A horizontal prototype provides a broad overview of a system's user interface without delving into the intricate details of each feature.
Understanding Horizontal Prototypes
A horizontal prototype focuses on the breadth of a software application or system, rather than its depth. It primarily illustrates the user interface and overall flow that a user would experience.
Based on the reference, a horizontal prototype:
- Shows a design from the user end. This means it presents the perspective a user would have when interacting with the system.
- Is used mostly in software design.
- Helps engineers understand the human interface of a project.
- Shows menus, windows and screens on a computer to test how users interact with the product.
Key Characteristics
Horizontal prototypes are characterized by:
- Broad Coverage: They touch upon many features or areas of the system.
- Shallow Depth: The functionality behind each feature is often limited or simulated.
- User Interface Focused: The primary goal is to visualize and test the look, feel, and navigation of the user interface.
Purpose and Use Cases
The main purposes of using a horizontal prototype include:
- Gathering Early Feedback: Getting input on the user flow, navigation, and overall look and feel from stakeholders and potential users.
- Communicating Vision: Effectively demonstrating the scope and layout of the system to project teams, clients, or investors.
- Identifying Design Issues: Uncovering usability problems or navigational challenges early in the development process.
- Understanding User Interaction: Observing how users navigate through the different screens and menus.
Essentially, a horizontal prototype is a tool to test the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) across the main areas of a system before significant development effort is invested in building full functionality. It's like a high-level blueprint of the user's journey through the application.
