The Design of a Social Communication Platform for Building Bridges between Family Generations Yu-Hsiang Chiu M.A. Interaction design Loughborough University
Hunt Statement International students who study abroad have the needs of emotionally connecting with their family. Parents/ grandparents of oversea students also hope to keep in touch with their offsprings regularly when they are studying overseas. However, the time difference and other factors such as the younger person’s schedules and traditional communicating means often cause lots of problems to their twoway communication. Sometimes, the connection of communication have widened the generation gap and cause negative feelings to international students, such as homesick and anxiety which will affect their study and harm their mental health.
Design Brief In this decade, new technology has helped international students to communicate with their family easily. However, the barriers such as varied time zone and generation gap still exist between different generations. Therefore, this project aims to develop a new social media app which may help to improve the communication between international students and their older generations. The new social platform would increase the digital connected experience of international students who travel or study abroad, helping them and their older generations to be staying digitally connected.
https://www.safeyglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/blurb_woman_metro.jpg
Description of the APP : Touch
Touch is “A Social Communication Platform for Building Bridges between Family Generations”. WELCOME
It will help to improve the communication between international students who study abroad use technology to communicate with their older generation. It will enhance the digital connection experience when international students are traveling or studying abroad. Through a new social platform that helps different generations to achieve the personal needs of staying digitally connected. It would dramatically better the experience effectively improve international students and their family’s digital connection.
Narrow down the gap keep get in touch even time fifferent
Objectives and Challenges Product Defining It is for...
International students who study abroad Parents who children are in abroad
Who are dissatisfied with...
Target user’s experience has been reduced by factual barriers and technological difficulties.
Our product is a ...
New Social Network Platform An Extend of Current Communication
That provides...
Solutions and new touchpoints for international students and parents
Challenge For Parents
For Children
Difficulty on Digital Learning
The difficulty of online guidance
The Internet is unstable.
The Time Zone Difference
The Time Zone Difference
Generation Gap
Generation Gap
Why should audience use the service?
Connection Service Design An New Touchpoint of Connection
Goals To satisfy user’s social needs. The experience is rich and visual. Narrow down the generation gap. Raises the interaction between target users. Increase the possibilities to help user overcome the difficulties. Users can receive positive connecting experience.
Target Audiences 1 : International Students
“The topic should be interested to both sides but my parents keep asking the same question all the time." "Are you busy? Have you finished your meals? Do you feel cold?”
Name Age Gender Nationality Occupation Personal Detail
Janessa Chen 23 Female Taiwanese Postgraduate student of Loughborough University Janessa is a postgraduate student. She is studying in MBA. She likes social. She often goes out with friends and classmates. She also sends text messages on Line, in the family group. She likes to share everything in her life. Sometimes, she shares too much information to her relative, her mother has to message her to stop sharing.
Current Situation of Connection
Difficulties of Connection
She connects with her family twice a week (video chat).They also send messages on Line regularly. She shares photos because she wants to show the scenery where their family has never seen before. However she still avoid talk everything during video chats. “I don’t want my parents to know something about I don’t want them to know.”
The Internet is unstable, Time zone difference. “For example, I have different schedules with family. I only have video chats with my family in weekends.”
Technology Used
To get in touch with parents and make them don’t worried about her. To know more about the current situation of hometown. To share abroad experience to family.
She owns the smartphone, laptop, iPad. She uses smartphone and laptop to connect with her family. Line is the social media she is using and has a video chat with family. “Basically, I use the same platform between family and friends.”
Social Network Platform Mapping
Objectives
Expecting Experience To avoid any argue during video chat. To have an interesting interaction with family. To feel the sense of security from parents. To be able to enjoy the highly interactive social life.
She uses for connecting with her friends: Facebook: Share photos, text chat, voice message, Snapchat: Take photos videos and share, story function Line: Text chat, voice message, share photos, share video WhatsApp: Share photos, share video, text chat, voice chat. She uses for connecting with her family: Father: Line - video chat (big family group) Mother: Skype – Video chat 2-5 days Line- text message (every day) Line (big family group) - text chat Share photos video, share interesting things (everyday) Line- text message (every day) Line (big family group) - text chat
Expectation of Connection She wants to make the family feel good about her current life but she feels a bit bored on the topic of video chat. “I will not post the negative information on Line. I post my private feeling on Snapchat because I don’t want my parents to feel worried about me.”
