Research Project Presentation

Hi, Good news, my presentation for my Research Project went very well yesterday,

Here are the verbal feedback comments I received from my peers:

• I linked the section "methodology" well with justified reasons for how I'm going to conduct my artefact and how it will help answer my question
• Fine overall, good quotes
• Have a clear idea of what I'm doing

Self-Evaluation

I think my research project is going well. I have a clear idea of what my next artefacts are to be. I've made an informed decision by thinking earlier on what I'm going to do for my final year project, and I am happy with it. I am interested in testing interactivity and user experience. And I believe it will help set me up in future to do freelance work.

I think I have found some relevant sources but I should spend some time reading them more because it will backup my Primary (artefact) testing.

For the moment, priority is on the "Nottingham Loves" project because I only have a month to finish this project and I need to get a move on.

Research: Planning artefact1

I have been putting some thought into my first Artefact, these are some considerations:

What strengths and weaknesses does interactivity provide when telling a narrative?

How will I test this?

Create two prototype websites, 

• one with a interactive one page sliding layout, 
• and one with a traditional navigational structure with several webpages interlinked on the navigation: "Home", "About", "Contact us".

Why?

• I am testing does linear/non-linear narratives affect user experience/usability?
• Also I am testing does interactivity aid or improve user experience/usability?

How will I measure this?

Test the two layouts on an audience and at the end let them give feedback on:

• Which one was easier to use and why?
• Was it easier to find things?
• Which one was more interesting?
• Which one would you prefer to use and why?

What results am I predicting?

I don't know. I am going to see what happens. Perhaps the slider would work better because the scrolling adds functionality, and the scrolling effects create a strong visual impact. And from my website research on the following websites: Dragon Children, One page scrollers, it appears that sliders are a good vehicle for telling narratives.

Sources

Stellar javascript slider tutorial

Exceptional example of a narrative being told in a slider

Nike's better world slider

Part 2: Research One Page Scroller

continued from last post...

Remember your dreams

http://www.discovershadow.com/

• There is a link on the first page that redirects to another webpage about getting the App before introducing it first. Sounds more logical to have this at the bottom, don't you think? 
• Visual step by step "How to", slider layout helps because its sequential/methodical

Initial experience

First off- great idea! An App to record your dreams. :) The slider is a good tool to show a step by step sequential process. Simple but effective.

Von Dutch

http://www.vondutch.com/

Initial experience

This is essentially a digital info graphics slider that tells the history behind an iconic influential person. Again this is a sequential narrative and the interactive slider does help; the information flows fluidly.

Every Last drop

http://everylastdrop.co.uk/

Essentially, a lot like "These are things" website. Its about water conservation, and the set changes and tells a story. The setting provides context for what activity uses how much water and how we should cut down. 

Apart from scrolling, there's not much user input. You don't need to click to open up anything like you would expect in an interactive environment.