Lecture 9: Systems Development - User-Centred Systems Development, User Interfaces and Prototypes

The purpose of this lecture is to describe the basics of user-centred systems design (UCSD), including both theoretical and practical aspects. Certain parts of the user-centred development project will be covered in more detail, for instance, how prototypes can be used in the development process.

	Bengt Sandblad

The lecture covers

• Different types of systems development models
• The waterfall model versus experimental/iterative development
• User-centred systems development
• The role of the user in the development project
• Commercial development models
• Prototyping

The above items are described in this pdf file

The Preece textbook (and the optional textbook by Gulliksen & Göransson (in Swedish)) provide comprehensive summaries of these issues. Please note that the slides presented in the PDF above are just a short summary of the chapters in Preece's textbook. In order to get a complete picture you should read the literature and visit the links listed below.

Required reading

• Benyon: Chap. 11, 18.1 (Dix: Chap. 6)
• Summarizing

Optional reading

• Användarcentrerad systemdesign by Gulliksen & Göransson (see library), chap 4-9 (in Swedish).
• A summary of our research on user-centred systems design and development, with some links about UCSD. (In Swedish)
• 12 key principles for user-centred systems development (in Swedish)

Links Commercial development models

• Agile modelling provides an alternative approach to systems development. eXtreme Programming is probably the most well-known agile process.

About use cases (a central element in, for instance, RUP):

• Understanding use case modelling
• Use-case zone
• Essential use cases - a variant of use cases with a usability focus.

Prototyping:

• Prototyping - a KTH report summarising the field. (in Swedish)
• Prototyping for tiny fingers. Describes how to build a prototype using paper - a lo-fi prototype.