Understanding Balsamiq Prototyping Tool And Its Capabilities For Software Development Essay.

Design processes for verification and validation of system requirements. 

Use appropriate modelling techniques to specify system requirements.

Produce and communicate to others the functional specifications of a system.

Produce a system implementation, and design and implement integration and testing plans.

 
Investigate state of the art software engineering techniques and technologies, and their scope of applicability for Software Engineering.

What is Wireframing?

Technological advancement has proved to be of great effectiveness and efficiency and the reason for the discussed measure is due to the fact that the developed tools and techniques are cited adequate attention before the deployment. Different factors and tools are there that offers assistance in achieving the above discussed feat. One of them is the prototyping tools. The prototyping tools are the tools that offers assistance in prototyping of the proposed offering before proceeding with the development and deployment of the subject in consideration. The discussed report is developed to offer an insight into the understanding of the prototyping tool and the factors that have association with them. The paper has taken consideration of the Balsamiq prototyping tool as the subject of the paper and will proceed with the understanding of the prototyping tool. The following sections has dived deep into the subject along with its specification and the requirement of the AOBS.

Balsamiq, the subject of the paper “is a rapid wire framing tool that helps you Work Faster & Smarter” as claimed by the official website of the tool. The software claims to make the users relive the moments of sketching the diagrams on the whiteboard however, instead of physical tool the sketching are done on the electronic devices such as computer. However, the question that needs to be discussed is about wire framing and what is it. The wireframe can be described as the basic structuring of the proposed tool and techniques that are based on certain guidelines and pursues a pre-defined layout or a new layout designed for the system to be developed. It enables the user to explore the creative and visual details of the proposed system or software or any other crucial factors. The visual and interaction among the system and the user can also be assumed by the developer. The prototyping can be called as the advanced wireframing. The core functionality of the tool as described by the tool states “You'll generate more ideas, so you can throw out the bad ones and discover the best solutions.

The most prominent features of the discussed tools include the following:

“Quick Add” feature that enable the user to develop an interface at the speed of thought.

“UI library” The UI (user interface) library of the tool offers tons of UI elements which the user needs to drag and drop to formulate the interfacing.

Prominent Features of Balsamiq Prototyping Tool

The tool is also capable of offering feedbacks that assists the user to develop an adequate offering.

“Sketch-Style Controls” encourages the users to sketch on purpose and switching to a wireframe skin.

The official website of the tools claims that the iteration process of the interfaces is simple efficient and time saving which enables the user to focus more on the coding and discussion rather than consuming the time. Additionally, the tool offers “user-test early!” feature that enables the user to run online tests and determine the flaws which can prove to be of great assistance for the user before they proceed with the coding effort.

The tool even offers web versions and the plug-in version along with the basic desktop version which offers the users flexibility to choose the most suitable mode for operation. Another one of the prominent function of the discussed tool is that it offers their party extensions from where the user can access different assistances. The discussed assistances are relevant to the icons, extra controls, tools for code or HTML. Hence, in conclusion it can be stated that the discussed prototyping tool offers some of the most prominent mode of tools that can prove to be of great assistance to the user and will prove to be prominent in achieving the objectives decided by the user.

The requirement of the system has been divided in categories according to the user group of the system and has been discussed as follows:

The system requirement of the system for the youth travelers deems the registration as the first requirement where the user needs to enter their details and according to which the system will create a portfolio of the user. The second requirement of the system in context to the youth demands the need for search option for the room availability and if the room is available then the capability to book the room.  Another prominent requirement of the system is the capability of the group where one person can book room for their associates that is the group leader can book room for his/her group member. The system should also offer the feature of selecting the date for the travel purpose and the accommodation as well. The system should also allow the user to cancel their booking however, a notice period of 2 weeks’ should be kept in place. The final requirement of the system in context with the youth deems that the system should enable the youth users to share their perception about the services offered to them by means of the feedback. The feedback should be attached with a rating module that would enable the user to rate the services of the organization. The prototyping tool can assist the developers to attain the discussed means because of the capabilities it hosts. The UI library will be of great assistance in making the requirements as the features of the system. The user-test early will enable the developers to test the functionality of the system by enabling the latter to test the system from a user’s perspective. Similarly, other features and functionality of the subject prototyping tool will assist in coping up with the requirement of the system.

System Requirements for Youth Travelers

The proposed system will be used by the host who will use the services of the for promotion and other necessary means. The discussed section has taken account of the system requirement according to the needs of the host. The first requirement of the system is that the system should enable the host to register in the system so that they can access the service offered by the organisation. The gathering of the hosts information about the host such as personal details, contact details (Mailing and postal address, telephonic address and others) along with details about the facilities that they offer as part of the accommodation service. The system should also host capability to information the hosts about the organizational services and how they can promote their services over the system with assistance of the extra service packages. The extra service packages here refer to the promotional activities that would assist the facility provider to attract more customers. The payment portal should also be supported by the system so that the host can make and receive the transactions that are needed for their operations. Finally, the system should also offer the hosts with opportunity to withdraw themselves as an associate from using the services of the OABS though a notice period of 2 weeks should be a part of it. In the 2 week notice period the host should be able to refuse the booking orders. Another requirement that the system should deem is that the host can share their opinion about the services of the OABS by sharing reviews on the social media platform which can be achieved by ensuring that the system is capable of transitioning themselves to third party websites.

The third actor that the system should consider is the admin who will be in charge of the system. They will decide the functionality of the system and what changes needs to be made in the requirement and the services offered by the system. The deemed objective can be achieved by ensuring that the system is designed accordingly. The system should offer full freedom to the admin and enable them the authority to accept or reject the requests made by the youth or the host. The system should also support the instant messaging service because the admin at times would need to send a private message to the youth or the host and in that scenario the discussed requirement will be of great assistance. The database adjustment capability should also be offered to the admin by the system because the admins will be responsible for approving the host as qualifiers for the reserve list and further to the active hosts depending upon the availability of the rooms which also cites the need of active monitoring and database upgradation by the system. The room cancelling capability and denying services to the host also needs to be the part of the system. Finally, the capability of promoting the host by providing them with high rating on the organizational website should also be part of the system requirement.

Finally, it can be stated that the requirements of the system are complex and very high which can be fulfilled by the system only if they are continuously tested and upgraded in which the discussed prototyping tool can offer its assistance.

References

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