In order to create useable and target group oriented user interfaces, it is of utmost importance to evaluate design decisions. Interactive prototyping tools are a way to evaluate the interaction between different views of a user interface. Such tools are available for all platforms and with different feature sets. In the following, we discuss two of them: Balsamiq Mockups (or Balsamiq for short) and POP. While Balsamiq is available for desktop computers (with a desktop-optimised web version being available), POP is a smartphone-only app. To outline and elaborate on similarities and differences between these two tools, an interactive prototype of a simple e-mail client application for smartphones has been created using both Balsamiq and POP.
…show more content…
Alternatively, a web link can be opened or the prototype user can be navigated back to the previously viewed mock-up. The latter is a very handy function as it allows flexible navigation within a prototype thus removing the need of duplicating a mock-up only for the purpose of adjusting the target of a back button link.
Balsmiq also features a mode which allows the interactive prototype to be presented in full screen mode (see Figure 1). The cursor then becomes a big arrow allowing e.g. the user experience designer to present the prototype to a customer. Alternatively, the interactive prototype can be exported as an interactive PDF with clickable hotspots.
POP: Interactive Prototypes Created on the …show more content…
Instead, the user interface has to be drawn by hand and then photographed. These mock-ups can then be imported into the app. Unfortunately, once imported, mock-ups cannot be edited. Instead, the changes need to be made in the hand-drawn mock-up which then has to be imported into the app by photographing it again. This can make even minor design adjustments in the mock-ups very time consuming. Balsamiq, on the contrary, allows the designer to simply drag, drop and manipulate sketch-up elements on screen and within seconds.
POP allows the designer to add hotspots to the mock-up which links to either another mock-ups or back to the previously viewed mock-up. Unlike Balsamiq, it is not possible to create links to websites; however, a transition can be triggered not only by tapping a hotspot (as in Balsamiq), but also by performing swipe gestures. Similar to Balsamiq, the actual interactive prototype can be viewed full screen by the tap of a
Alternatively, a web link can be opened or the prototype user can be navigated back to the previously viewed mock-up. The latter is a very handy function as it allows flexible navigation within a prototype thus removing the need of duplicating a mock-up only for the purpose of adjusting the target of a back button link.
Balsmiq also features a mode which allows the interactive prototype to be presented in full screen mode (see Figure 1). The cursor then becomes a big arrow allowing e.g. the user experience designer to present the prototype to a customer. Alternatively, the interactive prototype can be exported as an interactive PDF with clickable hotspots.
POP: Interactive Prototypes Created on the …show more content…
Instead, the user interface has to be drawn by hand and then photographed. These mock-ups can then be imported into the app. Unfortunately, once imported, mock-ups cannot be edited. Instead, the changes need to be made in the hand-drawn mock-up which then has to be imported into the app by photographing it again. This can make even minor design adjustments in the mock-ups very time consuming. Balsamiq, on the contrary, allows the designer to simply drag, drop and manipulate sketch-up elements on screen and within seconds.
POP allows the designer to add hotspots to the mock-up which links to either another mock-ups or back to the previously viewed mock-up. Unlike Balsamiq, it is not possible to create links to websites; however, a transition can be triggered not only by tapping a hotspot (as in Balsamiq), but also by performing swipe gestures. Similar to Balsamiq, the actual interactive prototype can be viewed full screen by the tap of a