1. Usability Seminar March 20, 2007 Paper Prototyping a case study at Cornell University Library Melissa Kuo DLIT

2. What is paper prototyping? "Paper prototyping is a variation of usability testing where representative users perform realistic tasks by interacting with a paper version of the interface that is manipulated by a person ‘playing computer,’ who doesn’t explain how the interface is intended to work." Source: Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces (Snyder, 2003)

3. Why use paper prototyping? Conceptual, high level, early stages of design Quick and easy to change All team members could participate Users feel more free to respond, interface seems more changeable Alternative to electronically-generated wireframes, Photoshop comps, HTML prototypes

4. Possible findings (modify this slide for easier flow of talking?) Usability issues  Example: bad labels, layout problems, navigation Missing functional requirements  Example: search features Preference for one design alternative  Example: drop-down list vs. checkboxes Priorities  Example: browse by category vs. browse A-Z list Issues outside the user interface  Example: using Gateway vs. never using it Source: Paper Prototyping (Snyder, 2003)

5. Example

8. Case Study: WebFeat Implementation Basic layout ideas New service Web development by WebFeat

9. The process 1.form usability sub-group 2.consult with A&U group 3.formulate key tasks and test questions 4.get materials and create prototypes 5.recruit and schedule subjects 6.run tests 7.discuss results, make changes, rinse and repeat

10. Key Tasks Find articles on a topic Find images Locate and search a specific database Locate a particular e-journal

11. Sample Questions Find some articles on the musician Dorsey Harvey. How would you find an image of an art nouveau painting? Find an article in the database Agricola. Find the journal Psychology and Law. Others…  Find the book Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.  Once you got a list of results, how would you email them to yourself?

12. How to cut paper and glue stuff Low fidelity vs. high fidelity prototypes Don’t have to draw straight lines Materials include:  Drawing pad, markers, scissors, removable tape, restickable glue, white-out, index cards, paper

13. The test Olin 111B Facilitator, “Computer”, Note-taker Meet students at reference desk Introductions, review consent form  “testing the system, not you” … “no wrong answers” Run through questions  room for flexibility, limited prompting of subjects Subject questions? Sign receipt, see ya

14. Video

15. Reviewing data, making revisions (flesh this out, what to say) Transcribe notes, post to wiki Sub-group and group meeting Changes between rounds

16. Observations (flesh out) Interesting responses from subjects What comments are worth making changes? It was fun!

17. Resources Paper Prototyping: a how to video (Nielsen-Normal Group, 2003) Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces (C. Snyder, 2003) Use It – useit.com A List Apart – alistapart.com

18. Questions? Melissa Kuo Web Designer Digital Library and Information Technologies (DLIT) mhk33@cornell.edu