Requirements gathering for a user interface developer

Plan

I planned to have a thorough research on the Internet and from relevant people in the user development field to help me understand necessary elements and skills in user interface development. I planned to make use of online free training courses on user interface development and to have a test that would help me to assess my understanding of the task. I planned to have fluency in the area of front-end development languages like HTMl5, CSS, and JavaScript. I would also within the two week ensure that I have competence in the web application development programming languages. That would include Java, PHP, dot NET, XHTML, AJAX, and Ruby. That is because the programming languages are useful for coding the user interface. I would endeavor to understand how to use Adobe Creative Suite programs like Flash & Flex, Illustrator and Photoshop to mock up and design the user interface elements.

I planned to understand how to conduct the usability testing and fix the user interface problems. I planned also to know the basics of the leading database management systems and the way to gather real-world intelligence from users. I also planned to have a thorough understanding of the content management systems like Joomla and WordPress. I would also refresh my soft skills in the areas of verbal and written communication, project management and team leadership. I planned to understand how to carry out the design of a user interface that is market-oriented with the emphasis on usability maximization. I planned to acquire creative, technical as well as analytical skills as they are vital in user interface development. I planned to understand fully how the front-end and the back-end or user interfaces work.

Action

I came up with the timetable that would help me to plan for the activity of gathering requirements for the user interface developer. In the first week, I carried out research on the Internet and in the evening hours and the morning I would attend an online course. My tutor taught me about the front-end languages like HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS. He also helped me have the knowledge and practical skills in the application development languages like Java, dot Net and PHP and gave me exercises after every module. In learned how to use the content management software, particularly WordPress and Joomla. I followed the development process closely to understand all the necessary requirements and how to designer an interface that is attractive to users. The helped me understand how the Adobe Creative programs work, especially Photoshop and Illustrator.

Carried out Internet research and to understand the soft skills required for a user interface developer and refreshed again my skills. I learned from the Internet how to create menus, tabs, view, and how to create an interface that is user specific, for instance, a hospital-based user interface. The second week I interacted with some of my friends who helped shed more light in the user interface development area. I developed with them interfaces specific to different environments from the design to coding. They helped me to refresh my programming skills in Java and PHP. I learned how to make the interface as precise and attractive as possible. I learned how to make the user interface interactive on the different platforms. I learned how to use interface icons and how to make them relevant.

Observation

I observed that the user interface is one of the most important elements of and system as it is the point of contact between the user and the system. I observed tat it ranges from the designing simple sketches to coding and the UI developer ahs to have programming skills and design skills. I observed that there were front-end development languages and back-end development languages with which a UI developer has to be conversant. I also observed that a user interface developer has to demonstrate critical, technical and analytical skills. He has to visualize the requirements of the interface and think about it in the context of the particular environment for which he/she has to develop the user interface. I also observed that an interface cluttered with information cannot pass user acceptance testing.

I observed that the internet is rich with information, but one ahs to contact experts in the field so as to acquire the practical skills as they are the ones that employers want from UI developers. I observed that user interface assessment tests are important so as to help internalize the interface development concepts and acquire the practical skills to gain competence in the area. I observed that a user interface developer can only competent when he/she has the necessary programming skills in both front-end and back-end, as well as design skills using Adobe programs. I also observed that communication skills and interpersonal skills are essential for the development work of the user interface. That is because the developer ahs to make communication with the users and stakeholders of the project. The user developer also according to my observation has to be a team leader because the user interface development is a project that requires following all stages of project development.

Reflection

The timetable I created was very helpful in helping me plan for requirements gathering activities. In the morning of the first week, I would attend class and learned vital elements regarding users interface development. In the evening, I would carry research on the Internet and top up on what I learned in the morning. It also gave me an opportunity of practicing what I learned in the morning. It helped me to have not only the theoretical skills concerning the user interface development but also practical skills. It helped me to acquire the discipline of time in light of how to use my time as this is very important for any user interface development project. Such a plan helped me to gain most or the experience and skills required for a user interface developer. The tutor was also very helpful despite the fact that the course was free. He committed his time to help me free of charge.

The Internet is very rich with information regarding the requirements and tools for user interface design and development. It also provides you with the job opportunities that help you to check the requirements for user interface developers. I felt that I did not create enough time for this task as in was not able to learn everything required for a user interface developer. There are many things that the tutor did not address because of the time factor and so I felt I should have created more time for this process. The task gave the confidence as a user interface developer as I checked with the online user developer job advertisements and discovered that much of the skills I acquired are in the requirement.

Carolyn Morgan is the author of this paper. A senior editor at MeldaResearch.Com in paper college 24/7. If you need a similar paper you can place your order from custom nursing papers.