Adapting Paper Prototyping Techniques for Interactive Workspaces
Damon J. Cook, Jacob T. Biehl, Heather E. Metcalf, Brian P. Bailey · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) · 2005
A key technique for evaluating early design ideas is the use of low-fidelity prototypes. Low-fidelity prototypes allow for rapid iterations that significantly improve the interface design with minimal investment of time and resources. Though these techniques are designed for use in traditional desktop environments, their benefits may extend to pervasive computing. However, pervasive computing environments present new challenges because they are inherently more collaborative than the desktop and accommodate a variety of devices, output styles, and input mechanisms. Thus, to be effective, low-fidelity prototyping techniques must be adapted to deal with these new challenges. Our experiences provide insightful recommendations for overcoming the challenges in adapting low-fidelity prototype evaluations for use in pervasive computing environments. Applying these recommendations can lead to low-cost development of more useful and compelling applications for these environments.