HEALTHCOACH4ME.COM: MOBILE APP DESIGN

Shirley Carvalhedo and Dave Maruszewski

People who frequently are concerned about their health would use this health application to easily log, view and manage their ‘health performance’, from anywhere that an iPhone may operate.  Simplifying the access of health information improves user experience in dealing with their needs; with our application, the user may enter or revise his or her information regarding their age, weight, height and choose tracks that will help them to manage their fat percentage, water intake, exercise frequency and so forth. All these tracks should be set up by the user as the second step.

Design Statement

Lund’s List Heuristics Four main categories: The information for the decision needs to be

there when the decision is needed Keep it simple The best journey is the one with the fewest

steps. Shorten the distance between the user and their goal

Color is information

Design Sketch: The Context of Mobile Interaction Text input Small screen Slow connections Short battery life Mobile applications will gain customers

by providing them with entertainment, connecting people, managing schedules, arriving at meetings and leisure activities, and making their lives easier.

Scope of the Application Create an app that works with the website

Site and app mutually updates Be in line with the HealthCoach4Me’s mission Incorporate fundamental features designed to manage personal

heath interests and improve users’ performance Be innovative, useful

Balance of the two Take advantage of smart phone abilities Smooth, logical animation Visual feedback of user revisions and actions Keep in mind audience

Mature, older People who may have an existing problem

Our App Tracker

Uses website graphing and health coach to track usages, activity and health stats

Standard and unique trackingMultiple trackers can be applied

AlarmUses phone to remind you to take medicine, do

physical activity, run a test, etc.Uses iPhone technology

Keeps in touch with HealthCoach4MeCan see the same messages from your health coachCan store information that the site will up- and

download

Basic Functionality

Health Clock Alarm, Tracking

and Updating

Website Graph

Tracking

Information Storing

Health Coaching

Testing Paper prototype Technical prototype General suggestions

ClassOutside of testing

Paper Prototype Testing Low tech design Interested in usability over aesthetics Participant Input

Would they use it?Ease of useWhat would make it more appealing?

Methodology: Paper Prototype Four users – two women, two men Session were recorded using video camera There was a moderator that conducted the test and

an observer that took notes during the session Users were all read the same script and asked to

perform the same tasks, which included using the app to:Manage their health information

Users were asked to “think aloud” while they performed the tasks, so we could understand the reasoning behind their actions

Session recordings were reviewed and the app’s successes and issues were noted

Users: Statistical InformationParticipa

ntsCarolyn Steve Richard Mary

KayAge 40’s 50’s 60’s 60’sGender Female Male Male FemaleOccupation

Mechanical

Engineer

Doctor Retired professor

Home Maker

Older (>50) Not smart phone savvy Had health issues Would be possible users of app

Paper Prototype

Carolyn - 40, Mechanical Engineer (Task 1)On initial screen pushed Meditation instead of Medicine Usage

Cancelled out and then went to MU Questioned if there was enough information on the screen Wanted:

Medicine Name Dose With or without food

A little unaware of the slider Seemed to figure out any mistakes in the interface, wasn’t flustered Had question about Recurring Times check box (__ time per __ hour) (task 2) Worked through it well Did not check message from Unread to Read but read the abbreviated

message Like the app but wouldn’t use it unless it had a little more functionality (more

topics) Would want her daughter to use this as is Preferred the slider bar over the scroll bar

* White indicates what we directly used to improve the app

Steve – 50, Doctor Did not co-discover with C. but could hear her comments Was a little unaware if meditation was a typo but did press the right button Used the plus and minus arrows as opposed to sliding the bar

1. I believe that he was unaware of what the bar did2. He later commented to truth of (1)

Actually went against directions and did not “Take” the medicine Didn’t think R should be short for Thursday Didn’t know how to go back later to mark that he later took the medicine without the

alarm1. Interface was unclear on this matter (see notes for possible fix)2. Would like to see a reminder/snooze button (10 minute intervals)

Went to My Information instead of Messages for news from the health coach Found message, but did not check message from Unread to Read but read the

abbreviated message Would like to see a calendar/medical appointments button on the tracker Wouldn’t use this app. Doesn’t like apps in general (no smart phone) and he has a

good memory (his words)

