team 3 (16/17) – DigiCivics @ APL

Air Quality Group Week 7

Approaching the set methods to create our prototype we first faced which prototyping resources would be the most effective form of communication with the User Groups conveying the set message of air quality activism in an easy approachable format.

A Prototyping model is built, tested, and then reworked as necessary until an acceptable prototype is finally achieved from which the complete system or product can now be developed. (SearchCIO)

As outlined our approach to prototyping our concept would have to convey effectively our concept while being open to change depending on the user’s feedback, for this Marvel seemed an appropriate resource for prototyping allowing a visual and easy to use fundamental app dashboard concept façade to be displayed and tested by the user groups hopefully allowing easy understanding and honest feedback, to fully display our concept Marvel provided a good displaying platform however to fully depict our concept Adobe Photoshop is also a reliable and efficient prototyping tool to allow concept images to be displayed in a real world image environment to further engage the audience.

To create our prototype our team had to decide on a format that is accessible to a wider audience of pedestrians and commuter of various ages, to effectively target both a pedestrian and commuter audience the prototype would be in two part with two member primarily in each while also working and assisting the other part of the prototype. A Marvel App is to be designed on edition for pedestrians and one for commuters displayed on the adverting space already existing on current bus tops.

To promote air quality activism displaying of accessible information is crucial in engaging the user audience along Gosforth high street both pedestrian and commuter. This is to educate and promote community matters such as air quality pollution in the surrounding neighborhood by creating a need to talk and address these issues which are held back due to the current difficulty of interputating the existing data generated by the air pollution censors already fitted along Gosforth high street and projected by Newcastle’s Urban Observatory.

Air Quality Group – Week 10 User Test Feedback

User test: Peter Macdonald

Presentation of the bus stop:

Concerning the Bus stop display, Peter is liked the concept and the design but found there was too much data on some of the screens when looking at them. He suggested to put more consequences of pollution on health on the display, like on the screen have the “data” related of asthma (This is the impact of this level of pollution). The data on the impacts can be found on the website of SPACE for Gosforth, exactly in the blue house link.

He said he can provide us with some catchy phrases for us concerning the impact of air pollution.

Test of the application:

Concerning the app, Peter found all of our pages without difficulties. He navigated easily in the app, find what he wanted to show us and ask questions. He liked the app, but there is a text in the part for people by foot which it maybe too much “violent” or “hard”. He asked us to send to him this picture to ask to other people.

After the test he put forward the proposition of app user having a profile to have a more personalised app, to record the history or the users location. After one month, six month, twelve month for example, put the effect of the real pollution on the health corresponding of the historic of locations because the pollution on health is a long term effect.

User test: Peter Smith

Presentation of the bus stop:

Peter also like the design and concepts of the bus stop display and found it easy to understand what was being shown to him. However during the test we found that what was being displayed on the bus stop display was not enough to concern him with air pollution. Like the other Peter he would of liked the health impacts of air pollution to be shown.

Test of the application:

When using the app Peter was able to navigate to all the pages and functions with relative ease. He liked the concept of the map but said it would not deter him from going to the high street at times of high air pollution as he has to buy food for himself and others.

Additional Information:

After the test he expressed concerns about the inclusion of the elderly population in what we are proposing. He said despite being in that demographic others were not as tech-savvy as himself. He then suggested having something like leaflet for people houses in a similar design detailing what is being done and recent air pollution data. This was an interesting proposition as Duncan Young suggested something very similar back at the user interviews stage.

Air Quality Group – Week 8 Prototyping

From this week’s lecture about prototyping we took away as a group that prototyping was about making an example about what your product could be. It also demonstrated how this could be achieved use different methods with varying levels of fidelity.

The methods we considered to prototype our app was Marvel, PowerPoint or drawings on paper. To prototype the bus stop display we considered photoshoping the screens that could be displayed on the bus stop or making a scaled mock-up of the bus stop

We eventually decided to use marvel to prototype our app and Photoshop to prototype our bus stop display. For the app prototype we choose Marvel as it would allow to provide a high level of fidelity in the navigational elements of our app while only showing basic screen designs for the more complex elements of our app such as the AR. For the bus stop we decided just to Photoshop what would be displayed on the screens of the bus stop, this is because it would show the most important element of our design (the air pollution screens displayed on the bus stop) and because we did not think it was feasible to make a scaled mock up in our time frame. In order to make the prototypes the group split into two with each pair focusing on one prototype.

