{Brief 1 — Task 5 Prototyping}

3 prototyping tools reviewed

Invison: Is a simple and easy to use prototype software, Invison utilises “screens” flat images created from illustrator, photoshop etc, once the screens/flat images are imported into Invison you simply drag and drop “hotspots” over the top of your screen for items you wish to interact with, this hotspot basically creates and invisible link on top of your flat image to give the illusion of the user interacting with the flat image.

Axure: Is a wireframing/prototyping software that once you have learnt how the program works it can be used quickly and easily to create your prototypes. Axure works by creating the wireframe/design of your prototype once you have designed it you for multiple pages/screens you simply link the items together to create an interactive prototype without having to do any coding.

Paper/physical: Creating prototypes can be done on paper or in other physical forms such as Models and dioramas. Creating a physical prototype can help test all areas and allow for a full 3D look over of the prototype in the case of models/dioramas.

Comparative benefits discussed

Invision I would personally use over Axure for App and website design as Invison is a lot quicker and simpler to use and allows for more detailed designs to be prototyped by creating the design outside of invison allowing full customization and freedom of design compared to designing and building the prototype in Axure, Once the design is completed you can simply import it into Invision and use the hotspot function to link screens/pages together. The only problem with Invison is that if you are creating large app or website with various pages and slight variation of pages you can become overwhelmed when linking all pages together and making sure it flows correctly no matter what options the user takes.

Physical/paper prototype I would use only for low-fi prototypes of website and apps as invison is a much cleaner way of displaying your prototype. I would use physical prototype in the form of models/dioramas when creating prototypes of something that the user holds, interacts with or an object that will be 3D in its final design. Physical prototypes allow a clearer and wider look at the prototype and how user interact with it. Some examples of the above are toys, furniture, keys, signage and more.

Interactive prototype created

For my prototypes I have created a digital App prototype as well as paper disc and scanners to simulate how the disc will function. The Task that the user will need to complete using these prototypes are:
Check account balance via app and disc.
Top up account via app.
Scan disc.

Above are the screens used for the app prototype. This version of the prototype is to be integrated with the existing V/Line app but the final version could simply be changed to be a stand alone app, the prototype starts of from the expanded menu(as if it was the existing V/Line app), the user will then tap the menu option “Balance” and start navigating through the Prototype completing the set tasks.

Above are the Physical discs and scanners I have prototyped. The disc’s themselves are the Red items at the top of the image, This disc has the dimensions of 35mm width and 50mm height there is no final depth but should be no thicker than 5mm in the final design, The disc features a small hole to allow for the disc to be attached to various items like key rings. The disc’s main feature is a LED screen that displays your current account balance this screen also has a sliding cover to keep your account balance private. The scanners used in this prototype are simple black pads that will simulate a LED border that will light up green if the payment was accepted and red if not. In the final design, the scanner would be fully electronic and be placed on top of a stand that is one meter tall that is placed in front of train station gates and in front of individual bus bays.