We did some real social networking.
Well it is all go here at Changify HQ. On Thursday we hosted our first user test event with our friends at Rockets & Rascals. It was a great afternoon and it was so exciting to see people using the prototype app and interacting with other testers.
The Test:
Our aim for this event was to see the usability of the #SmarterStreets prototype for single-handed use and the navigation of the interface. We also wanted to test how it worked on different operating systems, its appeal across age groups and whether smartphone users and non-smartphone users were comfortable with it. We wanted to find out what they thought about the purpose of the platform, what they liked or disliked about the app and how easy it was for them to use. We were also interested in finding out from users how often they would prefer to be notified, and indeed what they wanted to be notified about. Another idea we were eager to get feedback on was the rewards program we are hoping to put into practice, whereby through using the app more and more, users receive points which can be exchanged at participating local businesses for goods such as a cup of coffee or a bike service. The last and very significant question we wanted answered by our user testers was, of course, whether they would recommend the app to their friends.
The version of the app that was presented to our user testers was a simple click-through prototype that demonstrated key user journeys and gave a sense of the style and interface that we hope to use in the real thing. The screens that users encountered included:
Setup and introduction
Follow suggestions
Creating a field report
Browsing field reports to vote on
Going into the field report in detail
Looking at a report status
Viewing a profile
Settings
The Results:
The response that we got from the testers was overwhelmingly positive. They were impressed by the interface and how easy the app was to navigate but had some difficulty understanding the scope of the prototype.
“[The] design [is] very funky, clear, simple [and] playful”
The idea of rewards was still new for many of the user testers. Some of the participants felt that by just seeing the roads improve would be sufficient encouragement for them.
“[I would be encouraged by] the feeling that it's contributing to livability in the city...I don't really need the carrot of points/rewards”
We learnt a number of key things as a result of this first user test that will be highly useful going forward:
There were some smartphones, lesser known brands and older models, which were not as proficient at running the app as the operating systems we had used previously. We will work with our developers to ensure a wide range of smartphones is catered to and tested on.
Some people struggled to understand that the prototype was simply that; they were expecting a fully functioning app. This should be explained better in future.
App permissions and notification preferences are something that a lot of people felt strongly about. We should aim to have these as customisable as possible, within reason.
The resounding result of the afternoon was that the testers couldn’t wait to get their hands on the real thing and everyone we met was keen to share it amongst friends and neighbours.
If you want to get involved please sign up to the trial on our website and come along to our next user test event on 12th May.
To sign up for this event please click here.
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VISIT US: www.changify.org/smarterstreets