Prototyping: A Component for Successful Projects

Chris GriffithQualcomm, Inc.

User Experience Group

Available for iPhone

http://bit.ly/ctSHPY

Conference App Available

What is Prototyping

…incomplete versions of the software program being developed. A prototype typically implements only a small subset of the features of the eventual program, and the implementation may be completely different from that of the eventual product.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_prototyping)

Source: http://www.whattofix.com/blog/archives/2008/05/peace_for_pachy.php

Short Timeframes

Build only what you need

Don’t be afraid to throw it out

Types of Prototyping

•Low Fidelity

•Medium Fidelity

•High Fidelity

Low Fidelity

•Quick to develop

•Allows for explorations of ideas

•Can be more difficult to conduct user studies

•Zero coding!

Paper Prototyping

Source: http://usereccentric.com/entries/000333.html

Paper Prototyping

Tools

Resources

Medium Fidelity

•More “real” user experience

•Longer design time

•Longer development time

•Some level of programming

•“Golden Path” / Slideshow

Medium Fidelity

Tools

High Fidelity

•Closer to reality

•Greater design requirements

•More development time

•Can serve as a reference platform for other groups (Engineering, QA, Marketing)

High Fidelity

Tools

Demos

iPhone Tricks

<link rel=“apple-touch-icon” href=“myIcon.png”>

<link rel=“apple-touch-icon-precomposed” href=“myIcon.png”>

<meta name=“apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=“yes”>

<link rel=“apple-touch-startup-image” href=“mySplash.png”>

Source http://usability.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Research-Photo-LabTesting.jpg

Prototyping Pitfalls

Fidelity Trap

“Looks Done to me! Ship IT!”

Prototyping: A Practitioner's Guide

Keys to Successful Prototyping

•Short development time

•Throw-away code (mostly)

•Fake it (when you can)

Q&A

Contact me:

•cgriffith@qualcomm.com

•Twitter: @chrisgriffith

•Blog: http://chrisgriffith.wordpress.com/

Thanks!