The question I want answered is: “Will users be able to figure out how to start a video chat session in a timely manner?”
Our paper prototype will help answer this by presenting the test user with an interface very similar to that of the final product. By setting it up properly, they should be able to navigate in much the same way any normal user would. We have even included ‘hover text boxes’ made from post-it notes for the buttons which may not be as easily recognizable. All of this should help the user complete the task more quickly, by eliminating unnecessary clicks and keeping him or her on target.
Finally, the most direct way of finding an answer to this question is by timing the test subject. With the use of a camera, we can video-record each test and interpret how long each subject took to complete the task. It should be safe to assume the total time would be even less in a high-fidelity prototype or the real environment, because there would be no extra time spent for the researchers (us) to find the proper piece of paper for each task.
