Ux Designer @jaa-stuff - Tumblr Blog

Inspiration Garden Project

https://www.icloud.com/keynote/0BZHamyZT6Jeq5HSzbEuBZufQ#Inspirational_Garden

Problem:

Obstacles to a successful garden program, including staffing and integrating outdoor learning into the classroom. Also, many schools don’t even have access to a garden.

Solution:

We created a garden system that is modular and maintained automatically. The inspiration garden will supplement classroom learning making lessons exciting and fun.

#inspirationgarden

Heuristics for “Gilli” the Gecko rain barrel

1. Visibility of system status

Green lights indicate water level of rain barrel (Gilli)

Red lights – need to add water

Blue lights flashing – indicate the system is watering the garden bed

2. Match between system and the real world

The body of Gilli is similar to a real barrel. There are solar panels on the top which act and behave like solar panels.

3. User control and freedom

There is no reason for undo, because there is no interaction for the user.

4. Consistency and standards

The meaning of the lights is consistent with U.S. standards. Green is go and red is an alert (fill with water).

5. Error prevention

There is no reason in my design for an error prevention. The watering is sensor based and water can always be manually turned on/off.

6. Recognition rather than recall

The lights are clearly visible on the outside of Gilli's body.

7. Flexibility and efficiency of use

Gilli is not a screen or an app, so there are no frequent actions for to learn.

8. Aesthetic and minimalist design

All the parts are relevant. The solar panels activate the lights and the tail is a hose where water is dispursed through an attached irrigation hose.

9. Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors

No error messages. It is a basic system.

10. Help and documentation

There would be a teacher to answer questions for the students.

#heuristic

Patrick Jordan’s book, An Introduction to Usability.

What is Usability?

Usability is a quality that can be measured according to how this approach is applied. Itis the extent to which a product is “user-friendly” through its effectiveness, efficiency, and engenders satisfaction.”

Effectiveness of a product is “the extent to which a goal or task is achieved.” This can be measured by a simple pass or fail or with “error rate.” Error rate can be broken down into four categories:

minor: user can correct the error instantly.

major: user may take more time to correct the error, and start getting annoyed.

fatal: user can not complete the task or achieve the goal.

catastrophic: user can not complete the task or achieve the goal, and other serious problems may result.

Efficiency is the amount of effort it takes for a user to extract information. Less effort equals higher efficiency. For example, if you can complete the task without having to read a manual or google multiple tutorials.

Satisfaction refers to the joy a product brings the user. This level of comfort with a product can be measured using interviews or questionnaires.

Effectiveness and Efficiency may be the most important aspects of usability for work-related products, and Satisfaction may be more of a priority for leisure-related products. Usabilitycan also be thought of as the interaction between the user and the product with regard to the task to be completed.

Other important user characteristics to consider when designing:

Experience–Prior experience with a product can affect how easy/hard it is to complete a task.

Domain Knowledge –“Understanding ability and information that applies to a specific topic, profession or activity.”

Cultural Background – Take into account “population stereotypes” when designing.

Disability – Pay attention to the specific needs of the disabled will open up opportunities that may not have been previously available. Also, designing for outliers can provide benefits for all.

Age & Gender –It is important to take into account the different attitudes each generation has towards technology. This will help inform your design.

Guessability –Must communicate affordances very quickly, so no guessing.

Learnablity – How much a user gets better after using a product for a while. Efficiency will be attained.

Experienced User Performance (EUP)– User not required to learn quickly, but once they gain knowledge they must perform at a high-level.

System Potential - “The optimum level of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction with which it would be possible to complete specified tasks with a product.

Re-Usabilty – Users can achieve a specified task with a particular product after a comparatively long period away from the task.

The lack of usability results in annoyance by the user, can have financial implications affecting product sales and productivity, and may result in safety concerns for user and/or others involved. It is important to use the principles below as a checklist for your design.

The Principles of usable design are:

Consistency –“Design a product so that similar tasks are done in similar ways.”

Compatibility –“Design a product so that its method of operation is compatible with users' expectations.”

Consideration of users resources – Take into account all the senses available (sight, smell,etc.)

Feedback “Design a product so that actions taken by the user are acknowledged and a meaningful indication is given about the results of these actions.”

Error Prevention & Recovery – “Design a product so that the likelihood of user is minimized and so that if errors occur they can be recovered from quickly and easily.”

User Control –“Design a product so that the extent to which the user has control over the actions taken by the product and the state that the product is maximized.”

Visual Clarity –“Design a product so that information displayed can be read quickly and easily without causing confusion.”

Prioritization of Functionality & Information – “Design a product so that the most important functionality and information is easily accessible to the user.”

Appropriate Transfer of Technology – “Design a product so that making appropriate use of technology developed in other contexts to enhance the usability of a product.”

Explicitness –“Designing a product so that affordances are given as to its functionality and method of operation.

A designer should create a usable design through a “user-centered” design process. To start this part of the process a designer should consider:

Specifying User Characteristics both physical and cognitive – such as height, reach, or strength, attitudes users hold, specialist knowledge, and any user expectations.

Requirements Capture– usability requirements such as terminology used, understanding users lifestyle and attitude, and context of product use.

Usability Specifications– such as safety, acceptable quality tolerances, and using focus groups, interviews, and questionnaires to answer specific usability questions.

Iterative Design & Prototyping – “Formulate some product concepts that will evolve through design/evaluation cycle.” Use SWOT analysis to identify weaknesses and strengths, then repeat the process.

