Human-Computer Systems
Coursework: Developing a Requirements Specification

Aim
The aim of this coursework is to develop a detailed understanding in how to capture and specify requirements for a human-computer system

Scenario
You are a member of a product development team within a user-experience company and are responsible for the Human Factors of product design. You have the responsibility of developing a first draft of a requirements specification for a new application.

The following FOUR applications and their contexts have been identified –see also slides from lecture for more information:
• Eco-driving app – to be installed on a smartphone and potentially used while driving to help drivers improve their fuel economy
• A handheld ordering device for ‘drive-thru’ restaurants – used outside by employees of restaurant to take orders from customers queuing in their cars; Information then transmitted ‘forwards’ to the kitchen
• A dinosaur information system – installed in a museum aiming to provide useful and interesting information/services relating to dinosaurs via a walk-up-and-use kiosk
• A health and fitness lifestyle monitor –aiming to encourage a healthy lifestyle – by presenting information on activity levels within homes (primarily families) based on information collected from portable devices (e.g. smartwatches)

Choose ONE of these applications for your coursework. You will then be expected to conduct and report on the following activities:

a) Identify users’ needs for your chosen application. You should do this primarily through conducting a “Context of Use” analysis. In addition, you might wish to carry out some other activities – for instance, you could reflect on your own experiences, look on-line for information/reviews on existing interfaces, interview friends and family about their experiences, and so on. Please though DO NOT capture any data from members of the public.
b) Based on your user requirements, produce a minimum of TWO personas and TWO scenarios, capturing how different users might be expected to interact with the product. Explain how user requirements can emerge from these personas/scenarios.
c) Formalise all the activities you have conducted in parts a and b within a requirements specification. You can choose a structure you believe works best for the requirements you have.
d) Reflect on the process you have undertaken, including the difficulties encountered, limitations in approach, next steps, etc. In particular, I would like you to consider briefly how this user-interface might be evaluated later in the design process.

Submission
You should write a report of no more than 3000 words describing the following:
• A two-page Executive Summary (what you did, what you found – i.e. what are the most important requirements?)
• Your personas and scenarios (approx. 5 pages)
• The detailed requirements specification (approx. 10-15 pages)
• The justification for the specification (approx. 3 pages)
o Description of the approach taken
o The methods used, why they were used, etc.
o Difficulties encountered, limitations in approach, next steps, etc.

Appendices might include the context of use analysis you conducted and transcripts from any other activities (e.g. interviews) you may have conducted.

The deadline for the report is 21st April 2016 (3pm). Please submit your report on-line through moodle.

Getting started
Clearly, the first thing you need to decide is which of the applications you want to focus on. You may make this decision based on your personal interests and/or experiences. The next thing to consider will be how to carry out the context of use analysis. We will start this process in a 2-hour slot on the 15th February – so it is important that you have decided what application you are working on before the 15th. After this you should aim to complete the analysis and work on the remaining tasks of the coursework. Use this then to produce the detailed requirements specification.

Formative feedback session
In week 8 there will be no lectures. Instead you will have the opportunity to gain detailed feedback from me/Sue in 1-1 sessions in our offices on drafts of your coursework. Slots will be made available to book throughout the week. If you want to gain the most from this opportunity, it will be important for you to have a good first draft available for us to comment on. We will provide you with feedback to then improve your coursework (i.e. improve your potential mark!) before the final submission.