TABLE OF CONTENTS Now that you know the basics of conducting a paper prototype usability study, it's time to revisit the larger questions about when and if this makes sense for your project. Paper prototyping, like any technique, works well in some situations but may not provide sufficient value in others. The next three chapters give you a more in-depth look at the strengths and weaknesses of paper prototyping, the political issues you may face when introducing paper prototyping into your organization, and factors that can argue for or against the use of paper prototypes in real- world project situations.
Saying that paper prototyping is a good technique is like saying that hiking boots are a good type of footwear you have to specify for what purpose. Hiking boots are great for a walk in the woods, but they'd suck for ballet. In this chapter I discuss the kinds of problems paper prototyping is likely and unlikely to find in an interface. I also describe some issues for which usability testing in general (whether paper or computer) is not the best means of discovery.
So exactly what is a prototype, anyway? I know that's a funny question to be posing this far through a book on paper prototyping, but understanding the nature of a prototype helps you decide what method is suitable...
