Adoption
At i2Q/Synetrix during the development of the applications making up the OPENHIVE platform, we adopted a number of new working processes and technologies like Agile Development, Microsoft Silverlight with a new (Model-View-ViewModel) application architecture, and a User-Centred design process.
Applying an Agile development process has improved our delivery. Silverlight has enabled us to provide rich, flexible and powerful user experiences which in conjunction with an MVVM architecture have allowed the smooth integration of interface and logic.
Informing all of this is the User-Centric philosophy we aim to follow in the design and development of all our applications.
Commitment
It’s not about the technology
We don’t just churn out whatever data is available, or build an application around whatever funky new features a particular technology has. We focus on understanding what the user really needs to see and do, and how best to help them access and understand it.
The users’ needs come first
What do they want to achieve, and how can we best help them get there? This question is asked regularly during the development of any of our applications or features, from the highest level down to the smallest detail.
The Experience is everything
Just as you would expect any car for sale to get you from A to B, an application should be able to fulfil its basic purpose. The most successful solution is likely more than the sum of its parts and the most engaging, leaving the user with the sense of a positive experience.
Style & Substance
A lack of one of these elements and an application either won’t gain or won’t hold a user’s interest. A uniquely effective solution may succeed (Google search and other ‘killer apps’), but style alone will be found wanting.
Design & Engineering
To implement good interaction design requires a mix of skill sets; the imagination and process of interface designers and the logic and ingenuity of developers. An intelligent interface comes from the two disciplines working closely together.
Collaboration & Understanding
Working with and understanding our existing customers, collaborating to produce the best possible end result. Making use of the wealth of technical, creative and educational knowledge held throughout the company and our own various social networks.
Benefits
So what benefits do we, and ultimately the users of our products gain from these guiding principles?
Better user experience
Ultimately, our adoption of these processes and technologies is intended to produce better software and solutions. That means happy, keen and engaged users of our OPENHIVE learning platform and the tools that comprise it.
By focussing on the users’ requirements rather than what the technology can do or the amount of data we can provide, we hope to create applications that people really enjoy using, and make it as simple as possible for learners, educators, administrators and parents to engage and interact with each other and the learning & teaching process.
Working Process
Working closely with our development partners during the development of the OPENHIVElearning environment helped us achieve a usable, reliable and engaging final product. By involving them in our process, attending our fortnightly ’show and tell’ demo meetings (where we show off the work done during the last development cycle) and contributing to the evolving requirements, we ensure the end result addresses all of the needs of both our customers and their users.
The iterative timeline of the Agile / Scrum process allows us to make improvements to the user interface and content as the project progresses. Each round of feedback feeds into the planning for the next development ’sprint’; informing new functionality, helping to fine tune existing features and resolving issues during the process.
Communication
As we continue to improve our existing applications, develop new features and solutions, and answer evolving requirements, we evolve our development process too. Each new project offers an opportunity to learn from the last.
Feeding into this are more and more ways of connecting with the users of our products, and other solutions out there. Via channels like Twitter, forums like Edugeek and shows like BETT we can get a flavour for what teachers, administrators and technologists are looking for in the field of education. This combined with greater feedback from our own users ‘on the ground’ gives an insight into users’ wants and needs, which acts as a compass when designing new features or solutions.
The Future
I and my colleagues in the Interface team are undertaking a review of our commitment to a design-led process in all aspects of our daily work. This ranges from our reading and subscriptions, the working environment up here in Telford, and how we gain and share information with our colleagues.
Combined with our existing working practices, this will hopefully aid us to produce ever better solutions for all our current and future users. If you have any questions or thoughts, leave a comment below or contact me via Twitter (@spacescape)
