Low Fidelity Prototyping

1. Low Fidelity Prototyping Lynne Hall

2. Gather Requirements Study Users and Environment Design Prototype Test Evaluate Low Fidelity Prototyping • Use in early part of LifeCycle Implement

3. Low Fidelity Prototyping • prototyping fast process • no reuse of code (often there is no code) • produces prototype early during requirements specifications phase • Types of Lo-Fi Prototyping • Scenarios • Paper Prototyping • Storyboards • Screen Shots

4. Scenarios • Ultimate minimalist prototype • Encapsulated description of • an individual user • using a set of specific computer facilities • to achieve a specific outcome • under specified circumstances • over a certain time interval

5. Storyboards • Collection of different scenarios illustrating how user can move through different screens • convenient way of organizing screens • useful way of showing navigation • Should be prepared as if for a presentation

6. Storyboard Tips • Keep it simple • Make sure screens show progression • Keep a steady pace when going through board • Be prepared to stop and answer questions • Take small steps • Let your pictures do the talking • Pictures used as basis for discussion

7. Paper Prototyping • limited function and interactions • demonstrate general look of interface • depicts • concepts • design alternatives • screen layouts • constructed quickly by team working together • easy to make changes • used to communicate, educate and inform

8. When to Use Paper Prototypes • Product in conceptual stage • puts usability testing before the development bottleneck • Want to rapidly improve the design • smaller batch sizes • No stable version exists • Several people can collaborate • including non-programmers

9. Paper Prototyping • Supplies List • unlined index cards • transparency and pens • removable tape • post-it glue • Paper Prototyping Toolbox With a little imagination you can simulate almost anything

10. Organizing Paper Prototyping • Disorganisation can be a bottleneck • Divide task so that it can occur in parallel • Have sufficient space to lay out the major pieces • Envelopes and plastic bags for small pieces • Manila folders for • different tasks • different sections of prototype

11. Screen Shots • Use when • existing spec with pictures of screens • access to printer and copy machine • its faster than other low fidelity techniques • Print in black and white • May need to enlarge • White out radio buttons and check boxes • Make multiple copies so that users can write on them

12. Summary • Successful low fidelity prototyping: • Be flexible and imaginative • Be organised • Encourage user involvement • Try different approaches • You can often learn what you need to know without using an electronic medium • Low Fidelity Prototyping provides cheap and rapid means of determining UI design