context is everything from oz-ia 2008
TRANSCRIPT
Context is everything
Iain Barker
http://www.simplerisbetter.wordpress.com
We must ground our work in a rich understanding ofthe context of use, or else we run the risk of creatingwell meaning rubbish
SA80
Defining the requirements(not an actual picture of the SA80’s business team)
SA80 requirements
1. Accuracy
2. ?
Issues:
• Couldn't be fired fromthe left shoulder
• It went off when dropped
• Safety catch would breakif the trigger was pulledhard
• Plastic would swell inrain and jam the safetyswitch on/off
• When running a heavyammunition magazinewould fall out
“You must have some very clever soldiers”
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Iterative design alone does notensure a successful product
If you only do iterative design and don’t explore realuser requirements you’re reliant on guesswork.
What is to stop your project having the same type ofproblems as the SA80?
Test or else
Iterative design, with its repeating cycle of design andtesting, is the only validated methodology in existencethat will consistently produce successful results. If youdon’t have user-testing as an integral part of yourdesign process you are going to throw buckets of moneydown the drain.
Bruce Tognazzini
Asktog, June, 2000
http://www.asktog.com/columns/037TestOrElse.html
Get yourself a good mapbefore you start digging forgold
Contextual research
Business requirements
Requirements workshop Iterative design
First Rule of Usability? Don't Listento Users
To design an easy-to-use interface, pay attention towhat users do, not what they say. Self-reported claimsare unreliable, as are user speculations about futurebehavior.
Jakob Nielsen
Alertbox, August 5, 2001
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010805.html
Possible design solutions
First sketch
Design space
Launch version
Launch version
Better solution
Better solution
Understanding offline activitieshelps us create better interactiveexperiences
What makes something pleasurable/painful?
What process do I go through before I make a purchase?
…
Solution A
Alternate solution
Full potential
Today
IterateIterate
MP3 Player: RequirementsRadio?
FM Radio?External Memory Slot?
Colour options?Built in camera?
Innovate then optimise
Use explorative techniques to discover real needs,then use iterative techniques to create a highly usablesolution
Persuading clientsand managers
Making something that does what peoplereally want is a rare thing. With it comes
success and recognition.
Doing something innovative makes youstand out from the crowd.
Your competitors are already doing it.Do you want to be left behind?
It is simply what successful people do