Below are some screenshots showing the outcomes of our prototyping.

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air quality group Week 5

Why:

Bus congestion a major concern towards air pollution levels
Targets pedestrians along the street, public transport users at the stop, users already on the buses when they stop, cyclists and general Traffic
Maximise user’s interaction with older less tech savvy still experience this on the street, simple and bite-size to engage the younger generations ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
Limited space for installations along the street use existing structures (bus stops), more installations on street level can be a hazard to navigation of the street for the disabled community

Interactive Display:

Has options for display and information via pages as well as displaying scale of pollution and connects to the main screen

Logo:

Changes colour (traffic light system) depending on levels of air pollution or the trees health changes size (leaves lost)

AR Feature:

Large display double sided with camera fitted to allow AR view of the street (viewing portal) displaying live data along the street, controlled by the interactive display

Air Pollutants display:

Shows the main 6, displayed in a traffic light colour as indication of the levels (e.g. red being bad) display targets pedestrians (simple navigation for young and old) , public transport and general traffic with bite size information

Accessibility:

Braille like
QR codes positioned on side of the display for audio assistance for the blind
Hearing Aid Channel

Concept ideas:

In the first place, the app for phone or computer needs to be simple to use for everyone. For example, in our presentation pages, we can find only four possibilities. Those possibilities are reduced by type of users, and they can recognise themselves by logos or simple draw.

For the first possibility (1), for drivers, there is a map with traffic congestion, like that they can reflect on fact of traffic congestion. In this part, we can ask for what they need to use this road (for businesses, school, go to the city centre). We can put other solution like buses to go there.

The second logo concerned bicycles (2); they can see a map of areas of air pollution and see a map of bicycling lanes and ask for what they need to go through.

The third (3) it for people by foot, they can have a map for safe areas in term of air pollution, ask them for what they need to be there and have like a game with air pollution in reality augmented.

Finally, the part (4) concerning the associations, in this part we can have links of all association concerned by that and involve more people to be connected with society.

In each page, people can go back and like that a people who planned to go in his job by car and finally decided to go by bicycle, so find alternatives.

Weaknesses:

The most weakness of the app it’s it need to have people who use it to have the real statistics on the new data (for what they through this street). But the combination of the app and boards on street can allow us to reach everybody. Only blind persons cannot have a visual of the air quality.

What we learned about other presentations:

There is a group who considered the QR code on streets to have a direct access to information. For our project, we can consider putting QR codes on boards to have a direct link to download the app or view a web page.

air quality group Week 4

Project Goals:

The initial project goals where;

‘A Newcastle university urban planning focused bottom up campaign initiative to increase user and community awareness of air quality control cantered on Gosforth high street. Working with the users on easy and effective forms of interpreting the data supplied by the air quality monitors situated along the high street, making the data accessible to everybody with the goal of increasing community awareness and support for self-managed air quality control through community projects.’

The Goals have mainly stayed the same as initially outlined, however, we have also reflected on our interviews and the progression in our designs in which have both led to the incorporation of further goals. These include a focus on smart technologies to present data interactively as well as improving the air pollution levels through new material innovations. Another goal we have added is the need for a community behavioural change from the current passive users to a more active user base improving interaction in air quality activism this was formed reflecting on Peter McDonalds interview. Reflecting on our interview with Duncan we decided to add to our project goals in relation to local business interaction and inclusion within our plans.

Examples

Augmented Reality

– Using AR to visualise something, in our case it would be air pollution. We selected this as it could help us engage with younger audiences.

Air Quality App – Breezometer

– This app gives the user real-time information about air pollution across 27 countries. Furthermore, the app gives location-specific notification at times of bad air quality. We selected

Pollution Control Board – Eloor, India

– Large public display that shows real-time air pollution levels. We selected this as it can be shown to everyone on the high street.

Air Pollution Cladding

– Two types, one that cleans the air around it and another that changes colour depending on the current level of air pollution

Clever bus shelter advertising

– A bus shelter that has an interactive display using smart technologies.

