Thesis
The design and evaluation of a computer-based tool to support the construction and wizard-of-oz testing of low fidelity prototypes
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102770
Abstract
In software development, the creation and testing of low-fidelity user interface (UI) prototypes is a common practice. Our informal analysis of current technologies used for low-fidelity prototype development indicates that they do not optimally support the two key, complementary tasks of (a) prototype creation and (b) wizard-of-oz testing. To address this problem, we have developed WOZ PRO (Wizard Of OZ Prototyper), a penbased software environment for the quick and easy creation and testing of low-fidelity UI prototypes. WOZ PRO supports the creation and presentation of low-fidelity UI prototypes that take the form of a network of sketch-based UI screens that can be stored, modified, displayed, and manipulated on a tablet PC. An experimental comparison of WOZ PRO and a conventional art supplies (pen and paper) prototyping environment is the central work of this thesis. The results of this experiment shows that while WOZ PRO provides an excellent sketching medium for generation of website low-fidelity prototype UI screens, more thought and work is needed to develop a scalable UI screen navigation model. The state transition network paradigm, upon which the UI screen navigation model is based, was found to be cumbersome and difficult for study participants to effectively use in their organization and mapping of valid UI screen transitions. Observation of prototypes developed by study participants using art supplies provides us with insight on how the WOZ PRO UI screen navigation model could be improved through modeling and implementing the organizing and “piling” of UI screens into discreet task sequences. Our work also shows that there is significant potential for improving and expanding the usefulness of WOZ PRO. Generalizing WOZ PRO to facilitate prototyping of other types UI interfaces beyond that of websites is a recommended improvement. In addition, establishment of a “dual interface” scheme based on two networked tablet PCs running WOZ PRO may provide a richer and more realistic wizard-of-oz testing environment.
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Details
- Title
- The design and evaluation of a computer-based tool to support the construction and wizard-of-oz testing of low fidelity prototypes
- Creators
- Stephen James Trent
- Contributors
- Christopher Hundhausen (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, School of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525151801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis