Aim
To study the current problems faced by users in smartphones and devise solutions related to predictive interactions.
Primary Research
We conducted ethnographic studies and contextual user research in the IIT campus and video interviews.The interviews were open ended, guided by appropriate questionnaire and were conducted with 12 users. The initial user research was conducted with the objective of understanding the domain. The later user research phase was focused on the main objectives of identifying the various activities conducted by the elderly along with the related methodology, objectives and issues involved in conducting those activities.
We conducted ethnographic studies and contextual user research in the IIT campus and video interviews.The interviews were open ended, guided by appropriate questionnaire and were conducted with 12 users. The initial user research was conducted with the objective of understanding the domain. The later user research phase was focused on the main objectives of identifying the various activities conducted by the elderly along with the related methodology, objectives and issues involved in conducting those activities.
Problems:
The main problems which were identified were:
- Hesitation towards using new technology - Fear that fiddling with the device, they might change the basic settings or even corrupt the phone
- Unaware about balance deduction - Do not know which features are paid and which are free
- Lack of information - Icons by themselves are not capable of conveying sufficient information and the text written below them is not clearly visible to the poorly visioned
The main problems which were identified were:
- Hesitation towards using new technology - Fear that fiddling with the device, they might change the basic settings or even corrupt the phone
- Unaware about balance deduction - Do not know which features are paid and which are free
- Lack of information - Icons by themselves are not capable of conveying sufficient information and the text written below them is not clearly visible to the poorly visioned
Design solutions:
User Interfaces were designed to tackle each of the problems.
User Interfaces were designed to tackle each of the problems.
- In App Help sends the user instructions regarding all the features in the application once the app is launched. This feature is personailes and can be turned on or off based on whether the user is accustomed to the application or not.
- Button Glow and Gallery Indicators were introduced in the camera app to prompt the user to click a picture and help to locate the location of the image saved with ease.
- Memory Mapping records and maintains a database of all the features that the user uses regularly by recording the time and duration of the usage. This database is updated regularly and helps in a number of ways. It creates a favorites list which helps in easy navigation. The user recieves notifications and tips based on the stored information. This compells the user to use the features and explore them further.
- A notification icon informing the user about the charges of the application pops up everytime an app is opened. This feature helps the user to use the phone without any hesitation and can be disabled once the user gets familiar with all the details.
- Additional settings like zooming the screen and reset to original settings help the user to experience a seamless interaction.
