Introduction to Interactive Media 02. The Interactive Media Development Process.

Introduction to Interactive Media

02. The Interactive Media Development Process


What are we developing?

• Web sites

• Web based applications

• Educational interactives

• Museum interactives

• Games

• Phone Apps

• Help yourself kiosks


Interactive Digital Media

Interactive media development requires a• Team – experts with specialized skills • Plan – so everyone knows what’s going on

and time/money isn’t wasted


Interactive / Iterative Process

• What is this process like?– Interactive—team members share expertise and

ideas during the development cycle.– Iterative—revisions result from development

feedback.


Team Members

• Project manager– Responsible for delivering the product with promised

features, on time, and on budget.– Oversees the business aspects of the development

process.– Must be organized, focused, and task oriented.

• Information Architect – – Responsible for overall structure of content

• Project designer– Responsible for the look, feel, and functionality of

user interface.


Team Members

• Content expert– Has detailed understanding of the topic.– Some projects may require the client to provide

content for project.

• Writer– Create original text for the project.– Provide written requirements of the project such

as documentation, contracts, help screens.– Technical writing skills are useful.


Media Specialists

• Responsible for preparation of individual elements in a multimedia application.– Graphics specialist

• Artist skilled in design principles, illustration and graphic software.

– Sound specialist• Trained in traditional sound production and has a

working knowledge of a sound studio.• Familiar with digital tools for creating and editing sounds.


Media Specialists

– Animator• Understands the principles of composition and color

and can produce drawings.• Understands the elements of motion and can

envision action sequences.• Knows computer animation programs and

techniques.

– Videographer / Video Editor• Videographers who have knowledge of film

techniques, writing, sound, and digital video production and editing.


Media Specialists

– Programmer• Responsible for computer code that unites the

media elements and provides the product's functionality.

– Acquisitions Specialist• Knowledgeable about sources for copyright-

protected content and process of securing permissions.

• Establishes agreements to protect the creative work of the project developers.


Development Plan

• Addresses three essential tasks:• Definition• Design• Production.

• Progress markers or rewards are identified at each stage.

• Deliverables are sent to the client as project takes shape.

• Payment schedules often tied to deliverables.

Development is an iterative process: earlier stages are re-shaped as development progresses.

Development is an iterative process: earlier stages are re-shaped as development progresses.


STAGE 1: DEFINITION

• Identify goal.– What should the application accomplish?

• Identify audience.– Who are the intended users?

• Identify media type – What is the content, what form is it in and how

much is there?

• Identify forms of interactivity required.


Key Documents in Stage 1

• Preliminary Proposal– Short description of the proposed

application.• Includes project goal, audience, projected

outcomes, description of media, types and uses of interactivity, preliminary cost estimate.

– Often includes a flowchart.• A box diagram that outlines the structure of the

application.


Sample Flowchart



• Storyboards (also called wireframes)– Series of sketches of major screens.– Rough drawings of media elements such as

photos, animations, or videos are sketched in.– Navigational aides are identified.– Used to:

• Communicate with the client during the definition stage• Communicate project goals and requirements to the

development team.


Sample Storyboard



• Functional specification– What media content will be included?– What type of interactivity will there be?– Where will this be deployed?

- In what format will it be produced?


Stage 2: Design

• Design is inspired by goal and functionality needed.

• At the end of the design phase, the goal is to have a working prototype

• How would different goals affect the design of a product? Can you provide an example?


Interface Design

• User interface defines how user experiences the content on the screen.

• Interface designers mock up key screens in the application.


LET’S LOOK AT SAMPLE INTERFACES AND SEE HOW GOAL AND TARGET AUDIENCE INFLUENCED THE DESIGN.


www.pbskids.org


Virgin Radio App for iPhone


Comcast TIVO TV Interfaces


Self-Checkout Kiosk


www.google.com


Good Interface Design

• Intuitive.– Immediately understood by the user.– Common strategy is to use a metaphor.

• Consistent.– Common backgrounds and consistent

location of user controls.– Predictable and reliable.

• Similar actions should produce similar results.

• Identical actions produce identical results.


Prototype

• An incomplete working model of product.• Functions of prototype:

– Refine, Test, Guide further work

• Generally built in the authoring application as final project.


Sample Prototype

http://www.juliagriffey.com/INTM1600/ltg/version01-mx2004_v2.swf


Stage 3: Production

• The production process varies considerably depending on what you are making

• Generally involves coding and assembling the media elements in the structure.


User Testing

• Done in different ways, but essentially letting users use the product and seeing what happens. Leads to A LOT of unexpected results.

• E.g. Software companies release early versions of new applications to selected users to try them out so that they can get feedback and improve the product.


Rolling it out…

• Often interactive products are rolled out in stages:– Alpha version: includes most media elements but

also many "bugs.”– Beta version: includes all media but still has a few

bugs.– Gold master: complete, bug-free application.


Project Wrap-Up

• Completion of release notes, manuals, and packaging.

• Project materials are systematically archived. – Archived files may resolve disputes between client

and developers.– Project may need revisions that use archived files.– Copyrighted materials may be used in future

projects.

Introduction to Interactive Media 02. The Interactive Media Development Process.

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