Paper prototypes

We have talked about paper prototypes in class. These should be a higher level of fidelity than your design sketches, but can still be "sketchy". They should still be produced with paper and pen.

Your goal with these is to be able to evaluate how well your design supports benchmark tasks essential to your app, so these need to approach the design will be on your app. So, try to mimic the controls and widget actually available in the mobile devices. As discussed in class, your goal is to keep the user in the flow, so we want the prototypes to be interactive. Here are some ideas:

• Transparencies / clear plastic are great for coving part of the interface. For example, you can make dialog boxes and alerts one the transparency. This is also great for doing things like highlighting.
• You can accordion pieces of paper to create things like popup menus.
• Don't forget things like keyboards for text entry -- they cover part of the interface when users type.
• Be prepared. Create dialog boxes for things like 'Loading' and errors to cover up the time it takes the "computer" to find the next screen or missing functionality.
• Bring some extra pieces of paper to allow you to fill in text boxes.
• You can work at phone size, or you can go larger to accommodate the fact that most of us don't have handwriting the right size for a phone interface -- just scale appropriately.

I also found these two videos for you to check out (though I want your to stick to drawing and exploring color is not really part of this brief unless it is critical to the app).

• Google Designers on Rapid Prototyping
• Example Paper prototyping session

Benchmark Tasks

I would like you to come up with a minimum of three benchmark tasks. These should be tasks that are fundamental to the working of the app. Make sure at least one of them is complex. These should be written out clearly on a sheet of paper.

Example

1. Add a new post, including a short reflection and an image taken from the photo roll.
2. Find the post made last August while visiting the Champlain Islands.
3. Find the post about the visit to Fort Ticonderoga last week, add a photo messaged to you from the friend who met you there, and write a short note sharing the story he told you about his trip back.

Analysis

After our evaluation sessions, I would like a report on what you observed. This report should describe the successes or failures of your users attempting the benchmark tasks (especially the failures). What did users trip over? Was this a problem with the design or with the fidelity of the prototype? What are you going to do in your design to address any issues you found?

Deliverable

I would like a single PDF document turned in on Canvas. This should include pictures of your paper prototype, your benchmark tasks, and your analysis. Make sure everyone's names and email addresses are at the top.

You must have your prototype and tasks ready to go 2019-11-01 in time for class. The document will then be due 2019-11-04 by 10:10am.

Grading

Points	Requirement
8	Paper prototypes
5	Tasks
5	Analysis
1	Followed directions