Design Stage – Page 9 – DigiCivics @ APL

Week 10- User test feedback

This week we were really excited to showcase our prototype to our user clients. The first user test took place on the 8^th December at the planning studios in Claremont. We received a lot of critical feedback that we hope to implement into our prototype. This was with the Youth Council who we can proudly quote “would play with the app” after a few refinements. It’s really eye opening to have these informal conversations about the app as the youth council have reasonable and well thought ideas to further our app.

plan-a-lot-2

These include the rating systems for our leader board. We have a feedback box where users can state what they like or dislike about the design. However the youth council suggested we make it so other users can read each other comments to generate an interactive conversation between users. Another idea that came up was once the user had completed the design of the development they would then be able to place it into a geolocation. Such as placing the design in google earth or maps to show how their design would look in context. This would make their designs feel more personal and gives them a visual to see how their design would fit in and interact with the surroundings.

The second user test took place at the North Tyneside Council. This gave us an insight to how the planners and developers would use the app to open up conversations between them and the youth. We learnt that planners go into schools to give talks about planning to raise an awareness of planning issues. We questioned whether our app could be used for the youth to help provide an input in actual planning applications but were sadly informed that it wasn’t feasible. However by introducing our app Plan-A-Lot to the school children it allows both parties to have more open conversations and provides a more interactive experience. We hope it provides the missing connection between the youth, planners and developers.

From the user tests we gained quite a lot of advice and suggestions which we plan to take on board. Some will be ideas for future development of the app and other ideas will be idea’s we can incorporate now.

Week 9 – User testing

This week we continued working on our prototype on marvel. The prototype would give us a chance to see how the users interacted with the app. They would test this out on the 8^th and 9^th of December. In the lecture we watched ‘The five act interview’ by Sprint which showed us how to set up the user testing. The five steps are:

Friendly welcome
Context questions
Introduce the prototype
Tasks
Quick debrief

From this we learnt that we cannot just simply ask them to test out the prototype immediately. Instead, we should ask questions in context such as; have they used any apps related to planning? How they felt about them? Although we already asked these questions at the User Interview at the beginning of the module.

Reinforced throughout the interview was to reassure the user. The user should not feel, as though they are at an interview as, this would lead them to believe there is a right answer. We want the user to think aloud to give us a better understanding of how usable the app is.

We realised that without a dragging feature on marvel the prototype would not help us assess how viable the app would be, how the client would interact with the app without us present. We decided the users would test it out on keynotes with the marvel prototype as a supporting model to show what we envision the app to look like.

During the seminar, we assigned roles during the user interviews. We would have three observers and two speakers. We will be showing the prototype to five people, which means 80% of any faults of our app, would be flagged up. Any other details would be minor details that would not affect the function of the app. Hopefully we would be able to get valuable information from the user testing.

Week 8 – Introducing Prototyping

To follow on from the storyboard, we planned out how we wanted our product to be accessed and seen by the potential users. The next step for us was to plan out our iPad app and work out the display interface, how we wanted to present our idea and capture the audiences attention. We all attended the lecture where prototyping was introduced to the class and as a group we looked at the concept of prototyping, how it would be beneficial and further our work. It was discussed how we could use prototyping and we were shown examples, including ‘Marvel’, a software that would allow us to capture the interface step by step and showcase how we want our application to work.

In the following seminar we set up the Marvel design and started to add the frames to our project. We were slightly stuck with inspiration for how it would look, so we agreed to each go away over the weekend and mock up some of our own designs of how we would want the screen to look and what would be included. Individually, we had to think about what would appeal to the users as our project is aimed at young people, so it had to be kept quite simple and make the application interactive and fun to use. When we came together next, our designs were all the same, in terms of the features we wanted to include and where we wanted the symbols and icons to be placed.

It was a successful week in terms of keeping our work on track and moving forward with our project. The team is working really well together and each of us are having our ideas implemented into the product. The next step for us is to complete the prototype on Marvel and have it finished in time for our user meetings where we will be undertaking user testing.

Week 5: Concept ideas sketch

Our original idea for the project was to create a website – online platform for volunteer groups and wider community in Walker to communicate, share ideas, information and opportunities. While this is still main focal point of our design, during interviews we have noticed that many people in Walker have difficulties regarding computer literacy and/or accessibility to computers or smartphones. To overcome this difficulty we assumed we need to promote our website as well as various courses in computer literacy offered by volunteering organisations across walker, but as well creating a paper version of a ‘newsletter’ – something like yellow pages. This will help to reach to the elderly, and to people who would not be keep on learning how to use a computer. The drawback of printed newsletter is it’s cost, so to cover for it, we believe it would be a good idea to ask local businesses to pay a small monthly fee, so that we can run the website and the newsletter, and for that the businesses could advertise themselves to the local community.

