Making a Paper Prototype - Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Define and Refine User Interfaces - page 54

Restickable glue Like the glue on sticky notes, it keeps

elements of the prototype in place until
you're ready to move them. Useful in
experimenting with different layouts or if
your prototype has elements that change
individually, such as a Web site that
uses frames.

Don't confuse it with glue
marked "washable," which
is not restickable. Difficult
to find in stores.

Removable tape
(Post-it is available
in 2-line and 6-line
widths)

It's opaque so you can write on it. See
Figure 4.2 for an example. Use the 2-line
width for edit fields (especially if the data
appears elsewhere in the interface),
small amounts of text that change,
status line messages, list elements.
The 6-line size is good for disabled
buttons and quick fixes to the prototype.

A paper prototyping
essential— I use enough of
this stuff that I'm tempted
to buy stock in 3M.
Turning a corner under
makes it easier to lift the
tape off the paper when
you want to move it
elsewhere.

Transparency
(overheads,
acetate)

Placed over the prototype, it allows the
user to "type" (hand write) data without
altering the prototype. Figure 4.3 shows
an example of removable tape. I use
transparency when there are more than
a half dozen fields to complete,
otherwise I use removable tape.

Get write-on transparency
rather than the stuff
intended for laser printers,
which is much more
expensive.
If you're testing in a lab with
an overhead camera,
transparency can cause
glare—use copies of the
paper forms instead.

Transparency
pens, wet erase

For writing "typed" input on a piece of
transparency laid on top of the
prototype. Use damp paper towel or
cotton swabs as an "eraser."

Permanent transparency
pens work too, but since
you can't erase them you'll
use more sheets of
transparency.

Correction fluid
(Wite-Out)

For small changes to the prototype, such
as a field label.

You have to let correction
fluid dry before writing on it.
In a usability test, I prefer to
use removable tape to
make quick fixes.

You'll sometimes see it
spelled "foam core,"
although Fome-Cor is
actually a brand name.
Other companies make
similar products.
[ * ] For those who enjoy visual humor, buy a roll of "invisible" tape, remove the tape, and hang the
backing card

Fome-Cor board For making 3D prototypes. It's

polystyrene form sandwiched between
two sheets of thick paper.