Peter McDonald and Duncan Young Interview Reflection week 3

We had an interview with Peter McDonald and got a lot of background information about Gosforth high street and the air quality concerns. The main thing Peter wanted to change is increasing the public awareness of air quality and community activity. The council and people who live there have already taken some actions to improve the air quality, a local council plan was implemented called The Air Quality Action Plan carried out in 2011, However, Peter believes it is not effective as nothing has really changed in the area. There are still 96 bus routes on the high street which is one of the main causes of air pollution and are still not controlled. Ten air quality monitors are situated along the high street and they gather useful data but the data is not easy to access and understand and is therefore largely ignored by the local community. Peter hopes that less people will drive their cars everywhere and walk their children to school if the data is made easily interruptible for the users. They have a Facebook account and people can leave their comments. It is good for them to know what the residents think about but there are not enough people passionate about their community air pollution levels, therefore peter believes a behavioral change needs to be implemented with the local community to increase user activity. Display boards are the best idea for them because it is easily accessible for everyone who passes along the street and easy to understand for children, adults and the old. To some degree, the goal is to make more people realize the importance of air quality activism.

Duncan Young Interview Reflection

1. What is your Role within Gosforth high street?

Duncan stated that as well as being a business owner he was also a resident on the high street and a member of the trader’s association

He also discussed the existence of the trader’s association but said it was limited by the fact that only the independent business got involved.

2. What challenges do you feel Gosforth high street faces?

He said congestion was a huge problem on the high street especially at peak times. He wasn’t really sure on how to solve this personally but one idea he thought of was to divert the limited stop X bus routes via Cowgate instead of the high street. I personally felt this was a bit of nimbyism as the bus would just be blighting the residents of Cowgate instead. He also showed us the local council’s red route plan that local shops fought off despite it potentially reducing congestion on the high street as it would have stopped customers/delivery’s stopping on the high street.

3. Do you know how most of customers currently travel to the Gosforth high st?

He stated that most of his own customers drove to Gosforth High St, he then showed us a survey from 2011 of high street users.

The majority of respondents arrived by car:

66% car

16% bus

6% cycle

29% foot

This was particularly useful as really demonstrated how local shops are dependent on the traffic.

4. How do local shops on the high street feel about the Air pollution?

He said that local shops are concerned but are stuck with the problem that they need the traffic as well. He also said the larger chain shops were not allowed to get involved due to head office therefore their feeling is not known.

5. Do the businesses have an existing plan concerning the high street in general?

They did not have a plan.

6. Are you aware of the Urban observatory data available online at http://uoweb1.ncl.ac.uk/ that shows real time data from the 10 air pollution sensors on Gosforth high street?

He said he was aware there was some pollution sensors but was not aware there was 10 of them and that the data was available online. I found this interesting as you’d of thought somebody based on the high street would be aware of theses sensors.

7. Given the choice of a Smartphone App, Interactive Display on the high street, Emails, Website, Newspaper or any ideas of your own. Which would most likely engage you with air pollution is Gosforth High St.

He said something as simple a leaflet to inform his would work. He then said big token acts are very good but if the resident’s/shop owners don’t know what there about then there pointless. I took away from this statement that whatever we propose must be simple to engage people and be well-advertised so people know what it actually is.

He then ended the interview by saying the problem for business is they need to save the high street without killing it.

interview schedule for air quality 2

Week 2

Interview Questions – Duncan

Introduction

Thank you for your time Duncan, we are second-year students at Newcastle University who are currently looking at air pollution on Gosforth high street. We understand you are the managing director of Sanderson young estate agents which has a branch on Gosforth High St.

1. What is your Role within Gosforth high street?

-How do businesses and shops currently talk to each other? (Is there a traders association?)

– Do businesses and shops (or trader’s association) currently talk to any other groups in Gosforth e.g. Space ?

2. What challenges do you feel Gosforth high street faces?

-How do you personally think these issues should be solved?

3. Do you know how most of customers currently travel to the Gosforth high st?

-Do you feel that is reprehensive for most businesses on the high street?

4. How do local shops on the high street feel about the Air pollution?

-How would local shops feel about a reduction the car traffic to achieve lower air pollution?

5. Do the businesses have an existing plan concerning the high street in general?

– If yes, does this plan mention air pollution?

