Wireframe Fidelity - Part 1: Low Fidelity Wireframes

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<h1>Wireframe Fidelity - Part 1: Low Fidelity Wireframes</h1><strong> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Martin Metz.aspx'>Martin Metz</a></strong><br /><p>A wireframe sometimes referred to as website wireframe, software wireframe or application wireframe) is a visual representation of the projected content of a graphical user interface and is an essential part of great interface design. Wireframes allow designers to test, refine and adjust software user interfaces to improve user experience and functionality early in the development process when mistakes are much cheaper to rectify. Wireframes are particularly useful in the collaborative process as they ensure that team members and all stakeholders can keep track of a project's workflow. Special wireframe tools or wireframe software can support this process effectively. The level of detail in a wireframe prototype is referred to as wireframe fidelity and can be in either two main guises: low fidelity or high fidelity. In this blog I shall explore both types and their usefulness for user interface design, and more, in two parts: What are low fidelity wireframes? Low-fidelity wireframes are wireframes that focus on the essentials of a user interface: layout, structure, Information Architecture – not design! Low fidelity wireframes evolved onto computer screens from rapid paper prototyping wireframes which emerged in the mid 1980s to become a popular Blue Chip company tool by the mid 1990s. Rapid paper prototyping involved the creation of rough drawings (sometimes drawn by hand) of graphical user interfaces as prototypes of software applications to visualize and test usability long before the coding process began. What are the main benefits of low fidelity wireframes? There are some distinctive benefits to low-fidelity wireframes. And while there is some discussion about what type of wireframe to give preference to, it is worthwhile looking at some of these benefits in detail. 1. Low fidelity wireframes save time Low fidelity wireframes, by eschewing many cosmetic factors, are faster to create and thus allow you to quickly tackle fundamental issues regarding the usability of your interface. Suggestions and refinements can, also, quickly be incorporated into software prototypes for further fine tuning. 2. Low fidelity wireframes are cheap Low fidelity wireframes save costs in a number of ways. Chief among these is the aforementioned time it takes to create them. Another cost saver is the ability to iron out design flaws or even change direction long before the coding process begins, thus making the costs of errors much cheaper. User centered design thrives on collaboration and the gathering of qualitative data for the decision making process. Low fidelity wireframes allow you to experiment with a number of variations very cheaply. 3. Low fidelity wireframes offer high design efficiency Adopting a user centered design philosophy by first focusing on the usability and interactivity of your interface – the part of your software your users see first - and only then applying a visual design provides you with a solid foundation for great design rather than having a great but unwieldy design long set in stone that must be expensively remodelled. 4. Low fidelity wireframes allow you to gather valid and honest feedback Low-fidelity prototyping also engenders great feedback. Presenting a picture perfect wireframe can distract a user undergoing a usability test from the actual usability issues and they might end up spending their time giving feedback on design features such as fonts, colors etc... A low fidelity wireframe is also not so daunting which makes it more accessible to suggestions from users. Yet, some wireframe tools even allow you to create clickable wireframes that can simulate an application's workflow and navigation. Wireframe tools for creating great wireframes Wireframe tools such as the pidoco° rapid prototyping software allow one to easily and quickly create clickable wireframes for web and software applications without requiring knowledge of programming or having to install any software. Your wireframe is available online to whomever you wish to view, annotate and/or edit it. Furthermore, a wireframe tool like pidoco° allows for affordable remote usability testing enabling the ultimate iterative collaborative interaction. Some wireframe tools like pidoco° also use the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model making powerful GUI prototyping more affordable and quick to roll out in your organization. </p><strong>About the Author:</strong><br />Pidoco.com – Interface Design, Wireframe Software, <a rel="nofollow" href="https://pidoco.com/en/benefits/clickable_interactive_wireframes" target="_blank" title="Interface Design, Wireframing">Wireframe Tools</a>, Interface Design Software, Clickable Wireframes and GUI Prototyping Tool. A GUI Design Interface Software for <a rel="nofollow" href="https://pidoco.com/en/benefits/clickable_interactive_wireframes" target="_blank" title="Usability Design, Clickable Wireframes">Clickable Wireframes</a>! <p> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Wireframe-Fidelity-Part-1-Low-Fidelity-Wireframes_51751.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Wireframe Fidelity - Part 1: Low Fidelity Wireframes_51751.aspx</a></p>

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Keywords : interface design, interface design software, wireframe software, GUI Prototyping Tool, wireframe tool, software prototyping, ,

Category : Computers : Software