UX | IA
UX | IA
GENERAL ASSEMBLY STUDENT | 2018
GENERAL ASSEMBLY STUDENT | 2018
CDC Travel App
CDC Travel App
CDC Travel App
Worldwide Live Health Updates
Worldwide Live Health Updates
Project Overview
Project Overview
The CDC Travel App I created resulted from a final student project I was assigned while enrolled in General Assemly's 12-week immersive user experience course. I collaborated with two other students to combine the "TravWell" app and the "Can I Eat This?" app into one easy-to-use aid, enabling quick access to vital health and safety information for travelers worldwide.
The CDC Travel App I created resulted from a final student project I was assigned while enrolled in General Assemly's 12-week immersive user experience course. I collaborated with two other students to combine the "TravWell" app and the "Can I Eat This?" app into one easy-to-use aid, enabling quick access to vital health and safety information for travelers worldwide.
The Scenario
The Scenario
The CDC apps I was assigned to combine were poorly designed, and nobody used them. For example, the "Can I Eat This" app consisted of a questionnaire that directed users to know whether or not what they were considering consuming was safe; in response to a test of the questionnaire, I selected Antarctica as my location; the app next asked me if I was eating at a street vendor. The "TravWell" app was more helpful but rudimentary. It aimed at helping travelers prepare for their trip by providing checklists for packing, documentation, and vaccines.
As a frequent traveler, I did not find either of these apps particularly life-changing. At least, I could not find a reason to use them in future trips. However, acknowledging my thoughts and feelings was simply creating a hypothesis. I needed to understand the needs of other travelers and witness the reactions of others to these apps, as well as to any concepts I could design.
The CDC apps I was assigned to combine were poorly designed, and nobody used them. For example, the "Can I Eat This" app consisted of a questionnaire that directed users to know whether or not what they were considering consuming was safe; in response to a test of the questionnaire, I selected Antarctica as my location; the app next asked me if I was eating at a street vendor. The "TravWell" app was more helpful but rudimentary. It aimed at helping travelers prepare for their trip by providing checklists for packing, documentation, and vaccines.
As a frequent traveler, I did not find either of these apps particularly life-changing. At least, I could not find a reason to use them in future trips. However, acknowledging my thoughts and feelings was simply creating a hypothesis. I needed to understand the needs of other travelers and witness the reactions of others to these apps, as well as to any concepts I could design.
Research Summary
Research Summary
We set out to discover what emergencies travelers experienced and how they dealt with them by conducting a study of 150-some surveys and over 20-some interviews.
We set out to discover what emergencies travelers experienced and how they dealt with them by conducting a study of 150-some surveys and over 20-some interviews.
Travel Concerns
Travel Concerns
As you can see below, people are not very concerned about emergencies while traveling.
As you can see below, people are not very concerned about emergencies while traveling.
Further, the travel app usage data below reflects that travelers do not frequently use travel apps, especially those related to health or safety.
Further, the travel app usage data below reflects that travelers do not frequently use travel apps, especially those related to health or safety.
(The "Other" category consists of apps/sites such as Open Table, Instagram, and DuoLingo.)
(The "Other" category consists of apps/sites such as Open Table, Instagram, and DuoLingo.)
When asked what they would do in a scenario in which they were concerned about health and safety while abroad, travelers said they may consult the news, avoid an area deemed dangerous, or learn precautionary steps for a given situation. No one could conceive what an app for this would provide.
When asked about illnesses experienced abroad, most travelers admitted they had been unprepared. Additionally, this was usually a laughable subject as their illness was often minor and deemed solely as an embarrassing inconvenience.
I was beginning to fear we'd been assigned an impossible task to make an app nobody needs, but the following quote pinpointed an opportunity for us.
When asked what they would do in a scenario in which they were concerned about health and safety while abroad, travelers said they may consult the news, avoid an area deemed dangerous, or learn precautionary steps for a given situation. No one could conceive what an app for this would provide.
When asked about illnesses experienced abroad, most travelers admitted they had been unprepared. Additionally, this was usually a laughable subject as their illness was often minor and deemed solely as an embarrassing inconvenience.
I was beginning to fear we'd been assigned an impossible task to make an app nobody needs, but the following quote pinpointed an opportunity for us.
