, a moderator only needs to flip the pad over to run a group activity. Individual activity on the front, group activity on the back.
Use a large analog clock or cardboard clock face with movable hands to set the time for individuals to emulate on their own clocks. Ensure that the clock face is large enough to be seen by all activity participants.
When a tally sheet is complete, tear it from your pad and place it in a box behind the table. A team member can then enter the tally sheets into a computer for quick computation of findings.