Applying Paper Prototyping in the Design Of IOT- Based Emergency Response Interfaces
Abstract
Usability plays a critical role in the effectiveness of Internet of Things –based emergency response systems, where operators must interpret critical information and act rapidly under high- pressure conditions. Despite advances in sensor technologies and real-time data transmission, interface usability is often evaluated late in the development lifecycle, making design flaws costly and difficult to correct. This study investigates the application of paper prototyping as an early- stage usability evaluation technique for IoT-based emergency response interfaces. Using a mixed- method research approach, hand-drawn paper prototypes of an emergency response dashboard were developed and evaluated through simulated emergency scenarios involving fifteen participants with relevant system familiarity. Data were collected through direct observation, structured questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. The findings reveal that paper prototyping effectively exposes usability challenges related to navigation clarity, alert interpretation, information prioritization, and cognitive load. A total of thirty-two usability issues were identified and iteratively refined, resulting in improved task completion efficiency and high user satisfaction levels. The study demonstrates that paper prototyping is a practical, low-cost, and human-centered approach for improving the usability of IoT emergency response interfaces at early design stages. These findings contribute empirical evidence to Human–Computer Interaction research and support the integration of paper prototyping into the design process of safety-critical IoT systems.
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