Planning your mobile application involves many tools that will help you make decisions before development begins.
Learn the difference between specs (specifications), wireframes, and mock-ups.
If you are planning your mobile application development, you may have come across some unfamiliar terms, such as "specs," "wireframes," and "mock-ups." Are you confused? What do all of these things mean? Each of these terms is a description or example of your mobile app before developing. They are tools which provide a different level of detail that increases at each stage of the process.
This is how we use such tools at IPS:
1. Software Development Project Specs or Specifications – Your Detailed Requirements
Before we begin to develop your software - web or mobile app project, we will need to get a thorough understanding of your ideas and the objectives you want to accomplish. We will begin to gather this information by having you fill out a project questionnaire, which gives us a basic idea of your needs. Once we have reviewed this information, we will consult with you to establish more details about the look and feel that you want for your application. All of your requirements will be documented in writing; these are your specifications, or "specs." Your specs will be used to prepare a quote for the software development and your application.
2. Wire-frames or Wireframes – Your Story on Paper
When you choose to begin development on your project, we will prepare a set of wireframes for your mobile application. Your wireframes are a PDF with sample phone or tablet screens and a flow chart that shows how customers will interact with your mobile application.
This detailed design plan will allow you to see a step-by-step illustration of what happens when customers use your mobile application. You will be able to follow the flow chart and examine the illustrations to that you can give feedback.
3. Mock-ups – A Working Example for your Web or Mobile Application
After you have approved revisions to the wire-frames, we will produce a mock-up or a full-sized prototype of your mobile or web application; a workable web or mobile application that you can try out and experience to see if it is meeting your requirements.
At this stage of the process, you can still make requests for changes to get the design and interface just right - User Experience (UX).
Each of these tools enhances the process of planning your web or mobile app. Moving from detailed descriptions to illustrations to working examples ensures that we are on the right track to building app that you need. By taking the time to create detailed models on the front end, you are more likely to be satisfied with the final results.
When we receive your enquiry, we will email you an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) for your protection, and an account representative will contact you to discuss your project.