Just some snippets of definitions of "prototype": “…An easily changeable draft or simulation of at least part of the interface” (Hackos & Redish, 1998, p. 376)
"Prototypes" are representations of a design made before final artifacts exist. (Buchenau & Suri, 2000) “Tangible speculation” (Robert Graves) “…an approximation of the product along one or more dimensions of interest.” (Ulrich & Eppinger, 1995). “…externalizing and making concrete a design idea for the purpose of evaluation.” (Munoz, 1992) A prototype is a common artifact that represents the evolving system under development (Atwood, Burns, Girgensohn, Lee, Turner, Zimmermann, 1995) A way to explore questions at each phase of the development cycle Any representation of design ideas; this can include existing products that provide design advice; a model of a final product; a sketch, a simulation, .... In understanding interaction, we can use a sketch of the social/physical environment and indicate flow and concerns (the Rich picture, for example, is a prototype of the stakeholder environment). Some very simple sketches can convey much about interaction (I'm thinking Feynmann diagrams from physics and various flow models that we use in product design). Link analysis for example, is a human factors diagram that can show how often controls or equipment are used and how often the operators have conflicts or wasted motion. Chauncey On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 2:48 PM, Will Evans <[email protected]> wrote: > also - > does it really matter what websters or the OED defines as a prototype - what > matters is the proper conveyance of information within a community of > practice, that is, Interaction Designers. We no doubt need it when > discussing something, which no doubt will be something totally different for > architects, for whom testing behaviors is irrelevant, or car designers, who > will have their own use and definition of a prototype. Is it a mound of > clay? No - that is a model. Can you drive a prototype? Yes - then you are > testing interactions within a context of behaviors of user with system. > > ~ will > > "Where you innovate, how you innovate, > and what you innovate are design problems" > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Will Evans | User Experience Architect > tel: +1.617.281.1281 | [email protected] > http://blog.semanticfoundry.com > http://www.linkedin.com/in/semanticwill > aim: semanticwill > gtalk: semanticwill > twitter: semanticwill > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > On Mar 7, 2009, at 2:41 PM, Todd Zaki Warfel wrote: > >> I'd call that a bucket test. Now, if you'd put together some lower level >> pages that go beyond that top level nav to let people actually explore the >> pieces underneath and see how they interact with it, then I'd say w/o >> question you've got a prototype. >> >> On Mar 7, 2009, at 2:34 PM, Adrian Howard wrote: >> >>> Prototype? Not-prototype? Does/should anybody care? :-) >> >> >> Cheers! >> >> Todd Zaki Warfel >> Principal Design Researcher >> Messagefirst | Designing Information. Beautifully. >> ---------------------------------- >> Contact Info >> Voice: (215) 825-7423 >> Email: [email protected] >> AIM: [email protected] >> Blog: http://toddwarfel.com >> Twitter: zakiwarfel >> ---------------------------------- >> In theory, theory and practice are the same. >> In practice, they are not. >> >> >> >> >> ________________________________________________________________ >> Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! >> To post to this list ....... [email protected] >> Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe >> List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines >> List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [email protected] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