Key Variable Low Low Low Low Low
Experience of social media’s benefits Hunger for informatiom Tolerance of disruption on the connection Social needs from family Interestimg in new connect platform
High High High High High
Target Audiences 2 : Students' Parents Current Situation of Connection
Technology Used
“My husband is not using so many functions as me. I ask colleague instead of ask my children. If I want to ask my child, I need to find the right time and requires a video chat. It will be difficult to learn through the voice chat.” The internet is unstable when she video with daughter.
She owns a smart phone, a laptop,and a tablet. She mainly uses smart phone to connect with her family. She uses Facebook, Skype, Line frequently She think she can learn the new app by herself or ask the colleague or daughter for help.
Social Network Platform Mapping
Objectives
She connects with her friends use: Phone- Make a phone call, Text message. Line-Text chat online, Voice chat, Share photos, Share mood.
To avoid the misunderstanding and mistakes during digital connection. To feel that I love my daughter and she also love me. To be able to enjoy the time of chat with children.
She connects with her daughters use: Line- Text chat, Voice chat, Video chat, Share photos, Share mood. Share useful sentence and article.
“I prefer a video chat with my daughter- because I can see my child and I can closely listen to the voice of my child. The whole feeling is very different from typing.”
Name Age Gender Nationality Occupation Personal Detail
Eva Lin 55 Female Taiwanese Sales manager Eva Lin is a sale manager who works in an international company. She has two daughters. One is studying in the UK. Another one is studying in Taiwan. She connects with her daughters every day. She reads a variety news and online article for sharing with her daughters. She can control her smartphone smoothly now. But she has a difficult time at the beginning of using smartphones. Now, she is learning how to use an iPad.
Expectation of Connection Although Eva has a busy job, she still tries to find the time to form a video chat with children. “When we have the consensus and the resonance at the same topic, I will feel happy and to think about the dedication on my hard working is worth it.”
Difficulties of Connection The Internet is unstable: “ Sometimes, I just see the video without come out the voice. It is quite strange and the disconnection will drive me crazy. The time of connection is so limited.” The time difference: “ I just arrived my office and I found out my daughter did not go to bed until very late for a chat with me.” Generation gap: “ When we did not have the same consensus or point of view on the same issue, I will feel upset.” “ Sometimes, she seems not interesting in my topic ”
Expecting Experience To get in touch with children more frequently. To know more about children’s life. To learn about how to use a digital device.
Technology Profile Negative Attitude towards technology
None DIY None None Low
Positive
Motivation to use technology
High
Getting the operation done
Ask for help
Desire for children’s help Desire for friends or other people’s help Experience of social media’s benefits
High High High
UX Methodology and Approaches
Primary Research
Insights & Theme
Define / Synthesis Stage
Opportunity Areas
HMW Question
Data Analysis
Brainstorm
Rip the Brief
Interview
Communication Questionnaire Mapping
Interview Result Analysis
Questionnaire Result Analysis
User Journey Maps Analysis
Define Themes & Insights
Participant Boards
Reframe Insight Statements
Affinity Diagram
MoSCoW Methid
User Behaviour Pattern
Research Finding
Persona forming
How Might We Design Questions Concept
Experience Principle
Initial Personas
User Experience Vision
Key Finding
Persona, Key Insight & opportunity
User Journey Map Canvas
Concept Defining
Research Outcome
Function Defining
Design Stage
Cluster Topics
Secondary Research
Test & Evaluation
Discover / Resrearch Stage
The project has been developed according to the Double Diamond Design Process — followed the four main stages: discover/ define / design/ testing - to deal with the challenges.
Interaction Designing
Prototype Building
Visual Design
Secondary Research
Persona
Concept Development
Concept Evaluation
Design Requirement
Value Proposition
Concept Statement.
Experience Design Principles
Scenarios
Storyboard
Current Platform Function Analysis
Co-design & Brainstorming
Card Sorting
Concept Mapping
Technology Feasibility
Wireframe Sketch
User Interface Flow
Pre-user Tersting
Initial Sitemap
Social Platform Analysis
Low Fidelity Prototype
RITE user Testing
Iterative design
Final Sitemap & Wireframe
Mood board
GUI Design
High Fidelity Prototype
Iterative design
Vusual Design Evaluation
Users' Testing Feedback and Evidences It made a good control process. It will be simple and easy for teaching older people to use. Safe report (Location Track page) could go to difficult or dangerous for parents to know the corrent place.
