The document summarizes the user-centered design approach taken in the DEUS research project to develop solutions for deploying and easing use of wireless services. User research was conducted through observations and interviews in different application domains to understand user needs and tasks. Personas and scenarios were developed from this research. Prototypes of the solutions were iteratively tested with end users to refine the design based on usability feedback. The goal was to develop generic solutions that addressed common user requirements across application domains.

1. DEUS
Deployment and Ease Use of wireless Services
User Experience
Introduction – DEUS approach
A user-centred design philosophy was followed throughout the DEUS research project.
This included several methods for designing, developing and evaluating user-friendly ICT-
applications.
The first step in this process was to research the generic user requirements for the
different application domains. Therefore a user and task analysis was conducted. This
analysis takes into account three aspects: the user, his tasks/goals and the
context/environment. By observing users in their natural context, these aspects can be
studied realistically and in great detail. The goal of this analysis was to gain insight in the
way tasks have to be performed, and define a complete set of tasks and subtasks.
Analyses were done in a residence for elderly persons (OCMW Gent), in cultural heritage
centre Lamot and in art centre De Vooruit. The user and task analysis allowed the
researchers to observe people while they configure a wireless network with the current
tools and software. Together with the different partners in the project a selection of end-
users and situations were chosen.
The characteristics of the users and the context are also taken into account, including the
user's information need in each context. These results were presented via user
requirements, personas (see Figure 1) and scenarios.
In a second phase, a conceptual model was developed. This was a translation of the user
and task analysis into a specific design and corresponding information structure. The
conceptual model described a set of integrated ideas and concepts that explains how the
system should look and behave in specific situations. The model is described with a set of
activities, interface metaphors and interaction paradigms.
In the third phase, storyboards and paper prototypes were developed and tested with
end users in order to get feedback on the DEUS solutions’ concepts and user interfaces
that were made. This iterative process of evaluation made it possible to identify problems
related to usability, usefulness and user experience in an early phase of the project.

2. DEUS
Deployment and Ease Use of wireless Services
DEUS solutions
All the DEUS solutions are based on the experiences and findings of real life users. The
'end user' was the central figure in the research. The user research was applied in the
development of the DEUS solutions as follows:
• Knowledge of current use of wireless networks
By observing and questioning the end-users that deploy, manage and use the
wireless networks in their natural environment, a thorough insight was gained in
the ways how wireless networks are configured and what the problems arise. In
this way it was possible to ensure that the current way of working was supported
by the DEUS solutions, that problems were solved or prevented and that user
needs were met.
• Generic user requirements
A listing of all user requirements for each applications domains was made.
Commonalities and specific needs were identified. It was in the interest of all
application domains and end-user organizations to maximize the commonalities.
In this way a generic solution was created for all application domains. Interaction
and discussion with the technology providers ensured the development of future
oriented and low cost scenarios.
Figure 1 User requirements Vooruit
• Representation of users and their problems and needs
The user and task analysis resulted in a set of personas
(typical characteristics of the users summarized in
different profiles). These specific personas were uniquely
developed for all scenarios of each use case and were
based on the traits and expectations of real end users. In
the development of the DEUS solutions, these personas
were used to match the iterative versions of the solutions
with the end users’ characteristics, problems and needs
at all times.
Figure 2 Persona rondleiding

3. DEUS
Deployment and Ease Use of wireless Services
• Matching user expectations
Each use case was split up into different scenarios, reflecting real life tasks
executed by the users that were interviewed. Each scenario proposed by the
research consortium was mapped onto the expectations of the end users,
resulting from the user research. Doing this made it possible to continuously take
these expectations into account during the development of the DEUS solutions.
• Development of user interfaces
The user interface and general interactions of the DEUS solutions were based on
the user requirements derived from the user and task analysis. By continuous
assistance of usability experts in the design process, usability issues could be
tackled from an early phase onwards.
• Low-fidelity prototyping – paper prototyping
Storyboards and paper prototypes or low-fidelity prototypes of the different user
interfaces were developed for the DEUS solutions. These prototypes made it
possible to get feedback about the functionality of the design early in the
development lifecycle. The prototypes were iteratively tested by means of
formative usability tests with real end-users from the target group in the contexts
as specified in the use cases. These low-fidelity prototypes were subsequently
used as input for the further technical development.
• Iterative formative usability testing
The low-fidelity prototypes as well as the further developed versions of the
interfaces were iteratively tested by usability experts and real end users. These
premature modifications of the product guaranteed the qualitative support of the
design process. This way, the prototypes have evolved to models/designs which
come closer to the final product. Final testing will be done with the stationary or
portable usability lab in the real user context.

4. DEUS
Deployment and Ease Use of wireless Services
Project partners
In cooperation with
IBBT research groups
UGent - IBCN http://www.ibcn.intec.ugent.be
UGent - WiCa http://www.wica.intec.ugent.be
UA - PATS http.www.pats.ua.ac.be
KU Leuven – DistriNet http.www.distrinet.cs.kuleuven.be
KU Leuven – CUO http://ww.soc.kuleuven.be/com/mediac/cuo
UHasselt - EDM http://www.edm.uhasselt.be/