← VCE Software Development U3O2

SRS content: user characteristics and technical environment

The SRS section describing the users (their skills and needs) and the hardware, operating system, software and network the solution will run in.

Part of: VCE Software Development - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 54, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 1 — User Experiences and Interfaces — Module 28

Understanding SRS content: user characteristics and technical environment in VCE Software Development U3O2

What it does: This entry describes user skills and needs, which is a user characteristic in the SRS. Hardware covers the physical devices, such as tablets, their memory and screen size. A colour scheme is a design decision. Naming Windows 11 and macOS states the operating systems the solution must support. A network dependency is a connection the solution relies on, such as internet access for cloud syncing. Timeframes and team size are project planning details. Describing users' skills, experience, age and accessibility needs helps developers design a solution that suits them. The technical environment sets the conditions the solution has to run in, so it guides development and testing.

Common mistakes: Year 7 students who need simple, large buttons are beginners. The user characteristics must match the real users, so the line should read 'Skill level: beginner'. An SRS states the minimum hardware needed to run the solution, not a maximum. It should read 'RAM: 4 GB minimum'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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Learning
Duo
Which detail belongs in the user characteristics part of an SRS?
The Gantt chart showing when each task will be finishedStaff have basic computer skills and need large, clear buttons
Matches
Technical environment: Users are Year 7 students who need large buttons
↓
User skills and needs are placed in the technical environment. They belong under user characteristics, while the technical environment covers hardware, operating system, software and network.
Applying
Meanings
Term
technical environment
Meaning
The SRS section describing the users (their skills and needs) and the hardware, operating system, software and network the solution will run in.
Practice
User characteristics:
Testing
Gaps
3.1 : Year 7 students
Check Answer
Spots
1User group: Year 7 students
2Skill level: expert developer

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Quick Questions

1. Which detail belongs in the user characteristics part of an SRS?
A. Staff have basic computer skills and need large, clear buttons ✓
B. The Gantt chart showing when each task will be finished
User characteristics describe who will use the solution, including their skills and needs. A Gantt chart belongs in project management, not in this section.
2. Which statement describes the hardware part of the technical environment?
A. The app must run on tablets with 4 GB of RAM and a 10-inch screen ✓
B. The app must have a blue and white colour scheme
Hardware covers the physical devices, such as tablets, their memory and screen size. A colour scheme is a design decision.
3. An SRS says the solution must run on Windows 11 and macOS. Which technical environment detail is this?
A. Operating system ✓
B. User skills
Naming Windows 11 and macOS states the operating systems the solution must support.
4. Which is a network dependency the SRS should record?
A. The app will be coded in 6 weeks by a team of three
B. The app needs a stable internet connection to sync with a cloud database ✓
A network dependency is a connection the solution relies on, such as internet access for cloud syncing. Timeframes and team size are project planning details.
5. Which is a software dependency the SRS should record?
A. The solution should have a modern, friendly feel
B. The solution needs Python 3.11 and a SQLite library installed ✓
A software dependency is other software the solution needs in order to run, such as a language runtime or library.

Match the Pairs

User characteristics → The SRS section describing who will use the solution, including their skills, experience, age and needs
Technical environment → The SRS section describing the hardware, operating system, software and network the solution will run in
The SRS records user skills and needs so the design suits the people using it → Users: Year 7 students, basic computer skills, need large buttons and simple menus
The SRS records the hardware, operating system and network the solution depends on → Runs on Windows 11 laptops, 8 GB RAM, Python 3.12, needs school Wi-Fi
Technical environment: Users are Year 7 students who need large buttons → User skills and needs are placed in the technical environment. They belong under user characteristics, while the technical environment covers hardware, operating system, software and network.
User characteristics: Needs Windows 11, 8 GB RAM and Wi-Fi → Hardware, operating system and network requirements are listed as user characteristics. They belong in the technical environment, not the description of the users.

Key Term

technical environment
The SRS section describing the users (their skills and needs) and the hardware, operating system, software and network the solution will run in.

Fill in the Blanks

1. 3.1 User characteristics: Year 7 students
Hint: Type the SRS heading for the part that describes who will use the solution and their skills and needs.
2. Operating system: Windows 10 or later
Hint: Type the label for the platform software the solution must run on.
3. Network: internet needed for cloud saves
Hint: Type the type of network connection the solution needs to reach online storage.
4. Technical environment: hardware, OS, network
Hint: Type the word for the surroundings of hardware, OS and network that the solution runs in.
5. Hardware: 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage
Hint: Type the abbreviation for a computer's temporary working memory.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A User group: Year 7 students
B Skill level: expert developer
C Need: simple, large buttons
Line B — Year 7 students who need simple, large buttons are beginners. The user characteristics must match the real users, so the line should read 'Skill level: beginner'.
Question 2
A Hardware needed:
B RAM: 4 GB maximum
C Storage: 500 MB free
Line B — An SRS states the minimum hardware needed to run the solution, not a maximum. It should read 'RAM: 4 GB minimum'.
Question 3
A Operating system:
B - Windows 10 or later
C - Any OS ever made
Line C — The SRS must name specific operating systems and versions that the solution will run on. 'Any OS ever made' is vague and unrealistic. It should be something like '- macOS 12 or later'.
Question 4
A Network environment:
B Connection: school Wi-Fi
C Speed: 10 MB minimum
Line C — Network speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). MB is a unit of storage, so the line should be 'Speed: 10 Mbps minimum'.
Question 5
A Hardware needed:
B CPU: dual-core 2 GHz
C RAM: 4 GB minimum
D Storage: 2 GHz free
Line D — GHz measures processor speed, not storage space. Storage is measured in MB or GB, so the line should be 'Storage: 500 MB free'.

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