The Lo-Fi Prototype

Materials:

(white computer paper, file folders, post-it notes, cardstock paper, pens, highligher, scotch tape, glue, and computer)

The tested version of the lo-fi prototype consists of 3 paper sketches of the essential screens pasted onto file folders. Pull down menus were written on yellow post-its notes. The pop-up windows were written on cardstock strips of paper. [image1] The highligher was used to highlight the visible screens of the pull-down menu and for guides to aid the human computer. [image 2] The computer was used to simulate pages which were not part of the 3 sketches but essential in conducting our study of the 3 interface sketches. [image 3] The connecting pages were compiled into a list to allow easy maneuvering through the different connecting pages. Colors were not used in our the prototype

Descriptions:

Screen 1: Gateway to the California Digital Library
(based on redesigning the "www.cdlib.org")
Appendix A - figure 1

The sketch consists of a banner across the top of the page labeled "Gateway to the California Digital Library." Three columns are under the banner. The leftmost column is separated apart and is labeled with administrative information (i.e. About CDL, News and Development, etc.) The middle column is a listing of the CDL "Collection" (i.e. Melvyl Union Catalog, Individual Campus Catalogs, etc.) The "To Browse or Search Collection" button is placed at the bottom of this list of collections. The third column on the right lists the "Services" offered by CDL. Each item under the list of collection and services is given extra information via pop-up bubbles if the mouse is rested on the text (Appendix A -figure 1b).

Screen 2: To Search and Browse CDL
(based on combining the 3 sections of "www.cdlib.org/directory")
Appendix A -figure 2

This sketch consists of a standard left side bar with the CDL logo, 3 pull-down menus for "Go to:" "Help", and "CDL Services." There is an entry box for "Quick Search" and more information about the quick search function. The bar also has a "What's New," "About CDL," and "Feedback." This sidebar will be used consistently throughout the site. The major part of the page on the right consists of a two-row table. The top box is significantly larger and consists of checkboxes for "Format" information, "Topics" information, and a pull-down menu for campus-specific information labeled "Available at:". There is also the option to change the number of pages to display at one time. The second row consists of the "Browse" button and a keyword search box with "Search."

Screen 3: Site map
(a currently non-existent screen)
Appendix A - figure 3

The leftside of the page consists of the standard frame described above. The right is the site map, which selectively outlines the different pages in reference to were links can be found within CDL.