Multipurpose Prototypes for Assessing User Interfaces in Pervasive Computing Systems

In pervasive computing systems, prototypes serve several uses and have different requirements related to those uses. We've developed CogTool to enable low-cost, rapid construction of interactive prototypes that serve all three UI purposes. CogTools core prototyping technique is storyboarding -specifically, interactive storyboarding using HTML. Rather than covering all possible pervasive systems, CogTool focuses on systems involving deliberate commands that the user invokes by some motor action. Such systems include PDAs, cell phones, handheld terminals (such as those used by rental car return personnel), in-vehicle driver information systems, and certain wearable computers that run desktop- or PDA-like applications.