Chapter 11

• data dictionary


  A file containing details relating to the structure of data held in a database.
• end user


  the person whom the system is being developed for
• entity


  an item which is represented in a database
• entity relationship diagram


  A diagram used to illustrate how various entities in a database are linked together
• evolutionary prototype


  a prototype that is reviewed and improved and eventually forms the final system solution
• interactive elements


  Elements in a package that prompt interaction from the end user
• iteration


  the use of loops in a series of code
• movie timeline


  A diagrammatic representation that shows the content of a movie, frame by frame
• multimedia authoring


  The integration of a range of media in a way that it can usefully present information to a target audience.
• navigation structure design


  a diagram which illustrates the various pathways a user can take through a multimedia application
• prototype


  a model of a system being developed and may not be fully functional
• Refinement


  the process of reviewing the design for a solution and making necessary changes so that the design meets the end users requirements efficiently and accurately
• scripted elements


  Extracts of code, often included as part of a HTML document, which when activated can allow the end user to interact with the application and amend the contents being displayed.
• storyboard


  A diagrammatic form of a prototype showing a planned sequence of screen displays, demonstrating the different paths available to the user.
• target audience


  The demographic group for whom an application is being developed
• third party implementation


  The creation of a product by someone other than the original designer
• throwaway prototype


  A prototype which does not become part of the final system solution
• user interface


  any part of the system that the user can interact with this includes data capture forms menus and buttons
• user requirements

  A document that details what the end user expects the system to do. Often forms a contract between the developer and end user.
• wireframe diagram


  A tool used to show the layout of input and output screens in a digital application
• WYSIWYG


  What you see is what you get: the content being displayed to the end user looks as it will in the final product.
• what is the end users involvement in prototyping


  all development approaches will involve interaction with the end user

  development teams investigates the end users needs and produce a set of user requirements based on what they have said and what they will do
• what will the prototype do


  show the layout of the system interface to help the end user understand

  used to support discussion between the user and developer

  it provides opportunities to improve the solution and improve through feedback and suggested improvement
• what is evolutionary prototyping


  where an incomplete version of the final system is developed and presented to the end user
• what process is used in this and when does it finish


  review, feedback and refinement stage is used until the user is presented with a fully operational system which meets all user requirements
• why is a throwaway prototype used


  one which will not be part of the final solution however will aid the conversation by answering questions about the user requirements, or when the user cannot express their needs

  the prototype is then discarded and a new system develops
• advantages of prototyping


  increased end user involvement means less chance of misunderstanding

  final digital system will most likely meet the end users needs and errors can be detected easily

  very useful when there is a high degree of interaction
• disadvantages of prototyping


  end users may confuse the prototype with the final system and therefore expect to see all elements shown during experimentation

  continued end user involvement could lead can lead to the system growing as they add on more features leading to an increase in development time and costs

  not suitable for batch processing systems
• what is the end users role in prototyping


  end user provides feedback after every refinement or iteration and then the system is updated

  end users involvement gives them increased ownership of the final system of the final system
• when considering target audience what is important to examine


  age

  gender

  interests and reasons why they will use the application
• what will these details do


  inform many decisions you make regarding the presentation of the app and its general user interface
• what will a user requirements document explain


  why a system is being developed, and will include a sections which identifies the end user requirements as well as what it should look like and do
• what will a good user requirements list will include requirements which

  necessary for the effective operation of the system

  are easily measured and tested

  easily understood by end user

  are numbered or coded so can be referred to when testing

  easily met within the budget given and technology available
• what does the navigation structure help the user do


  visualise the overall structure of the application

  
• how will a good storyboard impact the development


  reduces the development time and cost
• a storyboard should have enough detail to allow for what

  third party implementation
• name 6 things a good story board should include

  background colour/ images

  navigational elements

  headings and subheadings

  image sources

  movie timeline

  details of interactive and scripted elements
• what 4 things should a movie timeline include

  detail of each scene

  timings

  duration of each frame

  descriptions of any special features applied
• when is a data dictionary produced


  at the design stage during database development
• what does a data dictionary contain


  enough information for the database developer to create the database