DAYTUM A USER EXPERIENCE ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS OF USER EXPERIENCE SURFACE SKELETON STRUCTURE SCOPE STRATEGY
Strategy
STRENGTHS inspiration through collective awareness:
what do users get out of the site?
users can see recent activities of other DAYTUM users and visit their pages. users can be inspired by other users.
user profile:
a discipline-building tool:
young tech-savvy organized health concious
users can track their activities and habits for a day, a week, a month, a year or for as long as they like. once users have started collecting data, they can begin visualizing their progress.
the possibility of self discovery and self-expression: data can be collected for immediate use or for editing, display and categorization at a later date. the application also gives users flexibility to record and catalogue anything. users may also choose how their data is to be displayed as well as where and what is to be dsplayed.
flexibility is what makes the application very appealing and unique. users can quite literally track anything from beer consumption to spending habits. this allows users to be creative and gives them more control. rather than using several different applications for tracking different things, users can keep it all collected and organized on DAYTUM’s personal dashboard. in a way, DAYTUM is a one-stop-shop for organizing personal data.
WEAKNESSES while flexibility certainly offers the user freedom, it can also create confusion. there are so many uses and possibilities, the user might get a little overwhelmed or lost and never take the time to use the app. also, users can see what other users are recording, but they cannot comment. perhaps this limits the sense of community than can be buuilt?
STRATEGY user needs site objectives
Scope
STRENGTHS with such a large scope, there is little left for the user to request. users can store as much data of any kind that they wish and display it all in countless ways.
what are the features?
convenience is also another strength of the app. users can edit content at any time and can use DAYTUM on the go, and it alleviates the tedium of having to enter a large quatity of data at once.
the application provides convenient data update and storage options:
WEAKNESSES perhaps the number of features can be pared down to keep the application simple. it takes a while to become accustomed to the way the application works because there are so many choices.
data can be updated via text or twitter as well as online data can also be downloaded as csv files users can customize their personal dashbaord with statements and data visualizations: users can add, remove and edit their statements and displays at will. the user can choose to enter data as either an item or a statement:
Total: numerically spelled-out
items are input as item:quantity(LATTE:1). items can be manually tagged with dates and categories. statements do not have to have any specific format. statements are also automatically tagged with the time and date of their creation. a statement includes a title, body and notes to establish a hierarchy of info. entries can be updated at any time.
Time: since last entry avg between entries
Avg: avg total avg entry avg day
Item/Entry: lastest largest smallest most List: horizontal bars spark bars
statements and displays can also be moved around on the dash to an extent. users have many options when selecting how to display data, from bar charts to pie charts to numerical displays. users can also filter how much data will be visually represented by time, item, and frequency user activity on personal pages is also updated in real-time on the application’s homepage for other users to browse
SCOPE functional specification content requirements
Structure how do the pieces of the site fit together and behave?
statements are thoughts or quotes: statements can be considered the most verbal portion of the application. it can be treated as an easily-updatable mini journal entry
STRENGTHS the application provides users with the freedom to have as detailed a picture of the data collected as the choose. the three components with together and work together to make a chronological, quantitative and visual picture. all three parts also link the user to the homepage.
WEAKNESSES
3 main areas of interaction: entries statements displays all three areas work together to enable users to create a more complete picture of the data they are tracking
while a more complete picture of the data users are recording is valuable, the information flow could be more directed. it seems more intuitive to form categories first instead of starting with just items. usually users have something in mind to track. however, perhaps the reason for the lack of direction is the possibility of discovery. Also, while the parts are linked to the homepage via real-time updates, there is no way to form a community without comments.
displays are typically charts or numbers: displays make up the primary visual and analytical portion of the application. they link directly to entries. they give users a graphic overview of a set of information they have collected that can be limited by time or quantity. displays also complement statements and are shown alongside them on the personal dashboard.
STRUCTURE information architecture interaction design
they are like visual sticky-notes.
entries = items, which can be tagged with categories: entries are the more quantitative portion of the application. items are stored by entry in list-form chronologically and by item alphabetically with quantities listed. items are also organized by category and can be tagged during entry or later on
Skeleton
STRENGTHS the auto-complete option for entering items makes things convenient for users. also DAYTUM remembers which the categories tagged to items. the prevalence of edit icons also makes it easier for users.
what components enable people to use the site?
WEAKNESSES homepage: the banner that spans the page could provide links to how the site works. that essential aspect of the application is overlooked because other bolder elements grab the user’s attention.
the personal dashboard is a two-column grid, split up into an input panel than spans the top of the screen and moveable blocks: at the top of the personal dash is a global additional panel for entries which includes a blank to type in entries and an “add” button and links. on the top left are links to settings and account information to allow users to customize colors and memebership on the top right are quick links to entries, items and categories. once “add” is clicked, the item is logged drop-down style with date and time. the “+ categories” button that appears next to the items allows users to tag items to categories. a sample display and a sample statement that the user can edit or remove can also be found on the personal dash. once displays or statement are created, each has a small square icon at the top right corner which allows for movement, the top left corner has a drop-down icon that allows users to delete the display.
personal dashboard: the options drop-down menus for displays could perhaps offer more guidance on which displays work better for certain kinds of data. also instead of an options button on existing displays and statements, it would be much easier to have a simple “x”.
there are large buttons at the bottom of both columns on the dash that allow users to add statements and displays. if “statement” is clicked, a dialogue box opens up for the user to type in and a create statement button on the lower left can be used to add the statement. if “display” is clicked “data” and “view” drop-down menus appear allowing the user to select the category and graph type; the create butom is in the lower left corner as well.
the homepage contains a mix of examples of how to use the web application, areas to get involved and areas that pique curiosity: when the site comes up, the user is met with a bold headline that spans the top of the page, which tells the user what the site offers above the banner there is a login section below the banner are two columns, the right allows users to type in their email, click submit and join as well as click a link to a page that explains how the app works; the left is a real- time list of activities on DAYTUM member personal dashboards, which allows users to click and browse other users’ sites. below those sections are select displays from DAYTUM users
SKELETON interface design information design navigation design
Surface
STRENGTHS
what does the product look like?
the design is eye-catching and bold. giving users the option to choose their display colors and manipulate their displays and statements on the personal dash enhances the experience.
the displays are simple, yet bold, easy to comprehend and visually attractive.
WEAKNESSES some areas, especially on the app homepage aren’t emphasized enough. there could be a better hierarchy of information to highlight key points. for example, learning how to use the site should be easy to find. also, in a effort to keep the design consistent, some flexibility is taken away from the user like choosing.
they also can be moved around the personal dash along with statements.
the typefaces used are a mix of bold sans-serif for headlines and serif for body copy.
the layout is fresh, clean and sleek to suit users who are young, tech-savvy and aware—it seems fitting for a site that collects, organizes, tracks and visualizes data.
SURFACE visual design
there is a copious amount of white space to promote simplicity and organization.
the color palette is limited to greys and pops of color that can be customized to the user.