Creation Process

Our hi-fi prototype was created using Framer. Our team used Framer because it provided the usability, collaboration, and user design aspects that helped convey our hi-fi prototype in a clickable and interactive way. Using Framer and our iterative lo-fi prototype designs, we designed an app layout with interface and media components such as buttons, tutorials, and quizzes to accompany the platforms and features. This creation process entailed our initial hi-fi prototype design (shown below) which essentially asks the user to select a language, choose a platform (zoom, discord, etc), then choose a functionality on zoom, then watch or read the prompt on how to perform a function, quiz the user on the learned concepts, showcase the quiz results, and allow the user to return to the home screen. This prototype was used in our testing process to collect user feedback. Our final design from where we incorporated the user feedback is shown on the Final Prototype page.

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Hi-fi prototype design:

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Alt text: high-fidelity prototype consisting of seven screens

 

Testing Process

To test our hi-fi prototype, we conducted user interviews. Prior to the interviews, we chose specific users for the testing process. When choosing our users or interviewees for the prototype's testing process, we tried to incorporate a diverse sample of users that would help us to make the best and most inclusive app. Our users ranged from the ages of 11 years old (to represent our younger demographic) to those who are 65+ or retired (to represent our older demographic). After users were chosen, the users would be notified of how the team will be observing and taking notes about their actions and thoughts during the testing process and a consent form would be signed by users which essentially described who we are, what is the study and the app, the goal of the study, the date, if there is an incentive, what information is gathered and how this information is gathered, as well as whom the information is shared with.

 

Once forms were signed, we proceeded with the interview. During our interviews, we explained the purpose of the prototype and the reasoning behind it. In our case, our purpose was to develop an app with which users who are not familiar with newer communication platforms are able to learn the platform. Our reasoning behind this is that the target audience for many new platforms today is more teen to middle-aged groups. As a result, groups such as older adults and younger children are unable to adapt to these platforms due to a learning curve associated with the apps and fewer resources available to learn how to use them that are universal and accessible. These platforms are especially important now while we are in quarantine because virtual communication is the main source of communication. 

Once we explained the prototype's purpose to our users, the testing session unfolded with the interviewers (our team) asking each user to complete a series of tasks (listed below) on our app. While completing the tasks the interviewee should learn a certain skill of a platform. This data collection was vital as it helps the team collect user feedback and gain insight into how users interact with and utilize the prototype during the session. Note: user recordings were not required as user observations and phrases, as noted on the consent form, were collected and documented.

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Here are the series of tasks we asked users to do:

• From the home screen, change the application language to any language you prefer then return to the home screen.

• On the “Choose A Platform” screen, pick Zoom as the application you would like to learn more about. 

• On the next screen, pick the create/schedule a meeting option to learn more about how to use that functionality in Zoom

• On the next screen, watch the video or read the description of the video

• Navigate to the quiz on the next page

• Choose your answers for each quiz question to the best of your ability and submit answers when you are finished

• Once completed, view the results and repeat the quiz if necessary. 

• Go to the next page

• Return to the home screen

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The Importance of Testing A Prototype With Users

Testing a prototype with users is essential because it allows our team to collect user feedback, especially the likes, criticisms, questions, and ideas that users may have about the product. This is an important aspect because it allows the developers to capture the feelings and interactions users have with the prototype while gaining an understanding of the user's perspective. User testing also provides possibilities for newer ideas that our team could explore in future prototype iterations. This is a significant aspect because users are encouraged to provide what they enjoyed about the prototype, what could be changed or improved to address certain concerns, and other novel suggestions, all of which can be essential to improving the prototype's potential shortcomings. Additionally, testing with users helps us to share key stories from our user observations from which we can take and examine notes and find common themes and insights about our users. This helps with translating such stories into actionable follow-ups for our prototype. Ultimately, this user testing helps us to use the new information from our users to build newer, improved prototypes. This helps us to proactively integrate what we learned from our users into our processes and develop novel iterations moving forward as a way to arrive at an optimal solution that speaks to our user needs. Our detailed user feedback to redesign and refine our hi-fi prototype can be found on the User Feedback page.