Integration of extreme programming and user-centered design: Lessons learned

Abstract

One of the most important factors for the success of a software application is user acceptance by having a usable user interface. Since summer 2007 in our project regarding mobile phone application, we have combined Extreme Programming and User-Centered Design methodologies aiming to deliver usable and useful software. The HCI instruments we have integrated are: user studies, personas, usability expert evaluations, usability tests, automated usability evaluations in the form of extended unit tests, as well as lightweight prototypes. After one and half years we conducted a retrospective full-day workshop with our off-site usability engineer to reflect on the adopted process regarding the HCI instruments. This paper presents those reflections - the lessons that we learned. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.