Evaluating Usability Data Across Multiple Levels of Prototype Fidelity

Terézia Klieštiková

Supervisor(s): Ing. Erika Váczlavová

Slovak Technical University

Abstract: In this paper, we propose a comparative evaluation of prototype fidelity levels to provide guidance for choosing appropriate prototyping approaches during the user-centered design and evaluation process. Our work explores how much evaluative insight can be obtained from prototypes of lower fidelity and in which situations higher-fidelity prototypes become necessary to address specific usability and interaction questions. The study was conducted on the development of an educational tool for digital histopathology, aimed at leveraging the benefits of digitized image annotation in the educational process for pathology students. We conducted task-based Usability Testing sessions of each prototype fidelity level, supported by quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback. The comparison of the results examines how prototype fidelity influences the reliability of collected data and the depth of insight into user behavior. Based on these results, we derive a set of recommendations for future research and design, supporting informed prototype fidelity selection in user-centered development, as fidelity levels align with different design stages, from early validation to detailed interaction evaluation.
Keywords: Human-Computer Interaction
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Year: 2026