Other alternative that we propose to help to reach out to as many Walker residents as possible is to mount a public interactive displays, where people could gain information what events, activities and opportunities are available for them and sign up for them. Public displays could be placed in libraries, community centres, etc. They would also be provided with easy to read and follow infographics how to use them, so the people won’t be discouraged to use them. Other discussed alternative was a smartphone application, something like a simplified version of the website, but we have agreed that since Walker is facing economic hardships and not many people do have a smartphone, combined with low computer literacy skills it won’t be too useful for the community, at least during first few years of the project.

To summarise, the main point of the program will be the website, as it can be easily modified to suit the needs of the users, and as well as it has relatively low cost of running. It could also help to create sense of community without a need of leaving your home. To reach to computer illiterate people we aim to advertise computer skills training sessions and as well as hand out a monthly newsletter through the mail door. This way everyone in Walker will be informed about opportunities, events and activities, while the cost will most likely be covered from advertisements from local businesses. Public interactive displays can be a helpful add-on to the website for the people who lack a computer in their homes. We estimate that a smartphone application would not be used to the extent it will be worth creating it on so early stage of the project.

Walker Creative Neighbourhood Week 3: User Interviews

Reflection and Summary of the User Interviews

We have arranged two Users Interviews in Walker on 21st and 26th October respectively. On our first interview, we have met Alice McCreadie, project development worker in Worker’s Educational Association and the other two clients Will Benson, manager from Kids Kabin, a charity for children (primary school students) and Gerard New from Tyneside Outdoors, an outdoor youth work organisation which provides young people skills and opportunities. They encourage people to learn and build. The WEA project in Northumbria and Building Future East helps people who want to start a new business and act as a community directory in sharing of resources. On the second interview, we have met Bud Russell and Liz Coates from Worhoose, Francesca Maddison from Building Futures East.

They stated that usually University students, Local Residents, International volunteers as well as parents of the children and youngsters who benefits from the organisations get involved in volunteering, some ex young-groups participants came back as volunteers but drop in and out occasionally. Students come more often but some may come for placements and experiences. They picture the motivation and the way they wanted to volunteer. However, most of the people only volunteer when they know how to deal with the project. Volunteers may lack of confidence when they experience barriers such as application forms. They are afraid of failure. Volunteers may participate in it because their families and friends have received the services before and they have had loyal to it. Parents who wanted to volunteer but haven’t been able to commit and not consistent. Problems with housing and children as well as financial stuff, utilities compulsory and debt. Students are more free and available. But the inconsistency of young person is a problem. They don’t based in the same place and maybe have issue to deal with and cannot arrive on time.

Our aim is to motivate and encourage more people to volunteer in the local area. Clients think that the best way to inspire and develop potential volunteers themselves is illustrating to them the benefits of the volunteering. Build up the strong of pride and unity in Walker. They often said that they want to bring the community together but none of them execute the idea. By offering more opportunities for people to share their resources, such as funds, can help achieving the social needs. People will be attracted to get on volunteering if they are sure that they can have reward and opportunities. However volunteers may come only for reward, such as for CV purpose.

In order to promote our initiative, setting up a webpage and encourage everyone to be on that, increase residents motivation to click on the link, also Get to advertise the organisation and their base through giving out handbooks. Most kids have phone nowadays. According to Will, he will use website for research but not Facebook. Most parents use Facebook but they don’t allow young people to use . School only admit Facebook for age 13+. Sometimes social media might not be an ideal platform for promotion. As we would like to encourage volunteers in a digital way, Internet access is more important as wifi limited throughout the area. The Pottery bank got a suite of computer to offer. The Local mapping idea with tag and present all the barriers, avoid hidden information will help people to know the base for volunteering, so to persuade them to volunteer easily. Other than network, handbook giving to door not run by company but well written might work. It has games, section with local communities group put up their news, spreading their group and organisation around the area. Finding help from local people through the handbook instead of from web found people from elsewhere. It also creates local identity, encourage people to start looking at it. Creating the handbook can be a social enterprising, strengthening social cohesion and awareness of what surround you.

In order to run the project smoothly, we need to encourage local businesses for social reinvestment. They have political investment, they want to invest in a project with good outcome and 100% productive, well prepared, best quality and best time. If these are all possible they will continue to support. We have also concerned about the role of local authorities, the clients suggest that they should have participation but they shouldn’t have a role in it. The initiative is acting for the community’s social health, the authorities should have responsibility to buy and share them as local residents don’t have money and expertise to do it.

Other than our proposed initiative, Building Future East has an education course for the benefit of young people in the area, formal education allows higher education for adult to get back into job.

