Testing ATM

As we are very aware that how the software works is very tough to understand for a user/software tester since everything turns out to be a black box. And how do we fully understand any systems completely by just using them. In search of answer, rightly I came across thinking about information visualization and its help in software programs.  After experimenting visualization and creating a mental picture it is found that it helps greatly to understand any system being in place. Edward Tufte who is called as the Galileo of information and data presentation has helped in many ways on how to visualize information. Books like Visual Display of Quantitative Information to Beutiful Evidence are good reads.

                Now, I found if information not well presented can create a visual noise. Manier times presenting test ideas not in a visual span creates such noise and discomfort. Now in this post, I'm presenting test ideas for ATM, one of the most asked testing questions. Ideas are presented using Mindmap a humble yet powerful mental visualization tool.



James Whittaker’s talk at GTAC 2008 Keynote Address: The Future of Testing - YouTube sheds light on visualization as well. Enjoy watching. Special thanks to Manju on helping with paired testing.Requesting you to add your thoughts and ideas in comments. Thanks!

Testing Elevator

The invention of Elevator is credited to Elisha Otis. What a thought on 1852. Never knew they had a necessity in centuries back. Rest is history, the well known OTIS Elevators Company started by the inventor remains to this day. Today elevators are ubiquitous. Currently this age with obesity common among people, I know climbing stairs is one of the best excersie to burn calories after a meal, but how can we ignore not using such an invention. Please prepare a 10 min test report of yours before reading further. And I’m sure you’ll enjoy the test.

 1.      Tests to verify interesting functions:

1.1 Verify Open / Close functionality works fine with motion sensor in place. Make sure the motion sensor is present in door from the bottom to the top of the door. This helps when a short kid steps in on close of the door; it keeps the door away from closing.  Remember to test with a non living thing.

1.2 Control program in the elevators should consider i) where people want to go ii) where each floor is and iii) where the elevator car is

Considering the above for two elevators E1&E2, if suppose E1 is in ground floor, the E2 in fifteenth floor and you are in fifth floor waiting to go to floor 2, then E2 in ground floor should get a trigger and reach you first. Please see the matrix below. 

1.3    Not Transparent:

1.3.1          The above matrix gets tougher to figure out when there are more than 2 Elevators. Prediction are quite ambiguous since control program takes more conditions based on various states.  Haven’t achieved intelligibility in this.

1.3.2          If not being used check which floor does it hang about? Will it remain in the last stopped floor? Will the doors be opened? I observed that they remain in the last stopped floor and the doors were opened. Few companies prefer it on the ground floor.

2. Tests to verify emergency functions:

2.1  Emergency light in the elevator in case of power failure

2.2   Buzzer to raise an alarm to the security

2.3   Phone being functional

2.4   Exhauster fan to avoid suffocation

2.5   Stop button taking you to the immediate level and bring to an end

2.6  Not Transparent:

How they freeze the operation when there is a fire mishap is still a question? I believe there is greater controller which controls when to start operation and stop operation. Not much clarity on this since I couldn’t figure out where this is in my office. Please add your comments if you have any thoughts on this.

3.  Tests to verify load:

3.1   The elevator should halt before taking off if the weight limit is surpassed

3.2   A buzzer should ring to raise the alarm that weight limit has been breached

3.3   Not Transparent :

I came across interesting news when I was reading about elevators. Have you noticed almost in all the lifts there will be a warning information that the capacity of persons (for example 15 Persons). Why is that? Any guess? Is it because of space issue? No.           
Did manufacturer guess the average weight of the person based on that the cumulative weight and person’s capacity? Well, no. Because the moment it crosses the weight limit, the elevator won’t move. So you need not do any mental calculation by counting men, that’s erroneous. Do they test with some load inside or is there a simulation for these control programs? Not sure.

4. Out of box ideas (improvement we can look for)

 4.1 Mobile reach-ability inside elevator. Mobile phones hardly work when you are inside the elevator due to poor network coverage. Should this be considered?

 4.2 Braille on buttons can be included to help the blind

  
True, we have missed the obvious ones like verifying display of floor number on LED lights and so on. Since they are obvious and no one will miss them, we have ignored them. Share your thoughts or test report in the comments section. I’m sure your thought will be helpful to many to think better.

Happy testing!!!

5. Resources

How Elevator Works is an excellent article to read.

Etymology: Elevator   late 15c., from Latin elevatus, pp. of elevare "lift up, raise," figuratively, "to lighten, alleviate," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + levare "lighten, raise," from levis "light" in weight (see lever). Related: Elevated; elevating.

Words with same root: lever, levitate. They all mean “to raise”

Testing Pencil

Having come across this question in interviews, I would like to share my test thoughts and thoughts across the world ie. curated from the web for humble Pencil. Before reading further, consider this as an exercise and see how will you test a pencil. Think for 10 mins and move to read further.

Pencil is to write and it is known as everyones tool. Considering this as objective, please see the tests below.

Functional:

Write on paper (different types of paper, paper colour and thickness), notebook labels (I remember barely any pencil or ball pen can write on labels), cloth (tailors), wood (carpenter), and wall (remembering peope write important telephone nos on wall in early days).  It is indeed debatable for saying a mere pencil to achieve all this but we can say it has achieved combatibility by struggle.

No difficulty to erase whats written on paper.

Easy to sharpen using sharpner, razor blades in need.

Graphite grading scales can tested- softest BB, BBB, medium F, hardest - HH, HHH

Check if the graphite is complete till the end – one use said break the pencil at the end and see if it complete. What if you are not allowed to break the pencil to test? Another user named Sameer came up with an excellent thought saying “ have electricity pass through the pencil lead , if  the bulb at the other end glows , your pencil is ready to launch !!!” This also tests that the lead is not broken inside.

Non Functional:

How many words etc can I write with the pencil? Once an interviewer has asked if the pencil company says this pencil can write 10000 meters. Will you test it?

Yes we can defintely test by taking samples by breaking down the pencil and then writing.

What if we write so fast / slow / push hard?  Is it fragile / easy to break?

Usability:

Who is going to use? Children or grown-ups.

 Write for few mins continously and see if you are comfortable to use. I remember few pencils aren’t comfortable especially the box type pencils.

Ease to use, grip, handle can be questioned. Check on the weight and length of the pencil, this can lead to advising type of pencils for children and grown-ups.

Safety:

Check if the pencil is toxic, kids always take the pencil to mouth either while thinking or dreaming in classrooms. It is found that lead poisoning from pencil in early 20th century have taken place. It later moved to paint for outer coating. Put the pencil for laboratory test to check on the materials which are unsafe and harmful.

There  will be many more interesting tests you can have and I could have missed. If so please add them in the comment section. You are most welcome! This can help us understand how powerful test ideas can be.  

Being a avid quizzer and novice etymologist; presenting few interesting facts below.

Hymen Lipman  is credited with registering the first patent for a pencil with an attached eraser.

Etymology:

pencil (n.)

early 14c., "an artist's fine brush of camel hair," from Old French pincel "artist's paintbrush" (13c., Modern French pinceau), from Latin penicillus "painter's brush, hair-pencil," literally "little tail," diminutive of peniculus "brush," itself a diminutive of penis "tail". Small brushes formerly were used for writing before modern lead or chalk pencils; meaning "graphite writing implement" apparently evolved late 16c.

P.S  I should thank Pradeep for showing blogging on testing is exciting.