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Tools to think with: augmenting user interviews with rapid modular prototypes

Published: 04 December 2018 Publication History

Abstract

This paper presents insights from a research study, which involved the use of a Rapid Modular Prototype (RMP) to augment user interviews. RMPs are a combination of interchangeable modules made from tangible materials and physical computing components, such as Arduinos and Raspberry Pi. In our research study, we created a prototype to inform the design of parking meter interfaces. The modular approach to designing the prototype, which led us to the concept of RMPs, was driven by the need to carefully assess and compare various input mechanisms, such as knobs versus buttons, and their efficacy, for example, for selecting the time period on a parking meter. Reflecting on our experiences developing the prototype and its role in supporting our participant interviews, we examine how RMPs can be used as a tool in interviews to gain rich insights from research participants.

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Cited By

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  • (2020)Augmenting Remote Interviews through Virtual Experience PrototypesProceedings of the 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3441000.3441057(78-86)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2020
  • (2020)A Tangible Multi-Display Toolkit to Support the Collaborative Design Exploration of AV-Pedestrian InterfacesProceedings of the 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3441000.3441031(25-35)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2020

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      cover image ACM Other conferences
      OzCHI '18: Proceedings of the 30th Australian Conference on Computer-Human Interaction
      December 2018
      639 pages
      ISBN:9781450361880
      DOI:10.1145/3292147
      Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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      Published: 04 December 2018

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      Author Tags

      1. co-design
      2. interface design
      3. participatory design
      4. physical computing
      5. prototyping

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      View all
      • (2020)Augmenting Remote Interviews through Virtual Experience PrototypesProceedings of the 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3441000.3441057(78-86)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2020
      • (2020)A Tangible Multi-Display Toolkit to Support the Collaborative Design Exploration of AV-Pedestrian InterfacesProceedings of the 32nd Australian Conference on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/3441000.3441031(25-35)Online publication date: 2-Dec-2020

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