Examples of Prototyping:

Product Specification– a simple verbal or written description of the form and functionality of a product.

Visual Prototype –a simple visual representation either paper-based or screen-based of sketches and drawings.

Models – they can be made of cardboard, clay, wood, or foam. (suitable weight may be important for a product).

Screen-based Interactive Prototypes –offer simulated interactions (Invision, Adobe XD, etc.) that are less expensive to make changes to at this stage.

Fully Working Prototype – These 'appear' to be working prototypes to the user, but are actually being manipulated by the investigator.

#patrickjordan

IOT Concept

Smart School Gardens

Vision Statement:

“Our interactive garden system, Inspiration Garden, will cultivate a greater sense of stewardship among children, their families and teachers.”

My initial concept for a “smart object” was an interface on a refrigerator that would connect you to the outdoor garden. The information on the screen would include - veggies ready to harvest, contents of the fridge, and recipes would be generated based on ingredients currently available.

#smartgardens

Concept for wearable tech redesign

I decided to look into redesigning wearables that track sleep. For my comparative analysis I looked at a watch and ring.

The Fitbit Ionic not only tracks sleep patterns, but has a new feature that can detect sleep apnea and a type of heart arrhythmia.

The Oura ring detects sleep patterns, both wearables sync to their own apps to display sleep data.

I wanted to solve the challenge of comfort and looked into what was currently out there as a pajama option.

Hexaskin is a smart shirt made from synthetic materials and stores data for sleep in the Hexaskin cloud. Because there is a device the shirt plugs into and the material is designed primarily as a fitness wearable I questioned how comfortable this option really might be.

My concept sketch and idea. Fitbit syncs with both Android & iOS and their app also offers tips to help improve sleep.

Concept prototype.

#sleeptrackers

Team redesign of iOS Reminders App.

Our team did a SWOT Analysis comparison between the two platforms to decide what to integrate into our final redesign.

Strengths - color coded customizable folders, Force-touch & siri.

Weaknesses - hidden triggers and functions.

Problems

Too many steps to set up reminder

Not linked to calendar. It has to be done manually.

+ trigger not visible

Features are not easily seen or hidden

Our Solution

Using Siri to add and edit reminders. Also, add a customizable snooze option.

The option to add reminders to your calendar.

You can also manually add reminders and edit.

Microinteraction Feedback

This is an example of visual feedback informing the user that the meditation is loading.

#microinteractions

Microinteraction

Feedback

Visual is the most common and should give clarity, not clutter.

Feedback is for humans and humans respond to faces.

Use pre-existing UI elements and add to whatever is already there (no need to reinvent the wheel).

Don’t make it arbitrary. Know what information the user needs & when.

Modes

They should be used sparingly & are usually something we use infrequently (i.e. Settings Mode, Default mode, Edit Mode, etc...)

Spring-loaded Mode - Only active when there is a physical action such as holding down the “shift key.”

Invisible - “Autofill” is a good example.

One-Off Modes - The user initiates & lasts for a single action.

Loops

A cycle that repeats for a set duration. Styles include:

Count-Controlled (For) Loop - repeats a set number of times before ending.

Collection-Controlled - Runs through everything in a set, then stops.

Infinite Loop - never ends until there is an error or someone shuts it down. (i.e. turning on a light).

Studies show that humans respond to faces. The above example is fun and uses a loop for the apps Log in screen.

#microinteractions

UX Studio 2

Frustrating Microinteraction

When you rollover a Netflix show it autoplays the preview. This is so annoying!

#annoying microinteraction

Microinteractions

Trigger: Press the button.

Feedback: the ring will gently vibrate, confirming that the signal has been sent.

Rules:

Button must be pressed for 3 seconds.

The signal is sent via the smartphone to the pre-selected responders.

Audio recording of the scene can be heard.

Does not work if you loose your phone.

The user will have to choose at least three contacts to be part of the response team. They are invited to download the Nimb app to be always connected to the platform.

The vibration functionality also prevents phone loss as the ring will vibrate as soon as the phone and ring are unpaired.

You can cancel a false alarm in the app 30 seconds after alert activation.

If you do add 911 to the list, Nimb creates a robotic call option that goes to the closest 911 dispatch center based on your GPS coordinates.

Loops & Modes: Forced canellation alerts your safety circle. Vibration alerts for unpairing of device, “Call me back” notification from friends or loved ones. “Test alert” mode to help users get the hang of sending, receiving, and cancelling alerts.

Microinteractions

Trigger: Point to an object you want to command.

Feedback : Haptic vibration to let you know you’ve selected it.

Rules:

Users simply perform gestures such as opening their hands, rotating palms to face upwards, then raising their arms upwards to increase brightness.

Each appliance, light fixture, or device needs to be connected to a compatible intelligent power adapter (smart plug) and attach Receiver by device you want to control.

Devices will not respond to commands from wristbands that have not been authorized by the primary user to control them.

Modes & Loops: On or off.

#microinteractions

Microinteractions

Trigger: Control is performed by nodding, but in the future support for voice assistants should appear.

Feedback: It projects a rectangle of red text and icons down in the lower right of your visual field.

Rules: Notifications are extremely concise and they are read by peripheral vision. There are no beeps or vibrations. Displays a monochrome picture of red color. Notifications not visible when looking straight ahead and are not visible to anyone but the wearer.

Modes & Loops: Continue to display notifications from applications, routes and other information.

#vaultmicrointeractions