LifeSync is currently on a dormant stage due to the end of our work in HCC 8310. But each of us Helium Knights will be taking this forward and maybe someday you will see an update here about the progress we have made. If you liked our ideas, let us know. You know where to find us!

~Helium Knights
12/19/2013

Evaluate: Experimental Research

Here is our group's document giving an overview of experimental research.
Experimental Research

Cognitive Walkthroughs - The Presentation on 31st Oct 2013

Cognitive Walkthroughs - A presentation by Helium Knights

Interesting video to understand novice users. They may never see things that you want them to see; the way you want them to see them!

Vidivodo.com : Family Guy - Fly  : family_guy fly peter griffin meg

Scratch Post - This is an aggregation of some old content before we redesigned our "Lo-Fi prototype" page. Have a look at that here-> (Lo-Fi Prototype Assignment)

Some Pictures and Two Usability Videos from our Usability Tests today - Goutham

http://bit.ly/LoFiUserTests


Tiffanie's Three Screens

Goutham's "View Calendar" feature prototypes

Viewing your Calendar

"Holding" down a calendar

Viewing a friend's Calendar 

Choosing a friend's calendar to compare and holding the "compare" icon down

Comparing two people's days

Prototype design - Sagar Puro and Praveen Lobo

Home page of the application

the application provides a list of suggestions after the user selects his mood

Socialize option leads to sub-menu of Friends and Community

Friends list with Group option

Ability to interact with a friend

Community option has preselected communities

Forum for discussions

Videos of Usability Test

Storyboards

Survey results analytics

 

 

Survey results analytics

What is your gender?

Female	10	53%
Male	9	47%

How old are you?

18-24	10	53%
25-29	7	37%
30-35	1	5%
36-40	1	5%
40 and above	0	0%

What defines your nationality?

U.S. Citizen	10	53%
Non U.S. Citizen	9	47%

Are you a Masters or a Doctoral student?

Masters	14	74%
Doctoral	5	26%

How long have you been in graduate school?

Less than 1 year	3	16%
1 - 2 years	10	53%
2 - 3 years	1	5%
3 - 4 years	4	21%
4 - 5 years	1	5%
5+ years	0	0%

How often do you enjoy extracurricular activities (hanging out with friends, sports)?

Very often	5	26%
Often	7	37%
Less often	4	21%
Rarely	3	16%

Do you find comfort in religion when fighting stress?

Yes	7	37%
No	12	63%

Are you involved in a relationship?

Yes	9	47%
No	7	37%
I choose not to disclose	3	16%

How would you define the status of your relationship?

Very good	9	47%
Good	0	0%
Fair	0	0%
On the rocks	1	5%
Doesn't apply	9	47%

How would you define the status of your familial relationship?

Very good	13	68%
Good	4	21%
Fair	2	11%
Bad	0	0%

According to you, would you prefer talking about your problems to your family members or your friends?

Yes	14	74%
No	5	26%

Do you reside with your family or does your family live close by?

Yes	5	26%
No	14	74%

What methods of communication do you often use to communicate to your family/friends?

Voice Call	13	68%
Video Call	2	11%
Instant Messaging	4	21%

Do you find comfort in your pets when fighting stress?

Yes	8	42%
No	2	11%
Doesn't apply	9	47%

How many hours of sleep do you normally get?

3-4 Hours	0	0%
5-6 Hours	3	16%
6-7 Hours	10	53%
8+ Hours	6	32%

How many meals do you have in a day?

1	0	0%
2	7	37%
3+	12	63%

On a average how many times do you eat out in a day?

0-1	17	89%
2-3	1	5%
3+	1	5%

How are you doing academically?

Very good	6	32%
Good	11	58%
Fair	2	11%
Bad	0	0%

How are you paying for your graduate study?

Loan	5	26%
Financial Aid (RA/TA)	10	53%
Personal/Family savings	4	21%

What is your confidence level generally, when you set out to do a task? Is it easy for something to shake it?

