A PROTOTYPING STRATEGY FOR USE IN INTERACTIVE ROBOTIC SYSTEM-DEVELOPMENT

A number of techniques, grouped under the umbrella term of usability i nspection, have been devised in recent years to help software develope rs focus more closely on the needs of end-users during the development of interactive applications. Central to the use of such methods is th e question of how proposed designs can be tested before a complete sys tem has been implemented. This paper discusses the role of high and lo w-fidelity prototypes used for this purpose in software development an d proposes the use of a ''variable-fidelity'' prototype as an aid to t he development of interactive robotic systems. The approach is outline d and illustrated through the example application of an Interactive Ro botic Visual Inspection System (IRVIS) developed for use by a person w ith limited physical manipulation skills.