Richard – 50, Retired professor He is not a iPhone user Presented eagerness to complete the tasks Attempted to establish a relationship between the buttons at the bottom with

the screens Preferred the "My Information" as the first screen instead of "Pick a tracker“ Attempted to find the name of the Medicine in the "Health Clock" screen Preferred the slider bar over the scroll bar but commented that he would

able to work with both of them Pointed out that there is no exit button in the first "Pick a Tracker" screen Suggested a delete button ("key button") on the "Messages" screen in order

to "clean out" the screen and avoid accumulating too many messages Overall, gave a positive review of the app and remarked that it could

be useful after a few alterations

Mary Kay – 50, Homemaker Presented quick logical thinking in completing the tasks Attempted to find a button in the "Health Clock" screen to set up

am-pm Questioned if there was enough information on the "Health Clock"

screen: Medicine Name Dose With or without food If the chosen medication could be digested with another medication

Pointed out that the scroll bar could be improved so as to provide options for more accurate decisions. Commented that the slider bar would be a better option for men whereas the scroll bar would be a better option for women.

Paper Prototype Results and Outcomes

Added a Delete Button

Paper Prototype Results and Outcomes

1. A subtitle bar was added in order for the user to know the tracker in use2. Buttons on bottom took up display space

Moved them to the title bar using the iPhone standard Changed names to reflect standard and for more understanable

3. Health bar with plus/minus buttons was preferred over other options4. Clock was added military time

1 1

2

2

3 3

44

Paper Prototype Results and Outcomes

1. If answer is yes, the graphing of your project is accessed2. If answer is no, you can postpone until later

1 2

1 2

Schematic of Buttons (Specific)

Home Screen

Entrance Screen After

AlarmSame Screen

Layout for Add and Change

Paper Prototype Testing Answers Would they use it?

Most would or want their siblings to use Ease of use

Previous slidesOverall, good results

What would make it more appealing?Previous slidesInnovation to set it apart from other apps

Tech Prototype

Click for Link Based on this Design

Tech Prototype Testing Simulate Interested in usability over aesthetics Participant Input

Would they use it?FunctionalityEase of useWhat would make it more appealing?Did we fix our issues from paper prototype

testing?

Methodology: Tech Prototype Four users – one women, four men Session were recorded using video camera There was a moderator that conducted the test and an

observer that took notes during the session Users were all read the same script and asked to

perform the same tasks, which included using the app to: Choosing the fat percentage tracker, placing an alarm on the

health clock and getting feedback in the form of a chart. Users were asked to “think aloud” while they performed

the tasks, so we could understand the reasoning behind their actions

Session recordings were reviewed and the app’s successes and issues were noted

Users: Statistical Information

Participants

Bill Rush Amardip Diane Fabio

Age 47 27 33 46 46Gender Male Male Male Female MaleOccupation Officer Student Professor Engineer Manager

•Slightly younger than paper prototype participants•More smart phone savvy•Would be possible users of app•May use different trackers from paper prototype participants

Tech Prototype

Bill – 47, OfficerPros: I have diabetes I need to control my weight Good idea to know your fat percentage fast like that

Cons: Mail-messages confusing (The name could be ( ‘health alert’) Use colors like red and green. Be more visual. Chart is hard to read

Rush – 27, Student Pros: Nice clear navigation on the bottom Convenient input bars (plus / minus / dragger thingy) Bright green 'done' bar

Cons: Application flow could be communicated via button ordering maybe? ‘Charts' and 'my info' seem redundant - maybe they can be consolidated in an accordion type format. The 'time' inputs could use an up/down arrow scroller mechanism for the minutes (hard to pinpoint)

Amardip – 33, Professor Pros: Health information is nicely displayedGood coverage of various health scenarios

Cons: Fat Percentage is … ? Tooltip explaining what Fat % is‘My Info’ should be first page till user fills in ‘My Info’ ‘Place the thumb’, you can put animation – a thumb reaching to the black circles. Put a progress bar in the ‘thumb press’ page, auto click done.

Diane – 46, EngineerPros: Completed task quickly and efficiently Overall, liked the app much Thought the fat percentage tracker would be very useful

Cons: Unsure of AM/PM on time Wanted ‘sticky’ information Confused Tracker and Health Clock Didn’t like some text formatting (i.e. on time)

Tech Prototype Results and Outcomes

Use iPhone Convention: Cancel and Done

Tech Prototype Results and Outcomes

Force or allow a Rotation for Graph

Tech Prototype Results and Outcomes

Use AM/PM over military time

Tech Prototype Testing Answers Would they use it?

Improved response Functionality

Improved Time of completing task was quick Paper prototype fixes worked for almost all situations

Ease of use No significant problems were recorded Improvements made from tech prototype feedback

Did we fix our issues from paper prototype testing Yes, most all

What would make it more appealing? Fat Tracker was well received Steps may need to be more explained

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