WALDEN
Individual project * Fall 2021
︎Context︎
With technologies infiltrating our daily lives, we are inseparable from personal devices that can take us to the virtual world. Constant access to the internet gives us an infinite amount of information, but at the same time, creates a pattern of behavior that is similar to addiction. The most prominent example is the notification system. Because of the uncontrollable timing, and the mental award we get from receiving notification, we are like guinea pigs in a Skinner box. We became more and more compulsive to check our phones to stay updated. It is harder and harder to achieve a peaceful and spiritual, undisturbed mental state.
In response to this issue, I prototyped Walden, an App that focuses on bringing a healthier relationship between people and technology by notification batching, Pomodoro technique, and Eisenhower matrix.
In response to this issue, I prototyped Walden, an App that focuses on bringing a healthier relationship between people and technology by notification batching, Pomodoro technique, and Eisenhower matrix.
︎Interview & Research︎
By asking 11 interviewees how they view their relations with technologies and what is their typical workflow, there are several pain points to be addressed on Walden:
︎ Too many distractions, can’t focus
︎ Struggle to start
︎ Missing deadlines
To target those pain points, Walden proposes the following functions:
︎ Customizable notification batching time with customizable person and App exceptions
︎ Lock screen display strengthening the concept of time to disincentivize users seeking distractions
︎ Eisenhower matrix to help the user organize
︎ Auto-generation next task to be done to skip the choosing stage and ready to jump start
︎Competitive Analysis︎
The main competitor to this proposed App is the “Scheduled Summary” function and “Focus” in the IOS system.
For “︎Scheduled Summary”:
✅ Customizable batching time
✅ Customizable target Apps
❌ Customizable target person
❌ Lock screen display
For “︎Focus”:
✅ Customizable on and off time
✅ Customizable target Apps
✅ Customizable target person
✅ Lock screen display
❌ Adjust “Focus” interval
❌ Provide user a strong sense of time
For Walden:
✅ Customizable batching time
✅ Customizable target Apps
✅ Customizable target person
✅ Customizable on and off time
✅ Adjust “Focus” interval
✅ Lock screen display
✅ Provide user a strong sense of time
︎User flow︎
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︎Prototype︎
︎︎︎Flow 1 - New Customer User Flow
︎Design decisions:
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Registration with many options enables a smoother entry experience (Registration required to enable synchronous operations on all devices with the same account)
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Intuitive operation of adding exception person and apps that always allow notifications
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Two layout choices for Eisenhower Matrix (based on user testing: some users indicated anxiety to see all the tasks on the same page; so I added the alternative layout of the scrollable cards)
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Automatically generates a task to be done (based on user research: some users indicted the hardship to choose one task to start with; most of the users have provoked motivation when they see the “you are doing + task name”; some users have provoked motivation when they regenerate another task because they are unsatisfied of the first auto-generation.)(auto-generation will be based on how important and urgent one task is)
- Emphasize the time with an animated background to enhance users’ time-awareness and efficiency
︎︎︎Flow 3 - Change the auto-generated task to be done
︎︎︎Flow 2 - Returning user log in and start task
︎Design decisions:
- Face ID enables smooth login
- Right after login, users will see the “start task” as the main page for maximum efficiency (the task will be taken from the previous Eisenhower Matrix input)
︎︎︎Flow 4 - Change the Eisenhower matrix layout
︎︎︎Flow 5 - Lock screen design
︎User Testing︎
Pre-test:
︎Ask about their general satisfaction on productivity and their relationship with technology.︎Check the average screentime and pickup time the user has for the last week.
Test (10-minute user flow test):
Task 1: Select people you want to still receive notification from even in batching sessionsTask 2: Input tasks into the Eisenhower Matrix
Task 3: Change the notification batching time
Task 4: Are you able to add new people and apps for exceptions and change the layout of Eisenhower matrix
Task 5: Regenerate new task to be done before start
︎Ask after completing each task: how do you feel about this function?
Test ( one-week long term user experience test):
Daily feedback:︎ How do you feel today?
︎Are you more productive?
︎Are you more at ease?
︎What are your screentime and pickup times?
After Test:
︎Check the average screen time and pickup time the user has for the testing week.︎Ask about their general satisfaction with the experience.
︎Ask about their psychological experience during the week.
︎Ask about what can the app do more (if possible) to improve the overall experience.
Analysis:
There are overall less average pickup times and screentime in general for the week, but the first two to three days, remain roughly the same. Decrease happens at three to four days and is followed by a rebound in the last day or two.
There are mixed comments on the Eisenhower matrix. Some testers think it is too stressful to see all the tasks on the screen at the same time, while others think it is clear and effective to show all the tasks to be done on the same page with clear segmentation.
The emotional stage is reported that at the first one to four days(depending on different users), there’s a fear of missing out (FOMO), but at the end of the week, the user is accustomed to batched notifications and is able to make the batching time longer and longer.
Most users think the app is straightforward to use. They like the fact that they need to input tasks first in order to start the timer. Most users reported a more productive lifestyle, and they are easier to focus on things.
︎Future possible improvements︎
Since the user states the gradual customization of the habit to spend less time on the phone, and a gradual increase in the batching time. The app could develop a habit-forming plan for them to adhere to. This could provide more guidance to the user and make them feel more accomplished.
The color system may not be accessible to users with color distinguish difficulties. The future app could make the color customizable and more accessible.