In Conclusion, our clients looking towards the summer putting together a programme for a family to go in the website and the handbook. Summer holiday planner including activities for different ages, different opportunities for different days. Therefore, volunteers and participants can know whats coming on.

Blog 5- Refining our Concept of an Interactive Energy Dashboard

Following constructive feedback from our ideas presented to the class on the 1^st November we took initiative to reassess the core functions of OUR dashboard and who it could effect. An energy dashboard typically meters and displays quantitative energy consumption data primarily through reading the interior energy inlet and CAN provide a starting point to raise awareness. Sub metering is also an optional strategy that provides a broken down consumption figure based on external appliances from the main inlet in the home.

Ultimately the dashboard we wish to create will highlight real time consumption data based on the national grid provider with projections of informed hypothetical figures regarding renewable resources too. However we wish to motivate and engage the average user, whereby we see the homeowner as the impetus of change and to share an energy saving culture. The drive to “do better” than others would be an encouraging step towards energy saving. This way the neighbourhood will feel as though they each have a part to play in the broader context as a global citizen too.

The Diagram below highlights a real time production/consumption energy dashboard interface for the home.

cropped-filonik

Features such as the energy quota bar (bottom left) are customisable so that the user can track their own progress of kWh consumption.

Source: Filonik ,Queensland University of Technology

Designing Interactive Dashboard Interfaces

On the 9^th November members of the group put together dashboard interface concepts which they considered to be core to the function of the product.

Also factored into our concepts was means of engaging the user in a stimulating way, for example provoking the individual to think about the role they could play in doing their bit and encouraging their neighbours to likewise for the good of the community.

This reiterates that in order to influence the individual’s consumption patterns and to encourage them to be the “impetus for change” in their neighbourhood. Setting this data in context and educating the user contextually could be the answer to this.

welcome

Above is a sketch of a welcome page that attempts to grab the attention of the user and their immediate surroundings in Jesmond

9^th November, Meeting with Delvin and Geremy from Open Lab

The team organised a meeting with Delvin Varghese on the 9^th November, Delvin was able to critique our designs and provide a useful insight into what makes a good dashboard interface that easily interpretable to the homeowner as well as stimulating to use. Delvin undertakes research in the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and so it was useful to hear from his perspective about what makes a simple but stimulating experience for the user that fulfils our task.

Proposed design to Delvin which assumes a website format:

layout2

This design comprises 5 navigable web pages:

(1) Home Page – Aiming to grasp the user by both identifying and familiarising them as a key member of the community that can facilitate change for themselves and the good of the community. One is also prompted to “sign up” on this page.

(2) About – The second page to navigate to is the “about” page which provides contextual information of the drive of the co-operative , as well as community personalities Tony and Steve and their visions ( which the neighbourhood can hopefully relate to)

(3) Stories (with picture wheel)-This page is an area for users to interact with each other, such as sharing their energy saving tips. These will actually be featured articles although users will be encouraged to send over articles. A factor for consideration would be moderating the suitability of the content to enter the public domain or “go live”, so this would most likely be in we form format.

(4)- Introducing the dashboard -The concept of an energy dashboard is then introduced and how one interprets the data so one can utilise it to their personal benefit as well as the wider communication and the environment.

5- Contacts

The content of this page would list the steps the user would take to install the solar energy hardware and a directory of recommended renewable energy providers.

Information on additional hardware such as SMAPPEE energy monitor box devices which measure consumption of individual household appliances would also be available.

Reflecting upon roles of the dashboard in engagement and fulfilling our task

A recent study by oxford university “open to change project” highlighted that game designers are good at representing quantitative measures of performance as qualitative indicators of social capital. It was echoed by Delvin also that the user may understand the cause of saving energy but to set it as a trend the best process to do this is by instilling reward by social capital in addition to obvious individual financial gain.

It became apparent that engaging the user so that there was some sense of immediacy to the data or put into a relatable context would be far more effective and interpreted more instantaneously.

A customisable “quota function” as a progress bar so that the user can set themselves goals.
Visual/contextual prompts for energy saving displayed in different measures such as money and also kWh converted to kg of C02 saved.
Gamification of the savings could also make co-operating to save energy amongst the community more appealing for example to share your progress and challenge individuals and groups.

Moreover it would help us reach the goal that underpins our project .

“Support residents, organisations and businesses in Jesmond in adopting a more energy efficient approach to their current consumption patterns”

Plan A Lot. Planning a lot at a time.

Cogito ergo sum.

Just as we started to go deeper and refine our offerings, we stepped back. We thought.

Why did we do it? Who would it help? What made it deserved to exist?

We simplified. We started over. We’ve made it better.

And this is it.

