Final Project
You will design, prototype, and evaluate an interface. There will be no programming requirement, but you will have to create mockups. All parts are due at 11:59pm.
Part 0: It's dangerous to go alone! (Due 1/25 11:59pm 11:59pm)
Part 1: What is your quest? (Due 2/1 11:59pm)
Part 2: Spaaaaaace! (Due 2/15 11:59pm)
Part 3: So many choices, so little time. (Due 2/22 11:59pm)
Part 4: Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go. (Due 2/29 11:59pm)
Part 5: Question everything. (Due 4/3 11:59pm)
Part 6: Everyone's a critic. (Due 4/17 11:59pm)
Part 7: Are you talking to me? (Due 4/30 11:59pm)
Part 0: It's dangerous to go alone! (Due 1/25 11:59pm)
Form a group of 3-4 people. If you only have a group of 3, you may be assigned a 4th person. Have ONE person in the group turn in a list of members.
If you do not have a group, turn in a file that says so. You will be placed in a group that currently has only 3 members.
Part 1: What is your quest? (Due 2/1 11:59pm)
Now that you have a group, come up with an idea for your final project. The project must be
- Computer based, such as a website, mobile app, refrigerator with a touch screen, etc.
- Non-trivial. It should be complex enough that it would take 3-4 people a semester to complete.
- Not too broad. Focus on something that people need but that has not been done yet, or focus on really improving something that currently stinks.
Have ONE person in your group turn in a proposal of no more than 500 words that lists everyone in your group and describes your final project. You should ALL work together on coming up with the idea and writing the description.
Part 2: Spaaaaaace! (Due 2/15 11:59pm)
Describe the problem space for your project. Include discussion about the users you are designing for, the current user experience, the current technology being used, and some general improvements that could be made.
Describe the design space for your project by formulating a conceptual model. Make sure to include potential metaphors, concepts people will be exposed to through the product, and the relationships between these concepts. Also include how users currently perform the task, how your system will support that, and what kinds of interaction types your system will use.
Create a persona. Include a name, photograph, background story, personal details (hobbies, interests, habits, etc.), life goals, skills, daily tasks, and likes and dislikes.
Come up with at least 20 requirements. For each requirement, clearly state from which perspective you came up with it (functional, data, user, particular usability goal, etc.).
Write up a scenario and a use case using the persona you created. Also write an essential use case.
Extra Credit (Individual)
It’s alive! (2%): Create another persona. Come up with 3 requirements based on this persona.
Them’s the Rules (0.5%-2%): Come up with 5 more requirements. (Up to 20 total.)
Part 3: So many choices, so little time. (Due 2/22 11:59pm)
Devise at least 3 design alternatives. They can be based off of the conceptual model you did for Part 2, or on a different conceptual model. Describe each in words and/or figures. The description should be accurate enough that the grader gets a good feel for what you are going for. It must address the look and feel of the design, as well as the types of interactions and interfaces that are involved. Also include a list of the metaphors it includes.
Write a plus scenario and a minus scenario with the same user and task for each design.
Extra Credit (Individual)
It’s all good (1-2%): Create an additional plus scenario for one of your designs. You can do this EC up to 2 times.
It’s all not so good (1-2%): Create an additional minus scenario for one of your designs. You can do this EC up to 2 times.
Part 4: Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it's off to work we go. (Due 3/1 11:59pm)
Choose one of your three designs to implement. Write up a scenario (or use a plus scenario from Project Part 3) and use it to create a set of storyboards. You must have at least 4 panels. You must also draw these by hand and indicate what different symbols mean.
Next, create a use case for this prototype based on the same task as the one you used for your storyboards. Use index cards and/or other paper/cardboard products to create the screens you plan on having. You must have at least 4 screens. DO NOT THROW THESE AWAY! You will be using them for evaluation. Describe which steps in the use case correspond to which screens.
You must turn in:
- The scenario you used
- A scan of the storyboards
- The use case you used
- A scan of your screens
- A description of how these screens correspond to the use case
Extra Credit (Individual)
Bedtime Stories (1%-2%): Create a set of storyboards for one of your other designs, or for a different task. You can do this EC up to 2 times.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat (1%-2%): Create an additional (different) set of screens for the same use case. You can do this EC up to 2 times.
Part 5: Question everything. (Due 4/5 11:59pm)
Create an evaluation plan for your paper prototype using the DECIDE framework discussed in class. Keep in mind that you will actually perform this evaluation for the next part of the project, so your answers should reflect realistic expectations. Include:
- The high level goal(s) of your evaluation. You can (but are not required to) focus on goals that pertain to how well the prototype matches certain requirements from Project Part 2 or how well a certain aspect of the prototype works.
