CMSC 434 - Spring 2006
Prof Guimbretiere

Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction


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Homework #3: Prototyping (100 points)
(Due 03/02/06)

1) (20 points) Prototyping techniques

For each of the prototyping techniques below briefly describe the technique, explain its typical use, and provide pro and con for the technique:

  • Low fidelity paper based prototyping,

  • Wizard of Oz prototyping,

  • Vertical prototyping,

  • Horizontal prototyping.

2) (50 points) Paper based low fidelity prototyping

(30 points) You are to build a paper based low fidelity prototype mock-up of the following scenario: A user goes to the http://www.travelocity.com web site and reserve a flight between two US cities. During the interaction, the user should be able to:

  • set the depart and return date and time (up to 3 months in the future),

  • select the number of adults in the trip,

  • select a specific airline,

  • select the inbound flight,

  • select the return flight,

  • enter the credit card information,

  • confirm his/her flight.

For this homework, you should not use screen snapshots, but instead sketch the different element of the interface (pages, buttons, pop-up windows, scroll lists...) on paper so that your interface can be used to simulate the interactions described above.

(10 points) Using the paper interface you just constructed and a copy machine (or a digital camera), provide a 12 frames storyboard showing the key steps of booking a flight on this site.

(10 points) From your study of this interaction, describe at least 2 ways to improve the current design. Explain all your answers.

3) (30 points) Wizard of Oz interface

After your analysis of the http://www.travelocity.com, Travelocity was impressed with your analysis and decided to hire you to design their a phone (voice) based interface to be used by Travelocity member to check the status of their flight. Describe how you will setup a Wizard of Oz experiment to demonstrate your interface to your client (explain/justify all your answers):

  • (5 points) How will you reproduced a realistic user experience (users will most probably be in an airport (or a cab) while using your system)?

  • (5 points) Describe the setting you will be using to simulate this realistic experience,

  • (5 points) Describe the hardware you will use to run the experiment,

  • (15 points) Provide a script for the Wizard of Oz as he or she is simulating the following interaction:

    • Enter membership information,

    • Select the desired flight,

    • Provide flight information: including current gates assignment, current departure time, current status. Each of this piece of information should be accessible independently.