Small Commercial Greenhouse Mobile App Monitor and Control Water Usage
Kathy Loughlin Summer 2016
IXDS 5603 UX Prototyping Professor David Edwin Meyers M.A. Interactive Design Lindsey Wilson College
Table of Contents
Concept Brief
03
Explore - Usability Testing Round 3
Executive Summary
04
Explore - Hi-Fidelity Wieframes
Project Overview
05
Explore - Task Visualization
06
Explore - Information Architecture & Site Map
07
Explore - Mind Map
08
Explore - Affinity Diagram
09
Explore - Personas
Explore - User Journey
10 - 11
Explore - Demographics Explore - SWOT Analysis
12 - 13 14 - 16
17
Explore - Competitve Analysis
18- 20
Explore - Additional User Research
21
Explore - Key Components
22
Explore - Sketches
23
Explore - Low-Fidelity Wireframes Explore - Usability Testing Round 1
24 -25
Explore - Med-Fidelity Wireframes
26 - 27
Explore - Usability Testing Round 2
28
Explore - User Flow
29
Explore - Med-Fidelity Wireframes Revised
30
User Centered Design Conclusion
32 33-35 36 37
Concept Brief Goal This year, address the need for an easy-to-use and remotely accessible way to monitor and control water usage and cost in small commercial greenhouses.
A responsive design website will be necessary to communicate the product features, ability to download the app and a product demo.
Idea
Approach (2)
Design a mobile app that addresses the need for remote access to allow monitoring and controlling of water usage and provide the estimated cost associated with the water usage.
The mobile app can talk to the greenhouse monitoring controller located inside the greenhouse. All the sensors are connected to the controller and the app is a remote way to manage and control the controller activity.
Problem to solve
Challenges
Small commercial greenhouses have limited resources to pay for operational expenses. Offering a solution that helps monitor and control water expenses will allow for better tracking to the forecasted budget.
Challenges that impact are the ability for the app to be a flexible design that is stand alone when interacting with the sensors directly. Engagement of third parties (sensor manufacturers) will add a layer of complexity in successful integration.
Target audience The target audiences for this idea are small commercial greenhouse owners/operators who use an automated irrigation system.
Approach (1) The mobile app will be available in both android and iOS. The app will be connected directly to the sensors that monitor the greenhouse temperature, humidity and moisture. The user will be able to control the irrigation system through the app, rather than interfacing with the greenhouse controller which is directly connected to all the sensors. Since the costs are an estimate, the app does not have to work directly with the water utility. The user can enter the cost per gallon rate they are currently charged. If it is tiered pricing, the app will allow for this to be entered.
If approach two is used, again engagement of third parties can be problematic.
Executive Summary
Background The research for this report was conducted to help validate if there is a business case for a new mobile application targeted to the small commercial greenhouse industry to help greenhouse owners and managers monitor and control water usage and water costs associated with greenhouse operation. Mobile applications are used by this target audience for a range of information such as integrated pest management, greenhouse diseases and diagnostic tools, greenhouse trial activities, fertilizer and pesticide management along with plant identification tools. Initially, a feature of this application was to help the target audience control water costs. This may not be as important if the main water source is on the property and not provided through a source such as a public utility. The other features of monitor and control may be the main selling points and having the app seamlessly connect to the greenhouse control system. Overall the user research included extensive online research, site visit to a small commercial greenhouse, a survey and three rounds of usability testing (2 participants). The findings indicate that more research is needed with the target audience (growers) to determine if there is a business case for this application.
Project Overview
Project Goals - Evaluate the business case for the mobile app - Gain insights to help build a user interface that provides a good user experience
Personas - Market analysis (2014 data) indicated that 53% of all horticultural specialty operations are family or individually owned - Personas reflect the small to mid-sized operation
Market Analysis for Horticultural Specialty Operations
Exploration
Task Visualization
Exploration (Con’t)
Information Architecture and Site Map
Exploration (Con’t)
Mind Map
Exploration (Con’t)
Affinity Diagram
Exploration (Con’t)
Persona #1
Exploration (Con’t)
Persona #2
Exploration (Con’t)
User Journey #1
Exploration (Con’t)
User Journey #2
Exploration (Con’t)
Demographics - Smartphone ownership Note: 68% of U.S. Adults own a smartphone.
Exploration (Con’t)
Demographics - Smartphone usage for mobile apps Note: Mobile app usage continues to climb.
Exploration (Con’t)
Demographics - Characteristics of Small Business Owners
Exploration (Con’t)
SWOT Analysis
Exploration (Con’t)
Competitive Analaysis - Direct Competitors Companies that have a mobile app for commercial use.
Exploration (Con’t)
Competitive Analaysis - Indirect Competitors Companies that are targeting consumers for home use.
Exploration (Con’t)
Competitive Analaysis - Future Competitors The companies that manufacture/distriibute the controllers (brain of the irrigation system). Future could be irrigation system manufacturers/distributers.
Exploration (Con’t)
Additional User Research - Site visit to a small commercial greenhouse that is family-owned - Survey to friends and family who shop for plants at commercial greenhouses - Lots of online research into sources of water for the greenhouse owner. Many of which leverge a contained approach with water on the property by using rain harvesting and ponds.
Exploration (Con’t)
Key Components
Exploration (Con’t)
First Round of Sketches
Exploration (Con’t)
Second Round of Sketches - Low Res-Wireframes used in the Round 1 of Usability Testing
Exploration (Con’t)
Second Round of Sketches - Low Res-Wireframes used in the Round 1 of Usability Testing
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Usability Testing Round 2
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Usability Testing Round 2
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Usability Testing Round 2
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Round 2 User Flows
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Usability Testing Round 3
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Round 3 User Flows
Exploration (Con’t)
Medium Fidelity Wireframes - Usability Testing Round 3
Exploration (Con’t)
High Fidelity Wireframes
Exploration (Con’t)
High Fidelity Wireframes
Exploration (Con’t)
High Fidelity Wireframes
User Centered Design Approach
LWC Approach As with all projects in the M.A. program design thinking guides the approach.
Conclusions
Recommend more research with other techniques to determine if there is a true business case - Talk/Interview the Cooperative Extension Service to gain insights - Interview commercial greenhouse owners/operators to better understand if there is a business need for the app - Survey commercial greenhouse owners/operators for a larger scale effort to gain insights