Lo-Fidelity Prototyping

University of Washington HCDE 518 & INDE 545

Lo-Fidelity Prototyping

HCDE 518 & INDE 545Winter 2012

With credit to Jake Wobbrock, Dave Hendry, Andy Ko, Jennifer Turns, & Mark Zachry


Agenda

Announcements Lecture & Discussion – Prototyping Break – 5 mins Activity – LoFi prototyping Next class


Announcements

P2 due Wednesday No class next Monday (President’s Day)

R7 due Wednesday, Feb 22nd Questions?


LECTURE – LO-FI PROTOTYPING


Sketches vs. Prototypes

Sketches are about exploring ideas Prototypes are about testing ideas


Sketch vs. Prototype

Sketch PrototypeInvite AttendSuggest DescribeExplore RefineQuestion AnswerPropose TestProvoke ResolveTentative, non committal Specific Depiction

The primary differences are in the intent


Prototype vs. System Development

In engineering, prototyping is system development: building the first example of a system by hand

In user interface design, the effort on the functionality of the system is minimized for the prototype Focus on the "visible" parts of the system Still a range, in terms of fidelity and level of

activity, in relation to the final product


What does a prototype look like?

In designing interactive systems, it can be:• a series of screen designs (e.g., from photoshop)• a storyboard, i.e. a cartoon-like series of scenes • a PowerPoint slide show or HTML pages• a video simulating the use of a system• a lump of wood (e.g. to represent a cell phone)• a cardboard mock-up• a piece of software with limited functionality written in the

target language or in another language


Why should we prototype?• Evaluation and feedback are central to interaction

design• Users can see, hold, interact with a prototype more

easily than a document or a drawing• You can test out ideas for yourself • It encourages reflection: important aspect of design • Prototypes answer questions, and support designers in

choosing between alternatives


Who is the audience for prototypes?

End users Designers Organizations


What do prototypes prototype?

(Houde & Hill)


Low-Fidelity Prototyping (Lo-Fi)

• Very far from the final product, e.g. paper, cardboard, abstract

• Examples:sketches of screens, task sequences, etc.

‘Post-it’ notesStoryboardsScenarios


High-Fidelity Prototyping (Hi-Fi)

• Prototype looks more like the final system

than a low-fidelity version

• Common hi-fi prototyping tools:• Photoshop, Axure, Flash, PowerPoint


Hi-Fi vs. Lo-FiLo – Fi Hi – Fi

Advantages

Disadvantages


Hi-Fi vs. Lo-Fi – How'd we do?

Lo – Fi Hi – Fi

Advantages • Fast• Cheap• Easy – kindergarten skills!• Can simulate actual product

• Better sense of finished product• Can judge aesthetic appeal• More realistic experience• Can evaluate experience

Disadvantages • Slow response time• Can’t get feedback about aesthetics• User may question design quality

• Users may focus on unnecessary details• Takes a lot of time to make• Users may lose track of big picture


Horizontal vs. Vertical

How much to represent? “Deep” or “vertical” prototyping

provide a lot of detail for only a few functions

“Broad” or “horizontal” prototyping provide a wide range of functions, but

with little detail


Horizontal vs. Vertical

Vertical prototype(e.g., photoshopmock up)

Scenario

Horizontal prototype(e.g., paper prototype)

Full interface


Paper Prototyping

Easy and fast to do Helps you think of specifics Usually good as a first round

prototype Can still do usability testing,

even with paper Thoughts on Nielsen video?


Experience Prototypes w/ Paper

Spotlight: an interactive foam core and paper sketch/storyboard Credit: Sue-Tze Tan, Dept Industrial Design, University of Washington


Prototypes vs. Wireframes

Prototypes are usually intended to be shown to the end user rather than kept within the design team

Wireframes are usually more of a design document to go from design to actual system Usually contain annotations specific to the design team

and are not intended for end-user consumption Wireframes can be used as a lo-fidelity prototype to

save time Remove annotations, make it interactive


Example Wireframe

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/01/35-excellent-wireframing-resources/


Prototyping Recommendations

Make it clear what is intended for final product and what isn’t

Avoid evolutionary prototypes Temptation is too great to stick with bad ideas

Start with idealistic (rather than realistic) prototypes Level of polish should reflect maturity of the

prototype


BREAK – 5 MINUTES


Design Exercise: Lo-Fi Prototyping

A vending machine allows you to buy the following drinks: Coffee: drip coffee, mocha, latte, or cappuccino Tea: Breakfast, Earl Grey, Green Tea Other: Hot chocolate, hot cider

Sugar and/or milk may be added to any drink at no extra charge. Drinks come in 3 sizes (12oz, 16oz, and 20oz, for $2, $3, and $3.50 respectively). Payment is by cash or credit card. Change is provided for cash transactions.

In groups of 2-3, create a horizontal paper prototype. Use the techniques illustrated in the Nielsen paper prototype video


P3: Lo-Fi Prototyping

Due February 27th Design a paper or other lo-fi prototype for one

or more of your 3 design ideas from P2 Use techniques described in Nielsen paper

prototyping video Identify a list of tasks that could be performed

in a usability test (help with this next week) and conduct an evaluation with 2-3 potential users


Next Class Topics

Wednesday, February 15th

Lo-Fi Prototyping Discussant: John

Monday, February 20th No class (President’s Day)

Upcoming Work R7, P2


GROUP PROJECT TIME

Lo-Fidelity Prototyping

Documents

Transcript of Lo-Fidelity Prototyping