Martin Gardiner

[martingard]

#TestingAndEvaluation

Within the project user testing was undertaken to address if the project meets user needs, if the project meets its key ‘selling points’. Furthermore, the questionnaire looked at features which users like/dislike within the project as well as features they may wish to see added into the project. User feedback was gathered after testing through a questionnaire which consisted of 10 questions aimed to gain insight into the above topics. The testing used 1 older generation participant (participant 2) and 3 young adults (participant 1, 3 

All users felt that Instant as a ‘concept’ and through their testing of the actual product could address ‘loneliness’ (Question 8.1) within individuals and society suggesting that Instant has met one of its concepts, however these users all reported that they did not feel ‘lonely’ themselves (Question 7) suggesting that further user testing on those who report themselves as ‘lonely’ should be conducted. Furthermore most users were in agreement that the site felt ‘private’ and ‘safe’ highlighting that Instant is meeting its other key concept (Question 3). However some users felt there was a lack of privacy in some areas such as Participant 1 (Question 1) reporting that the user they tested with could hear their email notification when they received an email, potentially breaching their privacy. However participant 4 (Question 1) wanted the feature of ‘creating an account’ to be added, suggesting they are happy to give over more of their information/privacy, although they recognised that this feature of no creating/logging could be a key selling point - which for Instant it is.

Regarding features users would like to see there were various differing opinions. For instance participant 3 felt that the site was very ‘empty’ and that there was nothing to do apart from talking to the other person within the call. They suggested features such as ‘creating’ an avatar, nickname and having emoji’s (presumably in the chatroom) and making an mobile ‘app’ version of the website. Furthermore they felt that a terms of service/use of cookies feature would make them feel more secure and private within the website. Participant 1 was also in agreement to some of this features in which they felt the ability to add a nickname should be implemented as well as more privacy/security features - however they thought this could be done through the ‘host’ being able to control who enters/leaves the chat room through a ‘virtual room’ to allow admission into the actual ‘chatroom’. Moreover they wished for additional customisation within the call, such as changing the shape of the ‘video’ element, from circular (current) to other shapes such as a square or rectangle. Comparatively to these added customisation, Participant 2 felt that the ‘simple’ style was good but additional features for visually impaired users could be added such as an audio facility informing the user how to navigate and operate within the website. Participant 4 also felt that the feature of ‘open rooms’ (currently not implemented but part of concept) via public rooms should be added as this would help to address loneliness they felt. 

Overall users felt that Instant does meet a niche in the market compared to competitors and that its functionality was effective as Participant 1 was able to use the website on Firefox with another participant using Safari in the same call. Furthemore Participant 2 used an iPad in which they felt the app design was effective for their device. The simplicity and privacy of the app for the most part is seemingly effective although summing up the user feedback it can be said additional features should be added to create a more well-rounded and exciting experience for users of Instant. Finally both young adults and the older generation participant found using the project easy and simple to understand suggesting that Instant is meeting both age demographics needs for functionality. 

[martingard]

#CompetitorAnalysis

There are various potential competitors of ‘Instant’ however within this section a look at the 3 main competitors to Instant will be outlined:

Firstly is Zoom, which is a telecommunication software that provides video chatting for up to 100 devices at once (Zoom, 2000), it includes voice, video and text-based options for users to  communicate as well as the ability to share your screen. Zoom is increasingly being used by corporations and schools as a means to function during Covid-19. The platform is generally used for groups to talk rather than on a 1-to-1 basis however it can be used for this aspect. Zoom has a modern and sleek design which is easy to understand and use. Zoom does not require users to create an account if you are joining a chat room but does require an account if you are hosting a chat room. Recent security and privacy flaws have been uncovered as of March 2020 (Wakefield, 2020) highlighting  users data is not well protected. Moreover Zoom requires those creating a chatroom to understand how to use its settings otherwise any user can easily join a call, in which a phenomenon known as ‘Zoom Bombing’ has occured due to chatrooms not being secure. Overall Zoom has some privacy issues as a result of collecting data and security issues within the software itself but its design and usage is top-notch.

Skype is telecommunication software that affords video and voice chatting over multiple devices, it also provides instant messaging. It can be said that Skype is one of the most successful telecommunication options around with it being around since 2003 and thus standing the test of time. Skype requires users to have a Microsoft account which requires lots of personal details including users address, phone number, full name and email address. Whilst users can find what happens to this data with research, it is not obviously stated to users when they sign-up. Moreover Skype itself has been found to have a key flaw in which hackers can find the IP of another user if they are friends on Skype (Keene, 2012). Most of the information which users require to sign up is not necessary for the usage of Skype and thus seems to be more for Microsoft to use rather than for Skype to function. Overall Skype’s actual usage as a telecommunication software is excellent, however their privacy and security issues seem hazardous to the user.

