Microsoft Xbox™ Usability TestingProduct usability testing has been around for a while now with the sole purpose of providing consumers with the best product a company can. Some companies hire specific testing consultants who specialize in product testing, while other companies simply release beta versions of their product to a small market and gather feedback. Companies like Sony or Nintendo hire companies that test their products and make sure there are no problems with the product. Software companies, on the other hand, release trial versions, also known as beta versions, of their products and improve the final product based on feedback from beta users. There are many products released to the public that have not been thoroughly tested. . These products are tested like any other product, but they are simply not optimized and modified enough to be the best they can be. This situation may be the result of poor product knowledge on the part of the testing company or poor diversity of the test groups or target audience. An example of an insufficiently tested product is the Microsoft Xbox. The Xbox, a gaming console launched in November 2001, marked Microsoft's official entry into the gaming industry. Immediately after release, users stated that the Xbox had been rushed into production and had not been adequately tested. However, articles titled "CES 2001: Microsoft Discusses the Announcement" and "Xbox Product Testing Initiated", both...