Five reasons for scenario-based design
Interacting with Computers, 13 (1):
43--60 (2000)Abstract
Scenarios of human-computer interaction help us to
understand and to create computer systems and
applications as artifacts of human activity Ñas things to
learn from, as tools to use in one’s work, as media for
interacting with other people. Scenario-based design of
information technology addresses five technical
challenges: Scenarios evoke reflection in the content of
design work, helping developers coordinate design action
and reflection. Scenarios are at once concrete and flexible,
helping developers manage the fluidy of design situations.
Scenarios afford multiple views of an interaction, diverse
kinds and amounts of detailing, helping developers
manage the many consequences entailed by any given
design move. Scenarios can also be abstracted and
categorized, helping designers to recognize, capture, and
reuse generalizations, and to address the challenge that
technical knowledge often lags the needs of technical
design. Finally, scenarios promote work-oriented
communication among stakeholders, helping to make
design activities more accessible to the great variety of
expertise that can contribute to design, and addressing the
challenge that external constraints designers and clients
often distract attention from the needs and concerns of the
people who will use the technology.
