5 - Prototyping and Testing

global prototype

prototype of the entire system; an expanded horizontal prototype that models a greater number of features and covers multiple levels of the system's structure chart

diagonal prototype

prototype that is horizontal down to a particular level, then vertical below that point

horizontal prototype

prototype that models many features but with little detail

vertical prototype

prototype that models with much fewer features but with much detail

experimental prototype

prototype used to validate system specs

advantages of prototyping process model

reduced time and costs; improved and increased user involvement;

prototype qualities

representation; precision; interactivity; evolution

working prototype

represents all or nearly all of the functionality of the final product

user experience prototype

represents enough of the appearance and function of the product that it can be used for user research

visual prototype

represents the size and appearance, but not the functionality, of the intended design

proof-of-principle/concept prototype

serves to verify some key functional aspects of the intended design; allows key tech of proposed product to be tested for viability and performance

component testing

testing conducted to verify the implementation of the design for one hardware or software element

representation of a prototype

the actual form of a prototype

interactivity of a prototype

the functionality open to the user

verification

the product was built right

validation

the right product was built

functional testing

verify that all functional requirements satisfied

evolution of a prototype

lifecycle of the prototype

white box

logic driven testing; based on input-output values, with expected intermediate values

testing

mechanism to assure quality of a product, system, or capability; must be addressed continuously during design process

form study prototype

preliminary type of visual prototype where geometric features emphasized

paper prototype

printed or hand-drawn representation of the user interface of a software product

system testing

process of testing an integrated hardware and software system to verify meets requirements

local prototype

prototype of single usability-critical system component; a vertical prototype that is focused on one feature

prototype

a sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from

low-fidelity prototype

a set of drawings that provide a static, non-computerized, non-working mock-up of user interface for the planned system

high-fidelity prototype

a set of screens that provide a dynamic, computerized, working model of the planned system

prototype

a simulation or sample version of a final product, which is used for testing prior to launch; goal is to test products before sinking lots of time and money into the final product

exploratory prototype

a throw away prototype used to clarify project goals, identify requirements, examine alternative designs, investigate a large and complex system

integration testing

an orderly progression of testing in which various software elements and/or hardware elements are integrated together and tested

functional prototype

captures both function and appearance of intended design; may be created with different techniques from final

robustness testing

determine how system performs given unexpected inputs

software

easily modified and extensible model (representation, simulation, or demo) of a planned software system, likely including its interface and input/output functionality

hardware

easily modified and extensible model of a system, including location of individual hardware components

precision of a prototype

fidelity of a prototype; its level of detail, polish, realism

acceptance testing

formal testing conducted to determine whether or not a system satisfies its acceptance criteria and to enable the customer to determine whether or not to accept the system

black box

input/output driven testing; no knowledge of internal structure

disadvantages of prototyping process model

insufficient analysis; user confusion of prototype and finished system; developer misunderstanding of user objectives; developer attachment to prototype; excessive development time of the prototype; expense of implementing prototype

operational prototype

iterative prototype that is progressively refined until it becomes the final system