Question

A. Four basic activities involved in interaction design (Marks: 15) Consider the background information provided. If a website was to be created to raise awareness and provide support to parents of children diagnosed with autism or parents who suspect that their child might have autism, explain how you would apply the four basic activities involved in interaction design.

Answer 1

1)identifying needs and establishing requirements for user experience - the exact needs and requirements of the user for this product is fully assessed as specified, this then becomes the focus and driving force behind the development

2) developing alternative designs that meet those requirements - multiple alternative designs are produced that meets the above-mentioned requirements, these are then access it with regards to users use of them before moving on with one or two designs .

3)building interactive versions of the design- basic interactive versions of these designs are created and users actually experience and use of these data is then gathered and assess .

4)evaluating what is being built throughout the process + the user experience it offers - throughout the whole process the work is access on how the user will experience it and how it meets the requirements previously set this is a continuous process that goes on throughout.

Three characteristics of the Interaction Design Process:

1. Users involved throughout the development of the project
2. Specific usability and user experience goals should be identified, documented and agreed upon at the beginning

   - Usability Goals: concerned with meeting a usability criteria (e.g. efficiency)

   • Effectiveness - how gooa system is at doing what it is supposed to
   • Efficiency - the way a system supports users in carryign out their tasks
   • Safety - protectign the users from dangerous conditions / undesirable situations
   • Utility - extent to which the system provides the right kind of functionality so that users can do what they need or want to do
   • Learnability - how easy a system is to learn to use
   • Memorability - how easy a system is to remember how to use, once learned

   - User Experience Goals: User experience is what the interaction with the system feels like to the users (subjectively)

   • Satisfying; enjoyable; fun; entertaining; helpful; motivating; aesthetically pleasing; support creativity; rewarding; emotionally fulfilling
3. Iteration through the four activities (above) is inevitable

   Interaction design is an ITERATIVE PROCESS, involving:

   • cycling through various design processes and different levels of detail

   • thinking through a design problem

   • understanding users needs

   • coming up with possible models

   • prototyping models

   • evaluating them

   • thinking about design implications

   • making changes

   • etc...