Assignment #3 - Iterative Design Project - User Interface Engineering

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Assignment Detail
For this assignment, you’ll need to choose something to design. You’ll want to choose
something that you have an interest in the result.
Your project needs to have an interactive component that is easy to prototype.
Ideally, this will be some sort of software, hardware, or web site. Services are a
possibility if they are easy to model and modify.
You can use the product or service from your group project or you can do something
completely differently. In past years, students have done:
• Problem tracking systems
• Engineering reporting systems
• A company phone book
• A sewing machine interface
• An interface for a plastic
extrusion device
• Packaging for sterile catheters
• Instructions for drill press
operation
• A web site for Korean students
attending school in the US
• A web site for First Night
activities
• An interactive map of Tufts
• An interface for a blood-gas
monitor
You don’t need to implement the entire thing. You just need some facet that you can
have users work with for 15 to 20 minutes in a usability test. For example, you
wouldn’t implement the entire problem tracking system, but you could evaluate the
data entry screen or reporting subsystem. Your prototype has to be something
people can use. Your users will need to complete multiple tasks.
You’ll create the first implementation using a simple prototyping method. You can
use the paper prototyping technique we’ll do in our classroom exercise. Or you can
create the prototype using any other materials or electronically. Just make sure you
choose a technique where you can easily change the prototype for the second
iteration.
In addition to creating the prototype, you’ll need to create tasks for the users to
perform. You should have enough work that would keep someone busy for 15 to 20
minutes. (It’s always a good idea to have a couple extra “backup” tasks, in case your
users are super efficient and get things done quickly.)
You’ll need to recruit a minimum of 4 people to use your prototype. Two will use the
first iteration and two will use the second. (The more users the better, so if you can
recruit more than four, I highly recommend it.) The users should be representative of
people who will actually use the finished design.
You’ll conduct a minimum of 2 rounds of testing. The first round, using the first 2
users, will uncover any problems with your design. You’ll then make changes to the
prototype and conduct the second round, with 2 new users.
EM 220.3 Experience Design Management Assignment #3