Assignment Specification CII 2345 Module Title Designing Information Systems for People Code CII2345 Assignment Title Design and evaluation of a commercial mobile app Module Tutor John Bonner Assignment Aims The first aim is to achieve all the learning outcomes listed in the module specification. The way that this will be achieved is through three main objectives. 1) Produce a report demonstrating that you can obtain appropriate user requirements, accurately interpret them into design specifications and then evaluate their effectiveness in terms of UX principles 2) Produce a paper prototype design concept for an interactive product 3) Produce a series of personal evaluation statements to illustrate the depth and breadth of your understanding and learning of the subject Learning outcomes to be assessed 1 Knowledge and Understanding Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to: 1.1 Demonstrate a sound understanding of the key issues and concepts relating to the design and evaluation of interactive technologies 1.2 Understand how human capabilities and limitations influence the user experience and screen design of interactive technologies. 1.3 Demonstrate an understanding of rigorous approaches to the design and evaluation of interactive technologies; for example the basic principles of designing usable interfaces. 2 Abilities Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to: 2.1 Follow a rigorous approach to the design of information systems for people by applying a suitable user-centred design (UCD) approach to the analysis, design, prototyping and evaluation of a user interface. 2.2 Design and evaluate a prototype interactive technology and make recommendations for improved user experience. 2.3 Use appropriate tools for prototyping interactive technologies 2.4 Critically review personal learning with respect to the discipline of HCI. Problem statement In this assignment, you have been asked to produce an app called 'Goaling', The aim of the app is to assist the user to organise 5 common life activities: Going on holiday (Holidaying); organising social events such as a party or family event (Gathering); learning about a new subject (Studying); managing money (Saving and spending); preparing a meal or going to a restaurant or ordering a take-away (Eating). There are 5 goals in this app and only 5. Your app should be able to help each user by offering checklists, reminders and suggestions depending on the type, size and complexity of each goal. For example, if going on holiday, the app should provide a list of things to pack depending on the type of holiday and length of stay. It should also be possible for the app to learn things about the user and use this information to tailor and personalise all the goals. As you will be only developing this app to paper prototyping level, you have an opportunity to build all interactive elements of the product in highly creative and innovative ways. The assignment has been designed so that you can use other students on this module to help you build a 'user-centred' design solution. Assignment 1 High-level UX design proposal Contextual and user requirements gathering The first stage will require you to gather as much information as you can about similar products and how yours will offer unique functionality. You will then need to gather information about different user groups and how they might use your product. You will have an opportunity to carry out your own data gathering methods in workshop sessions. Extra credit will be given to students who also carry out further data gathering activities outside of these sessions. UX Specifications Once you have collected sufficient contextual and user-centred data you will need to define and specify your intended product. You will need to do this through the development of 'personas' and a user requirements table. Again additional credit will be given to detailed and heavily annotated personas and user requirement statements which demonstrate creative solutions and problem solving skills. Next you then need to begin designing your app using a site map and wire frame diagrams. Assignment 2 Prototype and evaluation Paper prototype Once all this is complete, you can then develop a paper prototype of your app – this can also be done using a rapid prototyping app called 'Pop' – there are other apps similar to this you can use as well. Your prototype needs to be designed so it can be user-tested. Your subjects should be able to 'walk-through' selected tasks in a credible, understandable, and meaningful way in order that you can gain effective understanding of how your app would be used. At this prototype level, some aspects of interaction are difficult to model so credit will be given to students who can produce comprehensive prototypes accurately reflecting a good and compelling user experience. User testing You need to set out and plan all stages of your user testing, descriptions of methods adopted and discuss their effectiveness. You will be able to use other students from the module to test out your ideas using a 'walk-through' method. Personal evaluation Findings from data gathering, specification planning and user testing should be critically discussed with recommendations for improvements to both the process and design aspects of your prototype. Requirements / evidence to be submitted Assignment 1 High-level UX design proposal (50% weighting – max 2000 words excluding diagrams and annotations) This submission should include all material from data gathering activities, personas, site map, and wire frames. A more detailed submission description will be provided nearer the submission date. Feedback will be in the form of an assessment checklist which will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of your development work. In order to turn this around within two weeks, feedback comments will be selected from pre-prepared assessment statements. Assignment 2 Prototype and evaluation 50% weighting – max 2000 words excluding prototype) You can hand your paper prototype as photographic images. You must document the user testing process you have undertaken and also comment on user testing mehtods. You need to note and discuss all the UX design decisions you have made to improve or alter your evaluation methodology and design changes to the product. Your work must be submitted to 'Turn-it-in' Identification of group and individual components There are no team assessed elements to this module Assessment criteria Assignment 1 High-level UX design proposal • Understanding of design problem in context in relation to user experience and technical constraints • Development of user requirements statements • Interpretation and use of persona(s) • Design, breadth and depth of site map • Effective use of wire frame diagrams Assignment 2 Prototype and evaluation • Design, quality and use of paper prototype • Description of user testing methods adopted • Quality of data gathering and level of critical discussion and design recommendations Hand out date: Week 1 w/b 26 September Hand- in Assignment 1: Week 13 20 January Hand-in Assignment 2: Week 22 24 March