SUMMARY OF DESIGN PROJECT WORK

Here I am going to write a little summary of reflection including a complete

process of designing an application for e-reading. A task was given to design
an application for e reading for a client e-publit. The specific requirements
were provided by the client and also the specific context. From those
specifications and exploration from different sources and searches, and
personas I came up with the definition of design problems and design goals
which are:

 Reading.
 Purchasing.
 Organizing.
 Annotating.
 Catalogues by publishers.
 Shop solutions.
 Writting and sharing annotations.
 Surfing hyperlinks.
 Navigating foot notes.

By putting all the specific requirements in a context and some other

exploration work like creating persona, Analyzing all other present e-
reading applications like Google reader, kindle, stanza, iceberg etc the
answer of what exactly has to be designed and why was discovered. Like by
exploring Google reader and kindle it was found out that how different
elements like purchasing, organizing, annotations really works and most
important point that came across was the copy right issues that how to
accommodate publishers in the application and how to create something
which is beneficial for both publishers and the readers at the same time.
Basically by reading these existing application the basic picture of how
different features of e-reading works and what are its limitations and how
they can be implemented in much improved way was captured, like for
example before analyzing Google reader it was in the mind that one can sell
any book online or make it readable for any one, but when these applications
were explored it was found out that there is a copy right issue which should
be managed in designing e-reading application. Here it is to be mentioned
that as in the final product (see slide 12) the method for hyperlinks is
different than traditional conventional marking method, in a way that words
are marked with (H) and list of words is at the bottom to be hyperlinked. The
reason for using this method is because while analyzing Google reader it
was seen that most of the books are scanned and then placed for e-reading
application, so it is not possible to apply traditional hyperlink method. Due
to this reason this method of hyperlink is suggested.
I also mapped some user situations which can be seen in my design diary. I
created interactive paper interface/model for this purpose by applying
sketching techniques i.e. Sketch a move (see example Buxton, W.
(2007). Sketching User Experiences, pg 332). This paper interface was made
up of paper and sandwich of chart paper in a way that if we pull paper (used
to display different screens of application to show its function and usability)
it changes its view to the next step of application. This model was then
applied to test interaction and functionality of the application. It was placed
in front of the user, who was performing different actions to complete a
specific task. In this testing there was a facilitator and user. The facilitator
starts by showing user an initial screen and user was asked to click on
specific option on the screen. Each time user performs action the facilitator
replaces the screen to next appropriate screen for checking usability and
functionality at same time (see example Buxton, W. (2007). Sketching User
Experiences, pg 374). At the same time user was asked to remark after each
action and its reaction. From this procedure I came up with some of the
missing things that I added later in my final product, such as it was this
sketching technique which gave me idea for applying aspects like friendly
user, pliability and aesthetics of interaction in my application. As these
aspects were found neglecting in the reflection of user comments. These are
the properties that don’t exist physically but can only be felt during use of a
product and the importance of pliability along with the way how to apply
this feature in designing process was recognized by reading article by Jonas
Löwgren. So pliability is what is present along with the use of the resulting
e-reading application. “Pliability is a sensuous quality, having to do with
how it feels to use the artifact in the here-and-now of the use situation, and
as such it plays a role in understanding the aesthetics of
interaction…pliability is not a property of the artifact itself, nor is it a
psychological or physiological property of the user. Pliability appears in
use” (Löwgren, 2006). Instead of converting reader into the product, its
better to mold the product into consumer behavior. In my presentation I
suggested that along with the usability and functionality of application its
physical shape should also be modified for consumer’s comfort and for what
consumers are inhabited of. So I suggested adding an extra removable
display screen to make reading pliable and give reader a feel of reading book
for which he/she is use to. Aesthetics are as much important as functions of
an application. (See slide 16, 17).
The model later converted into one of the paper prototype of the application.
This sketching technique helped me a lot as a role play through out the
design process in user testing, functional testing and responses etc. like by
passing through all these steps such as starting from idea then
sketching…analyzing…evaluating…testing…again
evaluating…criticism…user involvement... new additions and further
reductions I developed design ideas and functional analysis in much
improved form than in the early stage and this resulted in specific possible
solutions which can be seen in form of my early sketches in design diary.
“At the beginning all we have are perhaps some ideas, some hope and some
ambition. At the end, ideally, we have something concrete--- a design for a
well-formed product” (Buxton, W. (2007). Sketching User Experiences, pg
145). The difference can be seen while interpreting early sketches and later
final sketches thoroughly.

The persona in this research process was a student of university. His name is
John. He is international student and he spends most of his time reading
online. He was been interviewed regarding different issues of e-reading.
After analyzing those issues it appeared that there must be some special
features for students in the application as students cannot afford or spend
much money for reading. John could not read some of online stuff which is
important for his studies because he was unable to pay for that. So their must
be something to avoid things which bring hurdles in reading for students.
For that students are able to access e-reading application by their user id and
password of the university. By logging in to the application they can access
online reading free of charge. Same reading is free for students and at the
same time ordinary person pays for that. This will work in a way that
students will be able to loan online reading stuff for one week validity same
as they do in the libraries for book loans and after one week the stuff will be
deactivated automatically like we have the experience of trial versions of
software. Concept is same.

Than I entered into the compositional phase where I examined my early

sketches and put them in front of some phone users and used same paper
model to further evaluate my sketches and than came up with the list of
some alternative solution with the list of benefits and disadvantages. The list
is available in design diary. These alternative solutions were than
transformed in to my later sketches. All sketches were made keeping in mind
that they should be conveying suggestions and inviting questions and
criticism. “Sketches don’t tell they suggest…if you want to get the most out
of a sketch, you need to leave big holes” (Buxton, W. (2007). Sketching
User Experiences, pg 113, 115). Its really useful as by sketching on this
criteria I received very useful and remarkable which was not possible if my
sketches were perfectly completed showing final product. The model I used
acted as a role play and wizard of oz.

In specification phase after all analyzing and evaluations I ended up with the
picture of final product which I have presented to my client in the form of
presentational sketches using PowerPoint.

In conclusion I want to add that all the design process was the result of
literature and books that was red during this course. Each and every idea to
proceed appeared by recalling things from literature. Really I did not face
any problem while doing this as by following techniques from literature
made everything so smooth that when I ended up with final work I myself
was amazed that how I came up with such a progress by just following
reading stuff. Specially Buxton, W. (2007). Sketching User Experiences was
really a master piece. Paper model and wizard of oz is great idea. When I
was reading this book I didn’t had idea that it will help me this much in
future.
Application sketch

Refrences:

Buxton, W. (2007). Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right
Design.

(Löwgren, 2006).

BY : ALI ANJUM