Paper Prototypes
There and Back Again

Presented by John MaloneMinnebar 20105/22/10

What It Is

User Centered

Used for creating and testing interfaces

Throwaway

Usability Testing

The best, cheapest, fastest way to get to where you want to go

Old Technique

Pen and Pad Example

Post-It Note Example

AdvantagesFast

Easy to move elements

Colors can denote special groupings

Digital Paper Prototype?

AdvantagesShareable

Can reuse elements

Still looks lofi

Why You Should Care

The Studies

two approaches appeared to have the same sensitivity - Virzi, Sokolov and Karis (1996)

found no reliable difference in the number of usability issues found with the different prototypes (HiFi versus LoFi prototypes) - Uceta, Dixon, and Resnick (1998)

the biggest improvements in user experience come from gathering usability data as early as possible Nielsen (2003)

How To Do It

Draw a box

Fill it

Why Clients Love It

Easy to Understand

No intimidation

Ability to add input

Cheap

They feel engaged

ROI for all you Businessy types

ROI = [(Payback Investment)/Investment)]*100

= Payback

Investment =

Current OfficeMax Rate1 legal pad = 92 cents1 pen = 19 cents

Without Paper Prototyping:

With Paper Prototyping:

Reference

Post-It Note Images: http://wireframes.linowski.ca/wp-content/themes/darwin/images/full10.jpgDigital Paper Prototype: http://www.balsamiq.com/products/mockups/examplesBusiness Guys on Business Trips: http://businessguysonbusinesstrips.com/Balsamiq Software: http://www.balsamiq.comUsability.gov: http://www.usability.gov/articles/newsletter/pubs/062005news.html