Fantasy Device Exercise
Prompt: Design a fantasy device based on the needs of your client.
Client: Blessing Emole
In our initial interview, Blessing defined her ideal fantasy device as an application that would streamline commuting. Unlike existing map applications like Google Maps, this application is customized based on the individual habits and needs of the user. We defined three main guiding principles for the design of the device.
It must be easy to use and accessible to all.
The goal of this device is to bring an individualized approach to commuting to as many people as possible. For this reason, the interface should take advantage of well-known and widely used interactive elements like voice operation, filtering, sorting, etc. These features are intuitive and easy to understand as a first-time user. Furthermore, the application must adhere to standard accessibility guidelines. Since the spirit of the application is the idea of designing for the individual, the accessibility options should also be customizable. This means users may adjust contrast, text size, and other elements to their liking.
It must take into consideration a variety of health and lifestyle habits.
Google and Apple Maps dominate the mapping and the route-finding market. However, both apps generate the same route options for everyone. This fantasy application is more closely aligned with assistive technology as it works with the user. For example, users who cannot walk for extended periods will see route options with less walking.
It must reduce anxiety.
This application will take an often frustrating and anxiety-inducing daily necessity and make it easier. To achieve this goal, the application must seamlessly integrate into the life of the user. Furthermore, it should be able to grow with them as their needs change. This may mean that the application tracks health and environmental data to generate better suggestions or a weekly check-in where users can update their preferences. The design and styling should be equally calming.
Design Overview: Following our interview, I designed a low-fidelity prototype of the fantasy device. The proposed design is for a smartphone interface as there is a greater need for commuting applications on your phone. The application works similarly to other map apps in that you can look up an address and view several different ways to get there from your current location or another address. However, the user journey begins with an individualized onboarding experience where users will chat with a chatbot and answer questions that will customize their results in the application. This experience will only take place once when they first create a profile in the application. Still, they can choose to talk to the chatbot again at any point to update their answers or add supplemental information to improve their results. The questions will change based on new data from their responses and captured analytics as they continue to use the application.
As you can see in Figure 1, users also have the option to visit a settings page and toggle certain configurations on and off. These include excluding inaccessible locations from search results, excluding routes with excess walking, and including 15 minute buffer time in every route, to name a few.
Once they have completed the onboarding chat, they may start using the application from the starting screen (Figure 2). This screen allows users to input a specific address, choose from saved addresses (home, work, etc.), or search by category (e.g., restaurants near me). The next screen will then show them a list of options. For example, in the prototype, a user has searched for coffee near them. The second screen shows a list of nearby coffee shops, much like traditional map applications, but it also includes information on whether the businesses are accessible or not.
In this example, if the user selects the first option, they are then taken to the third screen (Figure 3). Here they can choose a route out of the recommended options. Once they select an option, they are taken to the fourth screen, which displays the route and explains why it is the best path.
The application also has a voice-operated feature. It will greet the user every morning, integrate with their calendar, and help them plan their day. These features will reduce anxiety and make the entire user experience as easy as possible.
Takeaways: This exercise was beneficial. It was great to see how much clearer the design became as we discussed it over several rounds. It was also very helpful that Blessing had such a strong idea of what would set this application apart. The healthcare and assistive tech approach defined the majority of the application. If I had to do it again, I think I would focus on asking more questions about the emotional needs of the user. I think I had a clear idea of what this device should do, but not exactly how it should feel. I think that piece would have given me more to play with in terms of the design.