Rapid Iterative Testing
The head portrait shows the robot is a good idea but the chat block could be closed or shortcut to prevent the user slip a long screen to get the previous chat content.
& Evaluation (RITE)
The privecy issue should be concerned.
The bubble board is a good idea but the function should be easy to control for older people.
RITE method can explore user behaviour and it is easy to find the problems and adjust design direction at the early stage.
The digital assistant function can offer a useful support for information search but the robot should not show the result on another user's screen, otherwise, I will feel embaresed.
The bubble creation and sending process can offer a feedback for me to realise the message has been sand. I will not press the button repeated to make sure I send the message out success.
The golden time is great but it can combine with do not interrupt mode.
The golden time reminder function is quite interesting and it is convenient for video chat by press big button but it seems not easy to set up the golden time.
Feedback and opinion from users’ test Safe report is a new function I have never heard. I will feel confident to know my family is safe. “Is it only offer the location?” “Are there any other function?”
A.I. online support is a good idea.
The function of safe report enables parents to feel relieved; it helps effectively. It is able to participate in children's lives; provide the sense of participation.
Visual Design Evaluation Using remote moderated research method for people who evaluate from Leicester and Taiwan.
Low-fidelity prototype Tool
The function of safe report is very considerate and it is easier to know where you are for the meeting point.
Feedback and opinion from users’ test It is a thoughtful function to report safe conditions regularly and it is quite complete.
It is a novel idea of sharing diverse emotions and experiences by bubbles with different colours. This is a very interesting idea and I have never seen any design like this before.
https://popapp.in/ Prototype Link: https://popapp.in/w/projects/57b746066956a0bb1c009a0f/mockups
Hi-fidelity prototype Tool
http://www.axure.com/ Prototype Link: http://ib35d7.axshare.com/#p=welcome
Screen Shots- Emotion board and Digital Assistant Welcome
Emotion Board- Daytime
Main Board
Log in
1 Information: To show date, Time, Location , weather, tempter. It offers user the basic information about the environment of children / parents.
T�u��
1
WELCOME
Janessa Chen
Janessa Chen
Loughborough, U.K.
Missing this dork....
3
MON 08:15 A.M. Loughborough
Amenda Chen
1 N N
Password
Fmaily
Love it!
At 5:30
3
Sign in with skype
Narrow down the gap keep get in touch even time fifferent
2
Sign in with Facebook Sign in with LINE
Janessa Chen Loughborough, U.K.
MON 08:15 P.M. 1 Loughborough
2 Bubble: To show emotion by colour and real feedback during operation. Unread bubble shows a small sight beside the head portrait.
本館紀念品設計很可愛....
Emotion Board- Night
1
3
Sign in with E-Mail
N N 3
2
1
3
3 Background: Blue sky shows the day or night of the other side. The user can aware the rest different.
Digital online assistant Personal Chat Page
Digital Assistant- Voice Search
Digital Assistant- Text Search Janessa Chen Loughborough, U.K.
1
We used selfie sticks to take photos!!
You girls had a wonderful time!
Online assistant : Input by words
Online assistant: Input by voice Janessa Chen
Janessa Chen
1 The user can highlight the
Loughborough, U.K.
words which unfamiliar with.
We used selfie sticks to take photos!!
2016/08/26 12:35 read.
We used selfie sticks to take photos!!
2 The system will copy and paste to search bar automatically.
Selfie sticks is pretty simpleit’s basically a stick (some are telescopic and can extend) with a fixture on the end to hold your cell phone (iPhone, Galaxy, Android, Windows) or certain cameras (GoPro, digital camera).
3 When user press “search” Aa
button, the digital assistant will offer explanation : Pictures, texts, or videos.
2
We used selfie sticks to take photos!!
record interface. Then, switch to the white microphone (speak to robot) and ask the question directly.
Aa
We used selfie sticks to take photos!! Selfie sticks is :
5
5 The user will receive an answer from chat robot with a voice record.
What is selfie stick?
