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User Centered
Design Approach (UCD) |
UCD
process mapped over the SDLC.
"UCD
overlapped with the SDLC could return User Perceived
quality." |
User
Centered Design process (UCD)
User oriented approach starts from
the primary stages of application conception.
1)
Conception of the application:
A.
User Understanding and user specific needs.
Defining user profiles, User modeling
Understanding the user specific needs
Various methods of getting information from the users
about the intended use of the application
Like User Surveys, Questionnaires, Brainstorming sessions
and round table discussions.
B.
Definition of the Problem statement
Basic understanding of the Business
goals
Streamlining them with the application goals
Defining user goals for every type of the user
Making of the Problem statement |
2)
Concept Design stage:
C.
User Centered Task analysis.
Basic understanding of the functionality
required to be built in the proposed application is conceived.
An extensive list of use cases, Use scenarios are listed
down,
Every use scenario specific to every user is broken down
in number of tasks to be performed by the users.
Individual tasks are broken down into functions those
are required to be incorporated in the proposed application.
Actual lists of the functions for every user is made extensively
D.
Initial Paper Prototypes
The functions are grouped into menu
structures, and other logical information structure.
Rough UI prototypes are built in for every type of users,
and every type of interaction with the application
These are paper models or just images to be shown to various
clients.
The first usability study happens at this stage where,
Real users are shown these prototypes (Non Functioning
images) |
3) Hi Level Design & functionality definitions
E.
Final Problem statement
Here user wise functionality definitions
are short listed.
Hi Level Systems & Processes are determined,
Information architecture is finalized.
Functionality process plans are generated; tasks are divided
in the teams,
Real Tasks of coding begins here |
4)
Lo Level Design & functionality definitions:
F.
Final UI Structures
Final draft of UI for every user
is defined.
UI Designers start working on the GUI
Menu structures, Icons & detail level of the splash
screens,
Other details of the UI are designed, initial templates,
icons, Style sheets are generated.
G.
Final UI Implementation & integration.
Integration of the menus, icons,
screens
Style guidelines, style sheets, in place
First working prototype is built. |
5
) Working prototype is tested:
H.
The prototype is tested
For smooth functionality
Information structures, User oriented information planning.
I.
The Heuristic Usability testing (of the prototype)
Heuristic Usability testing methods
are used for testing the prototype
Heuristic testing involves the usability experts applying
the usability principles to check certain usability issues.
J.
Usability testing events:
Based on the initial use cases and
use scenarios, most critical scenarios are chosen
Most common, most important user personal are chosen
Usability Goals are defined
Usability testing procedure is conceived and tests are
designed
for every type of the users, use cases, Use scenarios
for the selected tasks.
Real Usability testing events.
K.
Usability Improvement reports:
User interaction data is collected
in terms of Live video clips of the user using,
Documentation of the task accomplishment or otherwise,
User interviews, sound tracks of users, notes from the
test coordinators etc.
The above data is thoroughly analyzed and usability test
reports are generated.
Test reports are generally Suggestions based.
Reports will return number of suggestions in terms of
UI structures, functionality, graphics, etc.
This extensive list is then classified into high priority,
high effectiveness and impact parameters.
L.
Implementation of usability suggestions:
Priority lists of the suggestions
are discussed on round tables and brainstorming sessions
Implementation procedure is set,
Templates, UI designs, Menu structures, and other factors
defining better user experience are redefined and implemented.
This implementation may need
a) Only UI related changes
b) Information and task operation sequence change
c) Rarely Basic functionality changes.
According to their impact and effectiveness for increasing
the usability, priority of implementation is taken up.
M.
Pre deployment Real scenarios testing:
On field reality testing
UI related issues if generated by users are studied.
Troubleshooting procedure is designed and implemented.
N.
Integration and deployment: |
Usability
testing and improvement methodologies are cyclic in nature
Cyclic Process of Usability improvement
& User experience enhancement:
Actually the usability testing procedures as in J, K,
L, M could repeat through the lifecycle of the development.
Every prototype of the newer version would undergo the
usability goal definitions, and testing procedure.
Usability improvement suggestions are implemented at every
end of the cycle.
Every version of the application would become more and
more user oriented, and usable.
The ultimate aim of taking the product from Customer satisfaction
to Customer Delight could be achieved with the User Centered
Design Approach. |
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