May 19, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: 7 Things Your Company Gets Wrong About User Research

Photos By Ethnio
01
natebolt-06
Ethnio is a design research tool created by Nate Bolt, Facebook's former design research manager. It allows product owners to intercept visitors to their site and ask them questions in real time with the goal of making ethnographic research as easy as peeking at Google Analytics.
Photos By Ethnio
02
natebolt-05
Participants can also be found using Twitter. If someone says your product sucks, you can offer them a gift card to tell you why.

Photos By Ethnio
03
natebolt-08
Bolt has also created a mobile version of Ethnio to help app makers better understand their customers.
Photos By Ethnio
04
natebolt-07
As with most survey tools, researchers can ask multiple kinds of questions. Also, Ethnio has been wildly successful allowing Bolt to localize the software in many languages.

Photos By Ethnio
05
natebolt-02
Scheduling participants is tremendous timesuck for researchers, so Bolt has developed tools that automate the process.
06
ethnio
Research questionnaires are often onerous for the subjects, so Ethnio has Mad Libs-style response forms that are easier to fill out than open-ended fields

Photos By Ethnio
07
natebolt-03
Bolt wants to make sure his customers look good in front of their bosses, and has developed a number of features that ensure scheduled participants don't miss their sessions.
08
ethnio3
Ethnio helps researchers screen users to ensure the right questions can be asked.

Photos By Ethnio
09
natebolt-04
Paying research participants for their time is another persistent challenge that Bolt has automated. Participants are sent Amazon gift cards after completing their session.

What’s Worse Than Romance Scams? Adoption Scams

This week in WIRED Book Club, we recap the final chapters of The Yahoo Boys.

Kate Knibbs

Beatbot’s New Pool Robot Cleans Itself (Mostly)

The AquaSense X brings self-cleaning technology to pool robots for the first time, but is it worth nearly twice the price of Beatbot’s flagship cleaner?

Christopher Null

Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page

The Skylight has become the informational and organizational hub of my household. My touchscreen-native kids have also gained more agency over our family activities.

Jaclyn Greenberg

The Samsung Micro RGB R95H Is a Good, Not Great TV

There’s a new fleet of TVs using new mini and micro RBG display tech, and Samsung’s R95H model isn’t as impressive as it should be.

John Brandon

AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years

Plus: The Pentagon is training amateurs to become part of its hacker army, a Flock license plate reader error led to cops surrounding a car reviewer, and more.

Dell Cameron

We Make Lovely Home-Cooked Meals for Ourselves. Why Not Do the Same for Our Dogs?

More dog owners have begun cooking for their canine companions in recent years. When my own dog fell ill, I became part of this growing group.

Alicia Kennedy

The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure

From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.

Chris Haslam

China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon

The probe sent back the first pictures of the asteroid Kamo’oalewa. Next step: landing on the surface and collecting samples to send back to Earth.

Ritsuko Kawai

El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries

As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.

Joseph Winters

Exclusive: How Jay-Z Pulled Off a Surprise-Filled Show During New York’s Wildest Summer

Summer 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut Reasonable Doubt. To honor it, he put on a massive concert at Yankee Stadium—complete with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and Alicia Keys.

Angela Watercutter