Omegle is a web-based chatting service which allows users to talk to people using their voice, video and text. Users can enter ‘tags’ which matches them with other users who also have entered this tag. Otherwise users can click a button to find a random user. Omegle requires users to accept cookies and their privacy policy before commencing. Moreover Omegle has no restrictions, users can do whatever they feel like, this has led to many Youtubers flocking to Omegle to make ‘pranking’ and ‘trolling’ videos, Omegle has had a large rise in popularity from this. Some users on Omegle conduct illegal activities or explicit activities within the site. Omegle’s key selling point is this unrestrictiveness in which users can do whatever they like - however this leads to  sifting through undesired users to find someone ‘interesting’. Furthermore users are unable to see how their data is being used and thus privacy issues may occur.

Overall these 3 competitors all have different functions however they all seemingly lack privacy and security - thus Instant will focus around this point to develop a unique brand. Moreover Instant is attempting to address loneliness and thus strengths of competitors like ‘Omgele’s’ matching of strangers will be incorporated into Instant. Instant will allow group chats as well as 1-to-1 to diversify itself from being an ‘Omegle’ clone. Through these features Instant will be distinctive and unique amongst other options for communication online.

[martingard]

#LiteratureReview

With the existence of multiple devices it is also important to consider the UI design of Instant, according to Toyama & Hirayama (2018) the UI should complement the ‘system’ (in Instant’s case the device and browser being used) through combining system design and UI design. This is to say Instant should be made in a way which adheres to each physical device's constraints such as the screen dimensions as well as any browser restraints. Moreover, as one key focus of Instant is lonely people UI design should be made to be appropriate for all ages especially the elderly as Jarvis and Mountain (2020) highlight that loneliness in the elderly population is rarely out of major headlines and addressed in lots of academia. Due to this fact, Instant needs to be built with the consideration that non-digital natives will be using the website. According to Boll and Brune’s research of those transitioning to ‘ederly’ (55-75) the user interface should be direct, simple, have good colour contrasts and larger than average font size. Moreover a ‘good menu structure’ helps orientate the user. Therefore Instant should be developed in a way which functions appropriately to the criteria above, such as being simple and easy to use for the user to therefore create a space where lonely users of all ages can easily communicate with their friends/other people.

It has been found that ‘online students report higher levels of perceived loneliness than their peers taking similar face-to-face (FtF) courses’ (Ali & Smith, 2015). This is important as during the early 2020 - current 2021 period nearly all students within the UK are studying remotely via online teaching rather than FtF and thus the perceived loneliness may be on the rise - it could also be assumed that online work may also lead to increased loneliness (for instance office workers who are now working via home). Instant can help combat this loneliness by providing a space for people to talk and communicate with their friends easily. Moreover it was found ‘When the Internet is used as a way station on the route to enhancing existing relationships and forging new social connections, it is a useful tool for reducing loneliness.’ (Cacioppo et al). Instant therefore should be developed to help build new relationships and maintain existing relationships to address this ‘loneliness’ identified earlier. However Cacioppo et al also highlight that ‘loneliness is also a determinant of how people interact with the digital world’ suggesting that interactions with Instant itself need to be meaningful and positive in order to address existing loneliness and avoid causing further loneliness. From this Instant should be developed to nourish communication which positively affects both users, for instance allowing users to see each other to understand their expressions/emotions better may in turn lead to more in-depth conversations where users feel less lonely as a result of the conversation. Regarding loneliness itself, Young (2019) refers to YouGov’s research in which young adults (18-24) and older generations (55+) are identified as the two largest groups who identify as lonely. Therefore Instant’s main two age demographics and audience should be these two groups and thus designs should reflect these age group requirements.

Harrigar et al (2020) found when users are speaking online individuals often inspect their own appearance via their web cameras which mirror their face to an observer's perspective, this may lead to increased appearance concerns as well as comparing oneself to others in the call. Therefore Instant will mirror the web cameras of users so they see their own face as how they would in a real-life mirror, this therefore aims to reduce appearance concerns. As well as this privacy is increasingly becoming an important issue for users of the web with Acquisti et al (2015, p.161) highlighting that ‘personal data is increasingly conceived as a tradeable asset’ - in which 86% of US internet users believe they should have the choice of whether companies gather their data and how this data is used (Dalton, 1999). Therefore to address this Instant will not gather users personal data or require an ‘account’ to be created in order to address users' desire for privacy and avoid any misconceptions that the platform is selling user data. Furthermore this lack of gathering user data will be a main selling point of Instant which diversifies it from other web real time communication (RTC) options which exist.