Microsoft Interview Question
Program ManagersTeam: Office
Country: United States
Interview Type: In-Person
This is a very ambiguous question. We need to ask a lot of questions to clarify what we really want to build.
I would think more structurally to showcase a classic approach rather than thinking in all directions.
Looking at the sentence there are 2 key players - kids and controller - we need to figure out what kids wants to do with controllers.
Personas -
Kids - they will use the product
Kids parents, guardians, teacher, baby sitter - they would probably need to know how to operate it too to help kids
Lets discuss all attributes of kids and controller
Kids -
What age?
Any specific type of kid? - for all, with some disability? any particular disability?
What is the purpose?
how are kids going to interact with controller?
Controller
what is the purpose?
what age range to target?
how frequently will it be used? based on that we can determine its size. Wearable?
Safety concerns - kids safety requirements
Color - kid friendly colors - kids fav colors
Material used - kids friendly
Now it suppose we locked down to a controller for video game?
Think about size of kids hand and based on age range we may need multiple designs
Basically think about all aspects and bring down core requirements which is what is needed for questions like these
Controller Question for Kids –
1. What sort of controller?
2. What age group of kids?
3. Design
a. Mode – one or multiple, i.e. Simple, Medium, Easy (considering age groups)
b. Basic or technical
c. Long or small
d. Color
e. Wireless or Wired?
f. How many keys?
g. 3D, or virtual imaging or Gesture recognition
4. Durability
a. Unbreakable
b. Water proof
c. Key strength (for longer usage)
d. Key durability (for longer usage)
e. Pressing buffer quality
5. Cost
6. Mode of Energy
a. Electricity
i. 220 AV
b. Battery power
i. Stand-by usage
ii. Usage in one full charge
iii. Charging time (from Zero-full)
7. Performance Tests
a. # of keypresses per seconds
b. Life span key pressing
c. Right/Left hand support
d. Stress Tests – for usage, breaking, water, battery.
e. Range tests (for Wireless)
8. Accessibility tests
a. For blind or color blinds
b. Vibrator features
c. Embossed keys for better sensitivity
Controller Question for Kids –
1. What sort of controller?
2. What age group of kids?
3. Design
a. Mode – one or multiple, i.e. Simple, Medium, Easy (considering age groups)
b. Basic or technical
c. Long or small
d. Color
e. Wireless or Wired?
f. How many keys?
g. 3D, or virtual imaging or Gesture recognition
4. Durability
a. Unbreakable
b. Water proof
c. Key strength (for longer usage)
d. Key durability (for longer usage)
e. Pressing buffer quality
5. Cost
6. Mode of Energy
a. Electricity
i. 220 AV
b. Battery power
i. Stand-by usage
ii. Usage in one full charge
iii. Charging time (from Zero-full)
7. Performance Tests
a. # of keypresses per seconds
b. Life span key pressing
c. Right/Left hand support
d. Stress Tests – for usage, breaking, water, battery.
e. Range tests (for Wireless)
8. Accessibility tests
a. For blind or color blinds
b. Vibrator features
c. Embossed keys for better sensitivity
Controller Question for Kids –
1. What sort of controller?
2. What age group of kids?
3. Design
a. Mode – one or multiple, i.e. Simple, Medium, Easy (considering age groups)
b. Basic or technical
c. Long or small
d. Color
e. Wireless or Wired?
f. How many keys?
g. 3D, or virtual imaging or Gesture recognition
4. Durability
a. Unbreakable
b. Water proof
c. Key strength (for longer usage)
d. Key durability (for longer usage)
e. Pressing buffer quality
5. Cost
6. Mode of Energy
a. Electricity
i. 220 AV
b. Battery power
i. Stand-by usage
ii. Usage in one full charge
iii. Charging time (from Zero-full)
7. Performance Tests
a. # of keypresses per seconds
b. Life span key pressing
c. Right/Left hand support
d. Stress Tests – for usage, breaking, water, battery.
e. Range tests (for Wireless)
8. Accessibility tests
a. For blind or color blinds
b. Vibrator features
c. Embossed keys for better sensitivity
I will start with the basic requirements and the target users.
- akhuia@uw.edu November 29, 2013Target Users : Kids
Age group: 0-3, 3- 10, 11 - 18? They are all different with different amounts of technical literacy and maturity.
Lets consider for 0-3 and 3-10 to begin with:
The controller should be:
a. Light and smaller
b. Strong - damage resistant against banging it, throwing it on the floor, etc.
c. Water and food proof/resistant: Water and food spills shouldn't go inside it.
d. Should be made up of non-toxic material (if possible with horrible taste but no odor so that even if kids lick it, they shouldn't be harmed)
e. If it is wired, the juncture and the wire should be pretty strong so that it can take a good amount of stress (kids tend to swing the controllers by the wires)
f. A small piece of material can be added so that the controller is slide proof - doesn't slide off an incline.
g. Buttons should be easily press-able and the controller shouldn't be easy to disassemble.
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h. The buttons on the controller should be designed in accordance with the types of games that would be made for this age group.
i. The same goes for their colors, symbols, etc.
The I would go ahead and design something with these points in mind.