Rapid prototyping for software projects with user interfaces

Rapid prototyping is a process for creating a realistic model of a product's user interface. A rapid prototyped user interface is easy to change and gets customers involved early in the design of the product. To prototype successfully, you should pick a rapid prototyping tool that meets your needs, form a small prototyping team, get lots of customer feedback, and iterate until customers are delighted with your user interface. Overview 1. The process of prototyping involves the following steps: 1. Identify basic requirements Determine basic requirements including the input and output information desired. Details, such as security, can typically be ignored. 2. Develop Initial Prototype The initial prototype is developed that includes only user interfaces. 3. Review The customers, including end-users, examine the prototype and provide feedback on additions or changes. 4. Revise and Enhancing the Prototype Using the feedback both the specifications and the prototype can be improved. Negotiation about what is within the scope of the contract/product may be necessary. If changes are introduced then a repeat of steps #3 ands #4 may be needed. Successful rapid prototyping is performed: • Quickly – The first pass must be done quickly, and subsequent improvements should be incorporated immediately. While the prototype needs to give customers a realistic feel for the product, it does not need to include special graphics or computational algorithms that require a lot of time and effort to create. • Iteratively – The prototyped user interface is reviewed, commented upon, improved, and reviewed again in a repeating cycle. No one creates a perfect design the first time. This iterative cycle allows you to gradually improve the user interface. These cycles can be completed more quickly if the prototype is easily changed. • Using domain experts – Ideally, the prototype should be built by a domain expert. Domain experts are familiar with the user – his or her job, expectations, requirements, jargon, and priorities. These people may have done the user's job in the past. Domain experts can do the best job of incorporating user requirements into the prototype. If your prototyping tool is too difficult for the domain expert to use, make sure that the domain expert works closely with the programmer. The traditional process used to develop a product follows the general steps shown in Figure 1. During Step 1, " Analyze Proposed System, " marketing and planning identify a customer need and determine whether …