Coursera has a wide range of courses to offer and I had enrolled for the Coursera’s Interaction Design Specialization by the University of California, San Diego. Here we were taught to focus on a human-centered design. This is the Capstone Project and I’m going to showcase my project using all the skills into practice. During this entire process the designs were refined to highlight the concept and get a human centric product.
Design Brief
We travel on daily basis from one end to the other using different modes of transport. By referring to multiple apps or websites the day is planned which further have changes due to availability of the mode. Let the technology plan the day and further give alternatives for the change of plan also.
Let’s design a consolidated Travel app that can give a well planned day.
Need Finding
With the design brief, our first task was to observe people and their travel schedule. The observation was based on different demographics which was further grouped according to the mode of transport. 3 participants were invertivewed and recorded for further reference. By observing and interviewing the participants we got an understanding of the various problems and the breakpoints.
Here are the sample questions.
- What do you do? (Expected response : Basic of the participants, professional background, hobbies, his environment and may be which phone (android or iOS) everything)
- When do you start for work? (Expected response : Capture the time, duration (in hrs or mins) and the mode of transport)
- How do you travel to work? (Get to know which mode of public transport(s), train(s), bus(es), private cab(s))
- How do you pay the fare? (Expected response : drill down more for which mode of payment does he prefer)
Point of View and Observations
Traveler in this city have to travel longer distance for work, business, studies and various other reasons. Since we cannot reduce the length of the route, there are methods to ease down their traveling experience. Considering their digital habits I would like to give a platform, through which they can have a complete update of every public transport they will be using over the day as well as transact. In case of any change in the route, it should indicate them and also show an alternative option.
List of Inspired User needs and insights
- Travelers need an easier way to face the heavy traffic, due to which there was very less time to their personal life.
- Travelers need solution to schedule their day well in advance and updates on the same.
- Travelers need a solution to the taxi surge charges which are raised during the heavy traffic.
- Travelers have to ref to different apps for travelling from one location to another. They need an easier way to travel daily.
- Travelers need a daily route scheduler also with different mode of transport.
- Travelers need a platform through which, transactions can be made digital.
- Travelers need news feeds in case of any roadblocks, or accidents. This will help them change their route to meet the destination.
- Travelers need social media updated.
- Travelers are also expecting a single travel card for all transport mode.
- Travelers also want to digitally top up the card so that they don’t have to stand in the queues for any transaction.
- Travelers need security for the loss of this card, since it will linked to the bank A/c and the Social ID card.
- Travelers are ready to link their Social ID card to their bank accounts, so that the transaction record can be tracked.
- Travelers also need alert for the new routes, or offers made by any operators.
Inspiration Cloud
M-Indicator
Ola
Storyboard
Low Fidelity Wireframe
Interactive Prototype
First Version of Digital Prototype
https://marvelapp.com/b4ae1f4
Heuristic Evaluations
The app was evaluated using the Neilson’s Ten Usability Heuristics.
- Visibility of system status
- Match between system and the real world
- User control and freedom
- Consistency and standards
- Error prevention
- Recognition rather than recall
- Flexibility and efficiency of use
- Aesthetic and minimalist design
- Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
- Help and documentation
In Person Test and Online prototype
This was further followed by an in-person evaluation, where a user operates the app throw paper prototype and expresses his/her feeling. These observations were recorded and further listed with their severity rating. The design flaws were implemented in the interactive prototype and the H.E was further repeated to get a flawless user interaction.
User Testing
The app was tested online with 4 different users and the feedback was collected. The feedback was implement in the design. Keeping the users requirement in mind the user flow was further refined.
The app was also tested in person and the participants was asked to talk a loud. The session was recorded for further reference.
Based on the above observation and online user test, the feedback was implemented in the design.
Second Version of Digital Prototype
https://marvelapp.com/2gg65b3
Conclusion
….I hope, through this article I was able to walk you through the HCI design process. Human Centric Designs are very valuable and effective as we all start emphasising on the human need and their requirements rather than technical need and abilities. Being in the UX world, I have started implementing every process that I have learned here to get a better success rates.
A successful product need time, lot of research and hardship. LinkMe is a result of 10 week effort but yet incomplete. It needs more time and research which will result to success.
Below is a short video of the product
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv-pV897_CQ
Thank you Coursera!!!
Many many thanks to Prof. Elizabeth Gerber, Prof. Jacob Wobbrock, and most specially to Prof. Scott Klemmer for putting together this course. It was a great design experience. Looking forward to learn more on User Psychology.
