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Paula Jacobs
Carlo Mannino
Our design relied heavily on extra feedback due to the setback we suffered in our computer prototype. We incorrectly assumed we were not allowed to use outside libraries for the front end, which cost us valuable feedback for our computer prototype, since most comments were directed to the aesthetics of our design instead of the functionality or the details.
We managed to integrate almost all of the comments we received into our final design. The most critical step, however, is the computer prototype; there are many things that are attractive on paper, but the change in the interface from the paper to the keyboard and mouse makes the paper prototype completely different from what will end up on the screen.
In retrospect, it may have been useful to use a backend that was more widely used for JavaScript; although Parse has many wonderful properties, in particular that we didn't have to set up our own browser, its documentation for JavaScript is patchy and incorrect at times.
Finally, user input is invaluable. There were many cases where a feature that seemed completely natural and beautiful to us was awkward or misleading to other users. This is particularly true when trying to work on a problem whose affected population we have no connection to. It is a great experience to have; most projects one is likely to work one deal with populations at least slightly removed from the programmers, such that it is very useful to know how to approach such a problem.
Hannah Walker