Abstract
This paper presents a new design process framework for interaction design of computer-embedded products (information appliances) and examines the feasibility of the framework in the design education and practice through case studies. The main feature is the application of a new prototyping environment that employs a widely available presentation tool, MS PowerPoint, for building fully functional engineering quality prototypes of computer embedded digital products without assistance from electronic engineers. The proposed interaction design process framework involves four phases. i) to analyze the user context, ii) to create conceptual models using State Transition Charts, iii) to develop hardware-software hybrid prototypes using the designer-friendly prototyping environment, vi) to conduct usability studies using the prototype. Scenarios, storyboards, concept generation tools, Sate Transition Charts, a hardware-software hybrid prototyping method, and an automatic usability data collection method are introduced as key practical techniques to be employed in each phase of the process framework. Case studies undertaken in the UK and Korean universities show that the framework was feasible for the design education and acceptable for the design students in both countries. The paper also presents how the framework and the prototyping environment can be extended for developing interaction design of multi-user products through the case study project of designing a set of portable information guides for group visitors of the natural history museum.
Citation
Nam, T. (2002) Designing information appliances: the evaluation of a design process framework based on a designer-friendly prototyping environment, in Durling, D. and Shackleton, J. (eds.), Common Ground - DRS International Conference 2002, 5-7 September, London, United Kingdom. https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/drs-conference-papers/drs2002/researchpapers/58
Designing information appliances: the evaluation of a design process framework based on a designer-friendly prototyping environment
This paper presents a new design process framework for interaction design of computer-embedded products (information appliances) and examines the feasibility of the framework in the design education and practice through case studies. The main feature is the application of a new prototyping environment that employs a widely available presentation tool, MS PowerPoint, for building fully functional engineering quality prototypes of computer embedded digital products without assistance from electronic engineers. The proposed interaction design process framework involves four phases. i) to analyze the user context, ii) to create conceptual models using State Transition Charts, iii) to develop hardware-software hybrid prototypes using the designer-friendly prototyping environment, vi) to conduct usability studies using the prototype. Scenarios, storyboards, concept generation tools, Sate Transition Charts, a hardware-software hybrid prototyping method, and an automatic usability data collection method are introduced as key practical techniques to be employed in each phase of the process framework. Case studies undertaken in the UK and Korean universities show that the framework was feasible for the design education and acceptable for the design students in both countries. The paper also presents how the framework and the prototyping environment can be extended for developing interaction design of multi-user products through the case study project of designing a set of portable information guides for group visitors of the natural history museum.