Walkers: Designing Storyboards (week 6)

Week 6

While we have settled on the function of the webpage, we will be focusing to demonstrate the voting system and the volunteer point system in the storyboard.

photo-20-11-2016-01-51-40

The voting system is a function for basic members to create their event on their own via Notice board. When they choose the ‘event’ categories in the notice board, they may be able to uphold their own event concerning no matter what. For example, in the above picture, a resident may be unsatisfied with a dirty park. He may send a post recruiting volunteers to clean it up. By inserting a number of minimum participants need (e.g. 20 people need here), the event will be created automatically on the calendar when 20 interested participates click ‘yes’ in the post. This save works in administering and can allow people to have a first try in participating in volunteering without processing a lot of registering process that gives pressure on them.

photo-20-11-2016-17-40-36

Another storyboard showing is one demonstrating how the volunteer point system works.

Volunteer points can be earned through holding and participating events. We try to make the online points to have an actual benefit in real life so as to encourage the community to involve in it. There are three major ways to use it:

It can act as a counter for organization to know how active a participate in the community. It somehow works as an online cv, but more informal one to show some organization in the site who are potential volunteers or employee.
When the points continuously add on, participates may unlock achievement and level up as higher level members to have higher authority (like admin) to edit post etc. Achievement may include exchanging for volunteer hours on CV in certain rate. (1 :1 may do also).
By cooperating with business we can offer discounts through exchange points. (may involve another unit for exchange since the volunteer hours should not be gone when you purchase anything)

Both story boards are just showing the basic concept and may not be complete and thorough enough. We will continue to try editing for the final output.

Blog5 for self-built housing(1)

Blog 5

Ⅰ Reflection of the mid-term presentation

After the mid-term presentation, we found that most of the groups choose use an App as a digital tool to solve the problems. App is more popular among the young people, so our group thinking about create an extra App which can be linked to our website. In this App, we try to provide an implementation of design process and create a more direct contact between the customers and the self-built housing Co-op.

Ⅱ Sketches / concept ideas

APP Design:

To involve self-build organizations with the design concepts. This includes a multi login page, with 3 types of login. These include people already registered, sign in with Facebook and also a register.
** 1011049481 **

Include images of geographically located areas with ease of understanding for multi-generational use. We get this idea from the seminar, and try to add this into our APP. This section will link to the Google Map and help people to know the distance between their houses and the nearby services.

As well as this, having individual pages for other aesthetic principles including galleries of self builds and furniture buffers.

The program section will involve pictures of local self builds, which basic descriptions and more information too.

When it comes to the design page, we decided to take inspiration from a catalogue portfolio. The dimensions, materials and colors also, so people really can feel like they are making a different when it comes to design principles.

In the galleries section, there will be pages or present self-build homes, and potential blueprints for an individual to use also. There will also be a number of bedrooms’ slider, this is so the individual will be able to see designs that fit their criteria a lot better. – As well as this, we have thought about the audition of an advance settings page so again, people can very detailed, specific recommendations giving them more control over the process. app-design

When it comes to feedback, we feel this is going to be one of the most important sectors of the whole process. Recommendations from people who have used the site and have had a gain in their knowledge and participation, are the key for this service to keep going. Perhaps a rating system could help to see if there are any connections with self builds and see if any certain principle is more popular.

Include a real time chart of people interaction and their views also. This would enable the architects and the people who are involved with the self-build to be more active in what they need to do. This would be a great way to link the online website and the application as well.

The potential weakness & limitations:

We feel that a limitation for our idea is simply getting the publicity for people to use our app/site in the first place. Perhaps if self-build organizations in the area where prompted to actually promote it then there wouldn’t be an issue.

Another limitation is the actual size of the application. With such an expansive gallery and many features that we would like to offer, we don’t want this to take up significant space on our client devices.

Blog 4 – Energy Dashboard

After reviewing on our interviews with Tony and Steve, we have evaluated our goals again for initial development on our designs. We had ‘to support residents, organisations and businesses in Jesmond in adopting a more energy efficient approach to their current consumption patterns.’ as our initial ultimate goal, and this does not change.

With the details of what the client want in the energy dashboard we are going to developed, we tried to do some more in depth research on different dashboards as examples for us to get an idea on our initial design. Each of us brought in an example of an energy dashboard we found on the internet and indicate what is the pros and cons of every single detail of it, hoping to pull all the best things about each dashboard together to create the most suitable one for Jesmond. There were examples from America, Lincoln University and other companies, each has a different feature depending on the building it serves (eg. university campus, accommodation, commercial building etc)

However, we would still need different datas from the stakeholders in Jesmond in the future for further development. We would also need to decide on creating an app or a webpage for the Jesmond residents based on which one we think would allow more people to look at it constantly and conveniently.