Week 9 | Progress Update
During Week 9, we had to do a standup of our current design process, with prototyping and evaluation to be completed by week 10 in order to reflect upon all work for the week 11 stand up. What we presented in our standup is the paper prototype we designed which was catered around the existing apps research that Hamish has done, with reference to the existing solution we considered the factors of the research we have taken and cater the design around that. Went through the user testing and what we had planned, feedback from the tutors’ was consider target audience, and how we can cater our work towards such a large group. User perspective on how they envision our app was more important than us catering our design depending on the consistency of existing apps; who and how would they user see it. Focusing on other users rather than just international students that isn’t just in UQ, there are other people who are coming and going; refugees/ workvisas and expand on the range of nationalities and age. To have a better understanding of the audience is to ask serious question but not too personal where they feel uncomfortable.
What our goals for the next stand-up is to convert the paper prototype to marvel app, and change the design around the feedback we have gotten from user testing and observations, at the moment we split the team and in two, so one duo focusing on user testing for the next checkpoint and other start on finalising the user testing and start on the final marvel interface and functionalities. Mainly design items, for week 11 & 12 are promotional materials that needs to be concept and logo for our application to be decided.
Comparisons of different interfaces around the world that’ll will be beneficial to our design decision towards our prototype interface. Why decided on do research on other apps? Since our app’s audience will be based for international use; e.g. mainly tourists & migrants. Providing a solid research to backup our choices of visual design, and to keep consistency across the apps so there isn’t any confusing when host or the guest uses our app, due to cultural misunderstanding. Below are some research was done that contribute to our understanding apps in a different culture.
https://web.njit.edu/~turoff/coursenotes/CIS732/samplepro/user_interface_internationalizat.htm Article talks about the cultural internationalization, it doesn’t relate to application icons but in relations to developing interfaces to cater ‘culture’. Section of the article explains the difference between culture and how different interface design process is. It explains how making a international app the design is very iterative which goes back and forth between design, testing and redesign and testing. Due to the lack of design guidelines to make sure the design is internationally acceptable; have to conduct user testing with real people from diverse cultures. Current guidelines such as application logic and interface content, such as menu choices.
Icons are used to circumvent languages obstacles, educate and increase the utility of the product, ultimately by making things simpler for the user. Icons and images is affected by cultural backgrounds of our users, an icon in one country can be the polar opposite in another. Examples of Japan icons/gestures
- Thumbs Down ‘thumbs down’ icon which is often used in digital design. Its meaning is normally understood as ‘dislike’ or ‘no’
- In Japan, the meaning of this is entirely different and loosely translated as ‘go to hell’ or something even worse
- It's not often that the ‘ok’ gesture is used in design, nevertheless it has a different meaning in Japan.
- Kakao Talk
- Line
- Messenger
- Viber
Line Friends
- Messenger - Speech Bubble
- Contacts - Person
- Phone calls - Phone
- Options - Three Dots
- Settings - Cogwheel
- Home - House
KakaoTalk
- Friends - Person
- Chat - Speech Bubble
- Find Friends - Magnifying glass
- Options- 3 dots
- Settings - Cogwheel
Most of the messenger apps contains basic universal icons
- Messenger - Speech Bubble
- Contacts - Person
- Phone calls - Phone
- Options - Three Dots
- Settings - Cogwheel
- Home - House
LikeALocal P - Easy way to find tips from real locals. Good for travellers. N - Does not communicate well with non-english speaking users
SpottedByLocals/Localeur P - Tips from locals with a location-based system identifying nearby ‘suggested’ areas. N - Lack of translation/communication with non-english speaking users.
Language Chatting Apps (Hellotalk, DuoLingo etc.) P - All users are able to understand each other despite cultural barrier through translation technology. N - Users may respond to a different method of communication (pictures, gifs, memes, maps, etc.)