Edit in JSFiddle

var src = {
    name: ko.observable("Shawn"),
    email: ko.observable("shawn@wildermuth.com")
};

var $container = $("#container")[0];
ko.applyBindings(src, $container);

$("#test").on("click", function (e) { alert(src.name()); });

<div id="container">
<div>
  <label>Name</label>
  <input data-bind="value: name" />
</div>
<div>
  <label>Email</label>
  <input data-bind="value: email" />
</div>
    <div data-bind="text: name"></div>
<div>
    <button id="test">Test</button>
</div>
</div>