Paper prototyping is a process used to develop and test computer programs and user interfaces. It involves creating a paper version of the interface and program, allowing designers to quickly test ideas without extensive programming. Paper prototyping can save time and money, and involves using sheets of paper, note cards, and similar objects to create a paper representation of the program’s interface. Testing can be done by having a person act as the virtual computer while the tester interacts with the prototype.
Paper prototyping is a process that is sometimes used to develop, design, and test various aspects of a computer program or user interface (UI) within a program under development. The basic process involves creating a paper version of the user interface and program across multiple pages and paper cards that can be used to represent how the actual program will run with a user. This is typically done while a program is still in the early stages of development, allowing designers to quickly develop and test different ideas without creating or programming extensive artwork. The paper prototyping can then be used with a tester to demonstrate how the user interface might actually work with a user on a computer.
As a design practice, paper prototyping has been used in various ways for many years and in a variety of applications. Conceptually it is similar to creating thumbnails or a mockup for an artwork before the final artwork is developed into an advertisement. When used with software development, however, it allows developers to build and test various aspects of a program without actually doing any programming. A company can save a lot of time and money by using paper prototyping before testing the software while it is still in development.
Paper prototyping usually involves using sheets of paper, note cards, and similar objects to create a paper representation of what a program’s user interface will look like. The different windows that might be opened can be represented by separate sheets of paper and tabs, each showing the images and options that will be provided to a user while navigating the system. Changing options through paper prototyping is as simple as writing and drawing on a new sheet of paper or making changes on an existing sheet. This is much easier than making changes to a program within code created for that program.
Testing a user interface for a program can also be done using paper prototyping. This is often done by having several people in a room together, with one person acting as the virtual computer while the tester sits on the opposite side of a small table. The user does not receive instructions but can interact manually with the paper prototype, using the hand and fingers to represent the cursor that would navigate the actual program.
While the tester interacts with the prototype, the person acting as the virtual computer demonstrates how the computer would behave if the real program were used. The person will turn pages and view new paper sheets and cards to represent how the actual system would work. This allows paper prototyping to evaluate how users will actually interact with a user interface and then make any necessary changes while the software is still in the early stages of development.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
