DigiCivics @ APL – Page 11 – Design log for TCP2031

Week 9 – User test (Re-do)

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 and help us see what we might have missed. 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

The context questions would be similar to what we previously asked at our client meetings which informed us on the direction we needed to go in for our prototype. We decided on creating an app called Plan A Lot where the users would be able to develop communities with different criteria for each level. As the levels increase so would the difficulty by providing more components to drag and other realistic limitations. We hope this app would allow us to open conversations between planners and the youth.

One issue we had with producing the prototype was that we would not be able to drag components onto the 3D plot to create the community. This was a major part of the app and had to look at other means of providing this feature. We were thinking of using either Microsoft PowerPoint or Keynotes to have a demo of the game. However we thought the users would be confused if were to switch from marvel to another software. We decided to print out a plot and get the users to use paper cut outs to drag on to the site, to replicate how it would work in the app. We would use Marvel to show our vision of the app.

We have two user tests. The first will be with the youth council and will be in the planning studios. The youth council will be familiar with this area as this is where we previously held our user interviews. If it was up to us we would have chosen to do it at a school so they would feel comfortable. The second interview would be with Sean Gallagher who works for Capita at North Tyneside Council. For this interview we will be heading to the planning office at North Tyneside which is what we would have chosen as an ideal setting. We decided that two people would talk while the other three would observe. On the second interview one of our members would not be present. Therefore we would have another member speaking on Friday.

We want to keep the user tests informal and just let the conversation flow naturally. We don’t have many questions to ask at the moment. However we hope that user tests will point out things we would have overlooked. There are still small details that we’re not sure of and we hope to get critical feedback to refine our prototype and concept.

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.

What to consider in preparing usability tests?

Towards the end of a design project, we prepare prototypes and product mock-ups and use those to gather feedback from potential users. In preparing for usability tests of prototypes and user interface designs, the following pointers may be useful to consider.

Focus, focus, focus: What’s the most important aspect of your story board to prototype? It’s likely not important to test processes such as sign-ups and log-ins. You may assume that the user has already logged in, they are already at the point of use, where the part of the action states you want to test. Remember the structure of the five-step interview, before you show your prototype, provide a little introduction, e.g., by saying “Imagine you are in the following situation…” (develop context) Then introduce your app.
Clarify the user path: As with story boards, think about the sequence of actions you intend your users to follow as they use the prototype (user paths). How can you design for this sequence? For interface design consider, e.g., appropriate navigation, buttons that give away what to do next, explanatory text (sometimes called ‘copy’) that indicates what users are to do…. Ask yourself what are the five key steps that users need to go through to complete the experience you design for. You can also look at the project repository on the Marvel site, where there are many great examples.
Make it real: The tricky bit of usability testing with the kinds of prototypes we have is to make users believe they interact with the real thing. So consider how you deliver your prototype (e.g. on a tablet?) and what levels and kinds of interactions the prototype efforts users to do.
Speaking aloud: Remember to remind users to speak aloud when you observe their use of the prototype. The ‘speak aloud’ method is a key method in usability testing. Before you give any prompts, hints, or tips, let the user explore your prototype and play with it. Observe what they do and listen what they say. Ask them to things like “What do you think you should do here on this page?” or “What do you wish you could do on this page but can’t?”.
Document and capture: Usability tests are all about testing whether your app works as intended. Keep notes what users do, where they struggle, where they get lost. Remember to make arrangements for how you document the user interactions. For example, in one group we discussed the possibility to develop a template to record observations. This template would list the different pages of your prototype and offer a field to capture written notes. Usability tests also usually depend on protocol analysis, that is alike to a transcript of all statements made by the participant. It would be very good to capture any insightful statements users make.
End on a high note: Do a brief debrief. Have a set of questions read to try sum up the users’ experience and overall impression of the prototype. Always great is the question “If you had a magic want, what three things would you change or improve about this app?” OR “How useful did you find this app” Explore general statements what was useful and what wasn’t, and if the app was usable or not.

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.

Air Quality Group – Week 6 Storyboard

storyboard-box-1

Gosforth high street is a quiet busy street and there are many business on the street. And 96 buses drive through the street everyday which is uncontrolled and air-polluted. So every passenger and pedestrian can see this screen when they walk pass it.

storyboard-box-2

On the right hand side, The tree is our logo and can change depends on the air pollution that can be seen easily. Our whole colors is red, green and yellow (traffic lights color) as it is markedness and attractive. On the center screen, our information is on the left part of whole screen and will not effect bus routes information.

storyboard-box-3

When people scan the code, they can have a link to download our app on apple app store and google play store.

storyboard-box-4

safe route means less-polluted route. Choices can be chosen by ticking the box. This route is planned for people who walking through Gosforth. With healthier routes, more people will choose to walk and this is what we are looking forward and encourage. It may be difficult to use this for car users as they may not want to drive another route as they are not familiar with that and it sometimes has to take more time. If they have to buy something, most of business are on the high street and they do not have other choices. Walk routes are more flexible and easier for people (parents with kids to school, people want to run or jog, people who want to take a walk after dinner) to choose.

storyboard-box-5 storyboard-box-6

We are also considering adding a forum / comment feature on the app so users can get involved in a discussion about how to tackle the air pollution now they are informed.

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.

Blog 6 -Self-built housing

Blog6—A reflective view on Guest lectures:

Joanna:

Great point to include the NGO’s who are relevant to a project. When it comes to self-build houses, NGO’s have great potential to have a greater influence on a much higher quota of people. As well as not only looking for people who are able, we need to ensure clientele are actually willing to commit towards a self-build organisation.
Mentioned that in this day and age, can’t rely on one single technology. This solidified our ideas to include both the website and the application. (Mentioned earlier by Sebastian that both TABLETS and SMARTPHONES are increasing in usage.
The term urban manipulation was used and I very much was in agreement with this. We are essentially, with self builds, trying to manipulate designs with the clients to be more satisfactory and indeed more relevant to themselves.

Joanna talked a lot about a greater need for a more collaborative planning system and I feel this does need to be addressed more.

Matthias:

He talked about the ever increasing role of the Mobile Democracy and its increasing anchor on our lives. This I feel is to be heightened over time and why the use of an app is fundamental to our project.
Interesting how he said that he also used QR codes in his work but did not find them as useful as other methods. The team are going to look at any other potential ideas of which could replace the QR code if this was needed.
Matthias spoke about how in Finland and Denmark, citizen participation is mandatory. We are intrigued on how local governments and schemas have managed to create this culture. How could we use this as influence to get our clients more involved with the design of self-buildings? As well as this, is it law or just local government selective?

He also had a strong theme about partnership and the term strategic partnership was used a lot. For someone to be present as well as active in an area is a very good idea and this would help our project. Especially when it comes to the continuation of the scheme. (If a self-build organisation did have a meeting or a page, using our idea of 3D Modelling should prove we are present in a scheme.)

Some Afterthoughts…

I would say that the guest lectures where very usefully for our team. We have taken some inspiration from them and it has made us this about some limitation of our work also. I am very interested to see the outcomes of the Amsterdam model that was shown during Joanna’s presentation. It was mentioned that local people had to pay a small stipend to the organisations to help with funding. If it’s possible, are any data sets available for people’s views on this, some questions I have are:

Do you feel it’s worth the stipend you pay? (With basic reasoning for an answer)
Are you happy that you pay?
Would you recommend this to other organisation?
What do you feel you have got out of this experience?

Many thanks Sebastian. From the Self Build Team.