Low-Fidelity Prototype
After identifying a problem and beginning the brainstorming process with regards to solutions to the problem, our group decided to create an application that teaches users how to utilize and/or navigate a series of platforms. Prior to creating the lo-fi prototype, a series of contextual interviews were completed in order to understand the current issue and observe a user’s interaction with the platforms. After completing the contextual interviews, it was apparent that the main issue surrounding newer remote communication platforms was a lack of guidance with regards to learning how to navigate certain features within the platforms. Interviewers who had no experience learning these platforms and were left with an unaddressed information need as contact with outside individuals was limited due to covid. Thus, our application served as a tutorial and quiz-based learning application. Common functions that users struggled with included turning the camera on and off, connecting to audio, setting up meetings, utilizing the chat. Additionally, from this interview, it was evident that users would prefer an application that is simpler and has both visual and textual components. In terms of accessibility, we did want to ensure that all images included alt text, all videos utilized had captions available and all text was clear and visible in terms of font size, color, and style. Based on these suggestions our group collaboratively developed a lo-fi prototype. The low-fidelity prototype allowed us to visualize our design in a quick and low-tech way.
First Iteration
Ideally, we would have created this prototype as a paper-based prototype in person. This stated, since we are working remotely, we decided to utilize the whiteboard feature on Zoom to sketch out our prototype. Zoom allowed us to collectively work on our low fidelity prototype at the same time whilst also maintaining that low-tech sketch-like approach to this form of prototyping.
In this first prototype, depicted in the video above, there were six pages described. The first page allows a user to select between three platforms namely Zoom, WebEx, and Facebook. The next page allowed the user to select a function they wanted how to use to learn with the platform. After selecting the function users are sent to the next page where a tutorial is pictured. According to this prototype, on the third-page users are met with an image that shows what a feature looks like, or what icon it is represented by, on the platform. Below the image is a text description on how to utilize the feature and what its function is. After reading the description users will use the arrow on the page to navigate to the quiz page where a series of questions are given with an array of possible answers. After completing the quiz, a user will click submit quiz to navigate to an answers page where the answers are shown. Finally, after reviewing the quiz users are met with a congratulatory screen where a message detailing what they have learned is described.
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Final Lo-fi Prototype
Alt text: low- fidelity prototype consisting of six screens
After sharing our initial low-fi prototype with an outside group, namely group 7A from our INST 362 course, a few changes were made based on their suggestion. The most prominent feedback received was in improving the accessibility of the application for older adults, to address this in our final low-fidelity prototype we increased the size of the text and buttons. Additionally, the idea of laying out the format of the quiz questions and answers was brought up thus we made this clearer in our final lo-fi prototype by providing a framework of how the questions would be laid out by adding sample questions without the text in the document. It was also recommended to include videos to offset the text so that users have a choice between the two. In response we replaced the visual still image component of our app for some platforms, instead opting for a video with captions. Furthermore, having a way to see how much a user learned after taking the quiz was brought up thus we included a score element on the answers page. Lastly, there was a comment on performing a bit of general cleaning on the low-fi prototype to make it more visually appealing. This comment made us switch over to notability where one group member was able to sketch out the low-fi prototype with the rest of the group watching and giving input via a shared screen on zoom. Notability allowed us a bit more control over the placement of certain elements. Additionally, within Notability there were more colors available and a grid feature that assisted with the alignment and sizing of objects.