Why should this app exist?

As we have already explained in previous posts, our design task is to create an app for the ministry of the environment, with which the user can rate the state of his/her local environment and see the ratings from other people. What we haven’t discussed though, is why this app is important, and what kind of data were actually dealing with.

The data set

The problem in our case is, that we don’t have any pre-collected data – since we are supposed to design the data gathering method – and that the data collected will be really subjective. We want to keep the rating questionnaire as simple as possible, probably just asking “How would you rate the state of the environment in your current location (city + country, for example), but this leads to the problem of how different people define ‘environment’. After all, the environment has much more to it than just the nature. Also, we want to give users the opportunity to send a photo or a comment with their review to better explain why a place has been rated a certain way.

The users

Last Thursday, we had a concept development workshop in which we had to clearly define what our main target group and motivation for using the app is. This was really helpful, since it made us think of new viewpoints to the problem, as well as to better define our target group, which was pretty vaguely defined before the workshop.

This application will create data that can serve as a base for analyzing the environment, as well as directing resources to fixing the issues that local people find important. For this reason our ideal user would be an influencer in an organization dealing with issues related to local environment: these people can benefit from reading the users’ reviews, and can help promote the app to people interested in their environment.  We expect a majority of these people to be young adults from 25 to 35 years old. Many people in this age group also have small children, which may motivate them further to improve their environment.

Below is a summary of our thoughts regarding the users and main motivation for using the app.

User groups

- Locals wanting to make an impact on their environment
- Organizations involved in environmental issues
- Environmentally aware tourists

Ideal user

- 25–35 year-old person interested in making an impact on the state of the environment
- Influencers in local organizations involved in environmental issues
   > Users believe their opinions are heard and acted upon
   > Organizations get valuable information on where to invest resources

User motivation – why to use the app?

- To make a positive impact on the state of the local environment
   > Providing local influencers the information on which they can act upon
- To give credit for environmentally sustainable actions
   > Comparing environmental data accross the globe
- The areas performing well can be credited for their good performance
   > For fun & information

Addition

Small addition to Local Environment project

Local in our project means that one can zoom into some bright green or dark black – or whatever in between – point to see very local evaluations which might be really interesting. At the same time this brings some problems such as that a local community might decide to vote their small area as an environmentally perfect place. On the other hand kind this kind of behaviour may also show environmental (social) values?

Maybe also in a world map more evaluated areas could have more actively blinking points? 

Local environment

On Local Environment project

Maybe everybody remembers how Pekka from the Ministry of Environment presented our Local Environment project? To put it short, it is an application for different media and for everybody to rate their environmental surroundings where ever they are. This means that the users have to allow the media to recognise their current location which they only evaluate visually, not numerically. Furthermore there are no rules on how to measure a good or bad environment – all is based on how the users feel (mutu in Finnish). After their evaluation a point will appear on a world map. So for instance if the local environment is extremely good – whatever that may mean – the point will be bright green, and if really bad, it will be dark black. We have been talking with Pekka about the colors, whether they are green and red which would be the worst combination for color blinds. Also there are other issues in using two colors. The idea of a wireframe blanket that covers the whole world means that there is a gradiant of colors between two given points which would create quite unexpected colors to areas that have not been evaluated. Unless of course the other color is black.

Three main issues in our local environment project: 

1. An attractive user interface that everybody wants load.

2. An evaluation app of the state of the environment at the current location.  

3. A world map – preferably in 3D, works in a small screen and is attractive – that shows the evaluation data by both the experts and the users.

So far our project has following problems:

1. Until there is no evaluation, which are the colors of land and sea? Maybe no colors, just white with black contours? Would the map only show the data from experts first? How would the users’ evaluation of the environment differ from the experts’? Different color combination maybe? Or users: green-black, experts the same but with more desaturated colors?

My idea is that when starting to get data from users the contrast would grow and slowly cover experts’ data. After which the user could compare datas? How?

2. Another thing Pekka has raised is comparing data with neighbouring countries as in global environment project. I have problems in understanding how all these different aspects can be combined?

So please, if any of you have some ideas, comment.

Now we have decided not to meet with Pekka (from the Ministery) every week, but to meet when we have something more finished visuals to show him, so it would be easier to talk. So this is our aim in the near future. Also what Markku said made me think: How to make the application so attractive that somebody would really want to use it. This is my main focus now.

Let’s talk about Windows 8 --- Metro Start

Microsoft claim that they want to redesign the whole operating system through the Windows 8. Anyway, we can not stop her hit whatever we prefer of not.

Let me introduce some features of windows8.

“compatible PC and Tablet” “ introduced Metro UI "

Windows 8 support for tablet, while apply the design style from Windows Phone's Metro UI. The truth is a lot of interaction design is for tablet.

Three important influence on design

(1) modern design - the Bauhaus (decrease elements to show the nature)

(2) internationalism graphic design style - Swiss graphic design style (clear, true and beautiful)

(3)dynamic design - the art of film (animation to stimulate user)

People are always busy in their real life, so we need a fast, simple, direct, clear design.

Windows 8 design inspired by all kinds of navigation in subway stations, airports, etc.. People can obtain the information they want even eager to run around.

Metro UI application --- Metro start
　　Metro UI is the main design style of Windows 8，especially for the Metro Start, it was in 1992 when the first "start menu" show up. Its original idea is to replace the "application management" to start the computer task. After experiencing a series of improvements, but there are still a variety of defects.

Metro Start improved Windows start menu, taskbar, notification and gadgets. It made a try as follows:

(1) expand the most commonly used area

(2) Metro Start customization

(3) larger operating space

Actually, Start has more than just a menu now. It occupies the whole screen, replacing the previous "desktop + Start menu", and carries more features. All Programs are here, the user can directly start the program here .

At the same time, it also has the following features:

(1) dynamic information: information on each block are dynamic, it presented carefully and clearly. User can customize the information, such as a city forecasts or the contents of a magazine. Get some information before you start the application.

(2) customization: the location of the blocks can easily drag and drop. User can put the most commonly used applications on the Home screen.

(3) design for touch: each block area is large enough so that it can be easily selected by finger. Each block is clicked as a whole area, not divide into the clicks region.

(4) Global view: on the touch pad, you can zoom out or zoom in your Start menu like a map, which helps you to select the application quickly.

(5) Click (not double click) to open the program.

(6) Blocks have two sizes, you can customize them. Choosing which size depends on whether the information of the application needs to be displayed. Information is not displayed on the small sized block.

I think maybe we can find some useful information from the Metro Start UI design for our app, it's like "expand the most commonly used area", "customization" or "larger operating space", or maybe for just open mind through sharing...