Aa
Aa
selfie sticks
Aa
3
Loughborough, U.K.
Loughborough, U.K.
4 The user can switch to voice
Loughborough, U.K.
Janessa Chen
Janessa Chen
4
Screen Shots- Safe Report Safe Report Page
Janessa Chen Loughborough, U.K.
5 Current Location
6 Location Track
Janessa Chen
Janessa Chen Loughborough, U.K.
Loughborough, U.K.
1
Safe Report: Send / Require. It can be set up to send report regularly.
7
Current Location: The location from the safe report will be shown on google maps.
2
Location Information: It can show the detail of safe report.
6
Location Tracker: It’s able to shows the different form last report. It’s able to shows the footprint from previous report location.
N
I am Safe!!
1 Safe Require
New report : 21 mins ago Location : Stonehenge, U.K. Previous report : 1 hour ago
2
New report : 21 mins ago Location : Stonehenge, U.K. Previous report : 1 hour ago
3 Safe Report History
Stonehenge, U.K.
Safe
Durrington, U.K.
Safe
Country way, M3, Twickenham, U.K.
Safe
Oxford road, London, U.K.
Safe
Safe Require
1 hour 35 mins ago
7 Location History
3
Safe
Durrington U.K.
Report History: It offers a record to support the user to receive more confidence.
21 mins ago
4
3 hour 35 mins ago
Oxford road, London, U.K. 4 hour 35 mins ago
4
New report : 21 mins ago Location : Stonehenge, U.K. Previous report : 1 hour ago
Privacy Issue: User can decide the accuracy of location sharing such as only show in XX zone, on XX street.
7 New report : 21 mins ago Location : Stonehenge, U.K. Previous report : 1 hour ago
8 Durrington U.K. 1 hour 35 mins ago
Country way, M3, Twickenham, U.K. 2 hour 35 mins ago
Oxford road, London, U.K. 3 hour 35 mins ago
21 mins ago
8 Location Information
Location History: It likes a travel diary to show where user have been to during these days.
1 hour 35 mins ago
2 hour 35 mins ago
Stonehenge, U.K.
Location Information : It shows the detail of current spots. User can save the spots on google map or my favourite folder.
New report : 21 mins ago Location : Stonehenge, U.K. Previous report : 1 hour ago
Screen Shots- Golden Time Reminder Golden Time Reminder
Function Setting Functional Setting
1 Main Board 1
Janessa Chen
Golden Time Reminder: On Main Board: It will show bubbles to get closer and turn the head portrait become golden background and show the time with a countdown time bar.
Loughborough, U.K.
Safe report Location sharing Golden time Monday
OFF
Tuesday
ON
Wednesday
ON
Thursday
OFF
Friday
OFF
Safe Report Setting
2
Goldern Time Reminder Setting
Area
House Number
08:15 Loughborough
MON 08:15 A.M. Loughborough
At 5:30
08 : 15 MON
Loughborough, U.K.
MON A.M.
N N 1
Monday
OFF
1 3
08 : 15 am - 09 : 15 am 22 : 30 pm - 07 : 30 am
Tuesday
Janessa Chen
N N
Per Hour
Street
Love it!
Loughborough, U.K.
Loughborough, U.K.
Loughborough The United Kingdom 28/08/2016
22 : 30 pm - 07 : 30 am
City
Fmaily
At 5:30
Janessa Chen
Janessa Chen
Loughborough
ON
Amenda Chen 本館紀念品設計很可愛....
Fmaily
Love it!
At 5:30
3
2 Emotion Board
Golden time
08 : 15 am - 09 : 15 am
Location
Amenda Chen 本館紀念品設計很可愛....
Fmaily
Loughborough, U.K.
Per Hour
3
Amenda Chen
Love it!
Tiime left : 18:37
Missing this dork....
本館紀念品設計很可愛....
Janessa Chen
ON
Janessa Chen
Missing this dork....
3
T�u��
Golden time
The Bubble will get closer and turn the colour to golden and show voice / video chat button on screen.
Loughborough, U.K.
Time
Janessa Chen
Golden Time Reminder: On Emotion Board:
Janessa Chen
Safe report
T�u��
T�u��
ON
3
Golden time