95 c h a p t e r 5 Risk reduction through prototyping

 

CHAPTER 15

 

Risk reduction through prototyping 

311

 

Next steps

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Identify a portion of your project that exhibits confusion about requirements or is 

a  high-risk area of functionality. Sketch out a portion of a possible user interface 

that  represents your understanding of the requirements and how they might be 

 implemented—a paper prototype. Have some users walk through your prototype to 

simulate performing a usage scenario. Identify places where the initial requirements were 

incomplete or incorrect. Modify the prototype accordingly and walk through it again to 

confirm that the shortcomings are corrected.

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Summarize this chapter for your prototype evaluators to help them understand the 

 rationale behind the prototyping activities and to help them have realistic expectations for 

the outcome.

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If your product is a hardware device, think of a way you can physically simulate it so users 

can interact with it to validate and flesh out their requirements.