1. INF385G: Topic Discussion Huang, S. C.
Paper Prototyping
INF385G: Topic Discussion
Huang, S. C.

2. Contents Introduction Methods, Tips, Things to know My experience
In-class Exercise
Conclusion

3. What is Paper Prototyping?
Paper: materials of paper-and-pencil alike.
Prototyping: The design and evaluation of the concept.
“Paper prototyping is a variation of usability testing where representative users perform real tasks by interacting with a paper version of the interface.

4. Examples:

5. Why Use Paper Prototyping?
Jakob Nielsen’s recommendation
Simple and Immense
Save Money
A method lives longer than you think

6. Words from Professionals
User Interface Engineering:
Still the “Simplest”
A Team-Building Tool
A Design and Testing Tool
A Communication Tool
Facilitates Regular Testing (valuable long-term benefit!)

7. Words from the Book Author:
Carolyn Snyder:
Fast mockup – no coding required
Finds problems, including serious ones
Refines design base on user feedback before implementation (Risk Management!)
Team and communication tool
Encourages creativity!

8. Benefits Summary
Quick to build/refine, thus enabling rapid design interactions.
Requires minimal resources and materials.
Detects usability problems at a very early stage before implementation.
Promotes communication between stakeholders.

9. How and What to do Signs of using paper prototyping Stages of planning
Run the test
Executive Overview

10. “Six Signs” Sign 1: There are many different ideas about the design.
Sign 2: You find yourself depending a particular design.
Sign 3: There are parts of the design you’re unsure about.

11. “Six Signs” Part II
Sign 4: You’re changing the way that the users perform a task.
Sign 5: The concepts or terminology are new to the users.
Sign 6: You’re feeling uncreative.

12. “Four Stages” Stage 1: Concept Design
– to explore different metaphors and design strategies.
Stage 2: Interaction Design
– to organize the structure of screen or pages.

13. “Four Stages” Part II Stage 3: Screen Design
– for initial design of each individual screen.
Stage 4: Screen Testing
– to refine the screen layout.

14. How to Test a Paper Prototype
Standard Usability Evaluation Procedure.
People you need: real users, the “computer”, the facilitator, the observer, and usability consultants.
Laboratory settings.

15. Executive Overview Kickoff meeting User recruitment Task design
Prototype creation and walkthroughs
Usability testing and iterative refinement
Prioritizing issues and action plan
Communication of results

16. My Experience
Paper Prototyping of Menu Design Theories on a Small Screen Device
Mockup design was fast and flexible.
Data of path-finding behavior was visible.
Excluded variables we didn’t want.
It’s fun!

17. In-class Exercise
Objectives: prototype a layout design of a cell phone’s home menu.
Menu items to be included: indicators of signal, ringing style, and battery life; date and time; up to 9 options that users perform frequently.
The menu design should be functional with your panel layout.

18. In-class Exercise Part II
Describe a user task to be perform on this paper version of your design.
Test it with the person next to you.
*Ideas and comments are welcome.*

19. Conclusion Findings that make paper prototyping valuable:
Usability issues
Missing (or mis-specified) functional requirements
Preference for one design alternatives
Priorities
Issues outside the user interfaces

20. Again, Benefits Summary
Quick to build/refine, thus enabling rapid design interactions.
Requires minimal resources and materials.
Detects usability problems at a very early stage before implementation.
Promotes communication between stakeholders.

21. Questions?
Thank you.

22. References Five Paper Prototyping Tips Matthew Klee, 03/01/2000
Paper Prototypes: Still Our Favorite
Tara Scanlon, 05/01/1998
Paper Prototyping: Getting User Data Before You Code
Jakob Nielsen, April 14, 2003:
Paper prototyping
Usability Net
Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces
Carolyn Snyder
Six Signs That You Should Use Paper Prototyping
Carolyn Snyder 12/23/2003
Using Paper Prototypes to Manage Risk