Content Testing

We can set your mind at ease.

If you've ever laughed at nonsensical text, cringed at poor spelling or cursed a missing graphic then you'll know that even the simplest of errors in content can damage your reputation and brand. Epicentre's human touch to content testing eliminates content errors that automated tools can’t reach. Our qualified proofreaders not only test your content for typos and embarrassing grammar, they can also sense-check your text.

Functionality Testing

Before being released to your customers, your product needs to be rigorously tested for functionality errors in areas such as:

installation/uninstallation
navigation/user interface/hyperlinks/hotspots
audio/video/animation operation
missing content
scoring/user tracking
print/save functionality
third-party functionality (e.g. Flash/Word/Acrobat documents).

Functionality testing can also include testing against a design document or interactive script, and normally takes place on one key platform of the required environment. Additionally, we can complement a rigorous functionality test with 'exploratory' or 'destructive' testing that aims to 'break' your program in unforeseen ways, giving you the confidence that your product will withstand even unexpected user actions.

Compatibility Testing

In order to ensure consistent performance for your customer base, Epicentre can carry out compatibility testing to ensure your software is compatible with a variety of:

operating systems
web browsers
network platforms
software packages
Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)
Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
Content Management Systems (CMSs)
other software (e.g. Office suites/PDF Readers).

We test your software on an agreed range of machines that match or exceed your minimum specification, incorporating a wide range of operating systems, processors, graphics/sound cards and memory. The range of hardware available at our compatibility testing lab is constantly expanding, with PCs covering a wide range of configurable kits from the latest hardware, back to early Pentiums and AMD chipsets, and Apple Mac platforms ranging from the newest models back to PowerMacs and iMac G3s.

Our test lab infrastructure is optimised so that all platforms are at the test team's fingertips. Servers contain 'ghost images' of all pre-installed operating systems, so we can have any OS up and running within minutes. All of this makes Epicentre your ideal choice for outsourcing compatibility testing.

Accessibility Testing

If your product is not fully accessible to all users you risk losing business, which is why you should invest in accessibility testing. More than 8.5 million people in the UK have a disability – that’s nearly 15% of the population, and as people age this number is likely to increase.

Another reason you should consider accessibility testing is because it is unlawful to provide a service that is not accessible to everybody. Organisations that fail to make reasonable adjustments will be named, shamed and possibly subject to legal repercussions.

Examples of accessibility testing include the use of:

screen readers and assistive technology tools (e.g. JAWS/Supernova)
voice-recognition software (e.g. Dragon)
accessibility and browser validation tests (e.g. Bobby/LIFT)
syntax validation tests (e.g. W3C HTML validation)
style sheet validation tests (e.g. W3C CSS validation)
Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) conformity testing.

Epicentre has the expertise and equipment to provide extensive accessibility conversion and testing. Our dedicated Accessibility Lab has been testing for accessibility compliance since the late 1990s, longer than any other accessibility testing service in the market.

Make sure your software is accessible to all by contacting us today for a consultation.

Free Epicentre Insight:
Epicentre’s Insights are short, sharp bursts of thinking from Epicentre’s consulting team. They’re informative and a great read!

Accessibility in e-learning - a minority issue?
This Insight explores the issue of accessibility and how it impacts everyone who accesses the internet. It examines current legislation and guidelines for usability in the area of e-learning. These include the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) standard and the Royal National Institute for the Blind’s (RNIB) Campaign for Good Web Design. It also shows how everyone can gain from increased accessibility and usability, not just those with visual, hearing and other impairments.

View the Epicentre insight on Accessibility in e-learning - a minority issue? (PDF download)

For further reading on accessibility, you may wish to download the following PDF:

'Why test for accessibility?' data sheet (PDF download)

To read these documents you will need Adobe Reader:

Interoperability Testing

If your product is going to launch and run from a Learning Management System (LMS), your product must be fully interoperable. With the large variety of LMSs available, and a minefield of industry standards to adhere to, you need to be certain that your product's interoperability features work as designed. Essential features to test for interoperability include:

bookmarking
assessment scores
progress indicators
user preferences (text sizes, colours, etc.)
SCORM compliance.

Having been involved with interoperability since its inception, Epicentre's Interoperability Lab provides an unparalleled service. We have access to numerous LMSs and can test against them all. Our Lab includes a qualified team of experienced technical testers, well-versed in all interoperability features and standards.

For further reading on interoperability testing, you may wish to download the following PDF:

'Why test for interoperability?' data sheet (PDF download)

To read this document you will need Adobe Reader:

Educational ICT Testing

Epicentre has successful long-term relationships with a range of educational ICT vendors, schools and community learning centres, which enables us to provide the best and most up to date testing service to our clients in the education sector.

The vast variety of ICT equipment available in schools can create confusing and challenging compatibility issues, and if they aren’t dealt with you may find your product left on the shelf.

Aside from content testing, functionality testing and compatibility testing, your ICT product may require:

network testing
bandwidth/page-weight testing
whiteboard testing.

Epicentre has the hardware and qualified testers necessary to incorporate ICT testing, including RM CC4 networks as well as standard Windows/Mac/Linux LAN networks. Our ICT test equipment also includes a range of interactive whiteboards.

For further reading on all kinds of manual testing, you may wish to download the following PDF:

Manual Testing data sheet (PDF download)

To read this document you will need Adobe Reader: