1. Introduction to Prototyping

2. Objectives for today
Learn about design methods, specifically LoFi (paper) prototyping

3. Interaction Design Prototypes
May consist of …
a series of screen sketches
a storyboard, i.e. a cartoon-like series of scenes
a Powerpoint slide show
a video simulating the use of a system
a lump of wood (e.g. a handheld device)
a cardboard mock-up
a piece of software with limited functionality written in the target language or in another language

4. Why prototype?
Evaluation and feedback are central to interaction design
Stakeholders can see, hold, interact with a prototype more easily than a document or a drawing
Team members can communicate effectively
You can test out ideas for yourself
It encourages reflection: very important aspect of design
Prototypes answer questions, and support designers in choosing between alternatives

5. What to prototype? Screen layouts and information display
Work flow, task design
Technical issues
Difficult, controversial, critical areas

6. Low-fidelity (LoFi) Prototypes
Quick and cheap to make, easy to change
Use a medium which is unlike the final medium, e.g. paper, cardboard
Examples
sketches of screens, task sequences, etc
‘Post-it’ notes
storyboards
‘Wizard-of-Oz’

12. Surprisingly…
In many circumstances, LoFi prototypes work better than HiFi prototypes
Why? The goal is to try out lots of ideas fast, early in development (when changes are cheap)
“To get a good idea, get lots of ideas”
HiFi prototypes take too long to develop

13. Surprisingly… Testers focus on superficial issues rather than content
Developers resist changes
HiFi prototypes can set unrealistic expectations
A single bug in a HiFi prototype can halt testing
Downside of LoFi prototypes: hard to envision course of an interaction
Storyboards help

14. Need a “toolkit” for making LoFi prototypes
Construction paper
Note cards
Post-it notes
Scissors
Glue, tape
Lots of paper copies of standard GUI elements: text fields, buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, labels, etc.

15. For More Information… http://www.snyderconsulting.net/us-paper.pdf

16. Let’s go to the Film
First 3 chapters of Nielsen DVD

17. Prototyping Exercise #1
By yourself
Sketch an interface for the following device
An automated teller machine
That also sells postage stamps
“Sells” rolls of coins
And converts Euros, Canadian Dollars, British Pounds, and Mexican Pesos into US Dollars

18. Next Steps Project Next class Paper prototype due in one week
More on prototyping and design