Yes	6	32%
No	13	68%

Job [Prioritize: Jobs/Thesis/Finances - How much on a scale of 1-5 (1 being least stressed, 5 being most stressed) would you rate these aspects in your life?]

1	5	26%
2	0	0%
3	6	32%
4	6	32%
5	2	11%

Thesis [Prioritize: Jobs/Thesis/Finances - How much on a scale of 1-5 (1 being least stressed, 5 being most stressed) would you rate these aspects in your life?]

1	3	16%
2	4	21%
3	2	11%
4	6	32%
5	4	21%

Finance [Prioritize: Jobs/Thesis/Finances - How much on a scale of 1-5 (1 being least stressed, 5 being most stressed) would you rate these aspects in your life?]

Design Challenge, Insights, How Might We, Brainstorming, and Ideas

DESIGN CHALLENGE

Our design challenge (#2):

Long hours spent in isolation are not uncommon to graduate students as they struggle through the four or five — or more — years required to finish their degrees. Though resources exist to help graduate students, many still struggle with academic stress, isolation and pressure to graduate on time. Some students may have to leave without a degree if they cannot pass their general exams on the first or second attempt, while others struggle through the proposal and defense stages. Though many people pass, the pressure of succeeding creates a lot of stress for students. As a part of this design challenge, you'll work with your team to design a new system that works to counteract some of the effects of isolation for graduate students and supports them in achieving their goals.

Constraints:

Users must be able to record their goals and mark them as accomplished

System must support collaboration

Insight Statements

1) Graduate Students of all levels seem to struggle with managing their time.

2) Finances seem to be a common stressor among graduate students.

3)With the balancing of school/ research, work, and possibly a family, students find it difficult to carve out some time to alleviate stress.

How Might We...?

BRAINSTORMING IDEAS

Different milestones
Sync with Google Calendar
Time Mgt. Embed third-party software in app
To do list that imports into calendar with reminders
Stages of assignments due, suggested a timeline to help you
Rewards for completing milestones
project mgt. tool (Microsoft)
A way to post (social media)
searchable based on stressors (search bar)
"How are you feeling?" Interface changes based on mood/ clickable smileys
friend check-ins
upcoming events
log into BB
Forming groups (academic, social)
Financial link/budget/ Popup window /financial mgt./financial aid site
Time Money Space
IM/Phone call/skype/face time
Calendar can be collaborative
Stumbleupon
Fitness/accelerometer/health
integration
music after certain distance
App interface in browser (m.clemson)

Random motivational quotes
alarm clock (visual & music) Waking up in a very relaxed manner

Sounds, animation
User decides motivational quotes
push notifications
Push notifications for collaboration
send 

Thinking hard!!!

IDEA SELECTED

The idea selected is an app based on the concepts of how to manage and to cope effectively with the stress and rigors of graduate study and research. The user inputs profile data about him/herself, selects images or colors based on a variety of moods, and then enters the app. The user has the option to utilize a calendar, a timeline, log milestones in assignments and research, create a budget, interact with friends, make recommendations on music, movies, etc., listen to music, and a variety of other social...

The user will select a mood form a visual of different faces, ranging from sadness to mania.

Brainstorm session 1

The brain storming session yielded some very interesting results. While we haven't quite yet settled on a design idea, we did find that graduate students at al levels have some primary concerns. One of those concerns is time management. Finding time to fit all of the required readings, studying, and research, as well as any additional research or teaching is a harrowing task. it is also a major stressor, which is another concern that grad students face.

These findings prompted us as a group to consider building or linking to a calendar or some other type of planning device.

We are also concerned with the isolation that is common amongst those in academia. A social media component is a way to combat the isolation that is prevalent.

For international students, stressors involving housing, family life, jobs for spouses, child care, and disapproval from family members are major concerns, in addition to the common stressors. Issues with visas and travel were also noted.

Think

Act

How can we develop a coherent product form these disparate findings?