- The questions (and sub-questions) you want answered to attain these goals. Include at least 3 questions per goal.
- You will perform direct observation in a controlled setting by having people test out the prototype that you made. Describe how you will record the data and what data you will focus on.
- Identify 3 potential practical issues.
- Create a consent form with all of the necessary information. There is an example informed consent form in Chapter 13.
- Discuss the reliability, validity, ecological validity, biases, and scope of the collected data.
Extra Credit (Individual)
Time to re-evaluate (2%): Although you will be performing direct observation in a controlled setting, if you were given a choice, which evaluation method would you choose to use. Justify your answer.
Goal!!!! (2%): Select a different goal and list at least 3 questions (and sub-questions) you want answered to attain this goal.
Part 5.5: Question everything...in more detail. (Due 4/12 11:59pm)
Several groups missed the point of the previous assignment, so for this assignment I would like more details on how you plan to perform your evaluation. You WILL lose points on the next assignment if you do not adhere to what you say in this one. If you say you will video record the session, then I expect you to turn in video. Remember, you will be doing direct observation in the field using your paper prototype. For this assignment, you must describe:
- The exact procedure of your evaluation, including exactly which tasks users will have to perform.
- All of the questions you plan to ask (if you will also be performing an interview).
- All of the questions that you will include in your questionnaire(s) (if you will be creating one or more).
- All of the data gathering techniques you will use. If you plan on recording audio and/or video, state exactly what you will be using to do so. For example, if you plan on using your phone, tell me what type of phone you have.
- All of the data you plan to focus on using these techniques.
- How the data you plan to gather/focus on will help answer each of the questions you posed in the previous homework. You stated your goals and the questions that you want answered to reach those goals, so your evaluation should answer these questions. If you want to update your goals and questions (there must still be 3 per goal), please include the updated ones.
- An updated consent form based on the feedback I gave you for your submissions. It should also reflect any changes you made to your procedure as a result of doing this homework.
Part 6: Everyone's a critic. (Due 4/24 11:59pm)
You will perform the evaluation you described in Project Part 5.5. The execution of your evaluation must match what you said you would do. You must evaluate your interface through FIVE observational sessions. During each session, have someone (not from this class) interact with your paper prototype. We’ve talked before about the different roles that you can have when running this type of evaluation (observer, facilitator, computer). Every member of your group must take on at least one of these roles, and you must alternate roles for every evaluation session. For example, one member cannot always be the observer.
At the start of the session, give the user your consent form, go over it verbally with them, and have them sign and date a copy. Offer them a copy to take home if they would like. Next, have them interact with your paper prototype. As they do so, gather the data you described in Project Part 5.5.
You must turn in:
- The scanned copy of each signed consent form with the signature removed. This form should be the updated version that you created based on my feedback from the previous assignment. (You can just cover it during scanning.) I should still be able to see the date in their handwriting.
- All of the data that you collected, including any notes, pictures, video, questionnaires etc.
- Answers to the questions you asked in Project Part 5.5. These answers should be based on the data that you collect.
Extra Credit (Group)
The more the merrier (2%-6%): Evaluate your interface with additional users. (2% per user)
Part 7: Are you talking to me? (Due 4/30 11:59pm)
For the last day of class, you will do a 10 minute PowerPoint (or other presentation software) presentation. Your presentation must be close to 10 minutes. It cannot be significantly shorter or longer. All members of your group must be present and must talk for about the same amount of time during the presentation. You can’t just have one person go up and say everything.
During the presentation, you must mention the following:
- Your names and the product name
- What your product is, including a picture of your prototype
- How your product differs from similar products already available (if they exist)
- An overview of how you did your evaluation
- A discussion of interesting (can be positive or negative) results from your evaluation; in your presentation, include diagrams/quotes/etc. to support this discussion
- At least two improvements for your product based on the data from your evaluation
You will also write up a short team evaluation. These will be turned in individually. Include what percentage of the project you think everyone on your team did (including yourself), and an explanation of why you think they did that percentage of the work. If members of the team have not been contributing, then their final project grade will be affected.
You must turn in:
- As a group, you will turn in the presentation.
- Individually, each member of your group will turn in a team evaluation.
Extra Credit (Group or Individual)
Wall Poster (5% EC): Design an academic poster based on your project. It must be no larger than 1m by 1m, and has to be put together with some thought. You can find all kinds of guides online. You must turn in a PDF, bmp, jpg, or png file of the poster and indicate if you did it alone or with the rest of your group.