Extending the value of prototypes with Panorama a tool to browse software artefacts

This paper reviews the value of prototypes and proposes a tool called Panorama that links prototypes with other artefacts created during the software development process. The artefacts we consider have been created by either HCI specialists or software engineers during software development. Panorama facilitates the sharing of artefacts and aims to increase the quality of communication between software engineers and HCI specialists throughout the development and maintenance phases. We look at a variety of prototypes created by HCI specialists including static prototypes (bitmaps of sketches, screen dumps, and digital photographs) and dynamic prototypes (derived from UIML specifications). We investigate the value and feasibility of creating links between these prototypes and other design artefacts.