6. Are you aware of the Urban observatory data available online at http://uoweb1.ncl.ac.uk/ that shows real-time data from the 10 air pollution sensors on Gosforth high street?

– If yes, do you ever look at these sensors ?

interview schedule for air quality group

Interview schedule

This morning, Ben and me are meeting with Peter who has lived in Gosforth a long time and works with people like RNIB (which is to support people with sight less). The meeting will be to discuss the SPACE group and what they have done. What can we learn from the interview about the digital methodS to solve problems. Below is a brief plan for the interview.

Introduction to us

Thank you for inviting us, we are students in newcastle university stage 2. We have a project which is the air quality activism in busy congestion high streets. Our goal is to make the data accessible to the public and increase community awareness and support for self-managed air quality control. We are therefore inviting Peter to our interview to know more about the area and some groups which relevant to the air quality.

Interview

Can you briefly explain what is SPACE and RNIB?
- What they have done in Gosforth with specific questions?
- What role does Peter play in groups?
What challenges do you feel Gosforth high street faces from different parts like environment, transport, business, local residents?
- How do you personally think these issues should be solved?
Do you feel the existing Air Quality Action Plan that from council in May 2011 has been effective?
- If no, why has it not been effective?
Have you ever used digital engagement methods?
- If no, what is your opinion on using digital engagement methods?
- If yes, what method was used and did it work? How many people were involved in using this method?
As you works with people in RNBI, will the disabled community engage with any existing digital engagement methods?
- If no, why they can not be engaged in or they are not willing to engaged in?
- If yes, what challenges are facing the community in accessing different data including air quality?
- How have the local community helped in anyway to allow easy access?
- How would you believe what is the best or most effective method of engagement for the disabled community?
What kind of people do you have in Space (occupation)? How do they be engaged within the group? How do they engage with other members of the community?
- How does Space get feedback from the public?
- Is there any difference for different age groups of people in the community?
Are there any groups of the population SPACE does not currently engaged with?
- Do you think people want to get involved with the issue of air quality in Gosforth if they are given the opportunity?
- Are there issues Space are having to overcome to engage local people?
Given the choice of a Smartphone App, Interactive Display on the high street, Emails, Website, Newspaper or any ideas of your own. Which would most likely engage you with air pollution in Gosforth High St and What is also the best for the disabled?

The end

Thank you.

Blog Entry 1: Air Quality Gosforth High street

Digital Civics: Air Quality Blog Entry 1

Project goals:

FullSizeRender (5) A Newcastle university urban planning focused bottom up campaign initiative to increase user and community awareness of air quality control centered on Gosforth high street. Working with the users on easy and effective forms of interpreting the data supplied by the air quality monitors situated along the high street, making the data accessible to everybody with the goal of increasing community awareness and support for self-managed air quality control through community projects.

Stakeholders & users:

In this project, the main users are students that in both private and church schools, commuters from the North, different business on the street and residents. They are quite important as variety role are played by them. For example, students and the old residents should be taken good care but the poor air quality make them expose under the risk of illness. Commuters come here by private or bus and bring business to this street and shop owners really need them to live. However, they can make traffic congestion as to many cars and buses which is also the main cause of air pollution. As residents, they create a group called SPACE on Facebook, Twitter and website. What they have done is they have posted the problem of the air pollution and explain this to the public. People can say their needs and make suggestions in this group.

At first the council and population wants less traffic on this road because of the
air pollution but the thing is they wants more traffic for the health of businesses. FullSizeRender (4) Besides, there are a lot of data available on a few websites but they are unusable. We think because it’s difficult to understand the data if you are not an expert. For example, for the level of the pollution in air there are only numbers with abbreviations of products. Therefore, to have a better use of data, they need to be more imagery with colours and map for the localisation.

Key Questions for the Sprint

Why does the existing air quality data not work?

We think this could because the current data is hard to interpret and very technical.
One way we could improve this is by colour coding the data so the average resident know it the current amount of air quality is bad.

To what extent are the stakeholders participating with each other?
- Despite Space existing as a community group it is unclear how much corporation there is between other stakeholders such as the GPS forth schools trust.
- We will aim to work with them all in our development process in order the improve links between groups. This is important as the long term goal of improving air pollution in Gosforth will require all the stakeholders to cooperate.