"It would be nice to know the different things available to you over the counter in different countries, what they call the doctor, what they call a pharmacy, what they call a hospital, and how health insurance works in each country. We didn't think about that until after she got sick."
"It would be nice to know the different things available to you over the counter in different countries, what they call the doctor, what they call a pharmacy, what they call a hospital, and how health insurance works in each country. We didn't think about that until after she got sick."
Design Principles
Design Principles
After some research, we understood a few things about traveler behavior that could serve as guideposts for our next steps.
We now knew that travelers aren't typically worried about health issues until they have a problem. Most of them do not anticipate needing healthcare and figure they can avoid a pharmacy visit as long as they heed widely known precautions regarding consumption.
Also, we needed to consider connectivity and access to information while designing our travel app.
With these insights in mind, we formed the following design principles—
After some research, we understood a few things about traveler behavior that could serve as guideposts for our next steps.
We now knew that travelers aren't typically worried about health issues until they have a problem. Most of them do not anticipate needing healthcare and figure they can avoid a pharmacy visit as long as they heed widely known precautions regarding consumption.
Also, we needed to consider connectivity and access to information while designing our travel app.
With these insights in mind, we formed the following design principles—
Retain app features while anticipating travelers needs and allowing information access at all times.
Retain app features while anticipating travelers needs and allowing information access at all times.
The Solution
The Solution
We designed the app as a suite of data addressing issues commonly experienced by travelers. The information provided would be accessible through frequent updates and data-saving whenever the app connected to a network; it also allowed the downloading of specific details.
We designed the app as a suite of data addressing issues commonly experienced by travelers. The information provided would be accessible through frequent updates and data-saving whenever the app connected to a network; it also allowed the downloading of specific details.
Beyond the basic needs provided by the original apps, some of the information provided by the new app included travel warnings regarding diseases or social unrest.
Below is screen recording of the prototype followed by a break down of the app.
Beyond the basic needs provided by the original apps, some of the information provided by the new app included travel warnings regarding diseases or social unrest.
Below is screen recording of the prototype followed by a break down of the app.
First, users can navigate through their trips by using the central swipe bar.
First, users can navigate through their trips by using the central swipe bar.
Users can access all the old features through the side menu and the centered dropdown menu.
Users can access all the old features through the side menu and the centered dropdown menu.
They can delve deeper into essential topics on the current trip's main page. Through there they can easily bookmark info, make adjustments to their to-do list, or save routes of travel.
The information on the app is tightly curated to the trip activated by the user.
They can delve deeper into essential topics on the current trip's main page. Through there they can easily bookmark info, make adjustments to their to-do list, or save routes of travel.
The information on the app is tightly curated to the trip activated by the user.
Route saving can be especially useful if the user anticipates a loss of internet connection.
Route saving can be especially useful if the user anticipates a loss of internet connection.
Other features included in this app but not displayed are as follows:
Other features included in this app but not displayed are as follows:
VACCINES AND DISEASES
VACCINES AND DISEASES
Provide in-depth info and allow users to access their To-Do list and to view a highlighted map of at-risk regions.
Provide in-depth info and allow users to access their To-Do list and to view a highlighted map of at-risk regions.
FOOD
FOOD
Provide advice regarding consumption and allergies, including standard precautions.
Provide advice regarding consumption and allergies, including standard precautions.
Provide advice on food poisoning—causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Provide advice on food poisoning—causes, symptoms, and treatment.
WILDLIFE
WILDLIFE
Provide precautionary info regarding harmful plants and potentially dangerous animals.
Provide precautionary info regarding harmful plants and potentially dangerous animals.
MEDICATIONS
MEDICATIONS
Provide visual, audio and written info regarding specific over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
Provide visual, audio and written info regarding specific over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
Direct users to the map so they can search for a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital depending on their input.
Direct users to the map so they can search for a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital depending on their input.
WORDS & PHRASES
WORDS & PHRASES
Provide visual, audio and written basic language lessons for crucial words and phrases.
Provide visual, audio and written basic language lessons for crucial words and phrases.
Conclusion
Conclusion
All in all, this app keeps travelers safe and healthy by providing crucial information in a streamlined and predictive manner.
All in all, this app keeps travelers safe and healthy by providing crucial information in a streamlined and predictive manner.