Background
The existing WarnMe system faces several challenges, including limited communication channels, lack of customization options, and accessibility issues. Increasingly, there became a need to modernize the system to better meet the evolving safety needs of the campus community and student safety.
Goal
1. Enhance Effectiveness: Improve the effectiveness of the WarnMe system in disseminating timely and relevant information to the campus community during emergencies and critical incidents.
2. Expand Accessibility: Introduce multi-channel alerts via text message to expand alert reach.
3. Foster Engagement: Promote active engagement and participation in the WarnMe system among students, faculty, and staff through user-friendly features and functionalities.
2. Expand Accessibility: Introduce multi-channel alerts via text message to expand alert reach.
3. Foster Engagement: Promote active engagement and participation in the WarnMe system among students, faculty, and staff through user-friendly features and functionalities.
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Problem
The usability of the WarnMe system for UC Berkeley students needs improvement. Currently, students may encounter challenges navigating the system, understanding alert notifications, or customizing their preferences effectively. These usability issues can hinder the effectiveness of WarnMe in delivering timely and critical information during times of emergencies that are needed most.
Research
- User Interviews (5)
- User Surveys (Anonymous Google Form)
Insights
- WarnMe is not efficient
- Need for upgrade on system
- Lack of details
- Need for live updates, chat functionality, expansion of platform
- Lack of fast communication
Creation of HMW
The HMW statement was developed by analyzing the insights from research, observations, and user feedback related to the usability challenges of WarnMe for UC Berkeley students.
Initially, the HMW state was: "HMW we efficiently improve the usability of WarnMe for UC Berkeley students?" This was too broad and reframed from addressing a specific issue.
How Might We... efficiently improve the notification updates of WarnMe for UC Berkeley students?
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Ideation
The process of a solution builds off on the research insights and synthesis to create a re-designed WarnMe that introduces text message notifications, which addresses the need for an update to the system and organizes the replay of information tailored to specific needs.
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User Personas
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Low-Fidelity Prototype
Sketch of WarnMe updates sent via text that are organized in one place instead of cluttered in your Gmail inbox.
Mid-Fidelity Prototype
User feedback from the low-fi prototype:
- Include concise information for updates
- Easy calling for emergencies
- Where to go for more information
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User Testing + Insights
1. Easy, Recognizable Icon - Created an alert icon to visually indicate for easy recognition & attention
2. More interactive - Added a reply option
3. Customizable - Ability for users to request for more information and those who don't want more information to avoid being spammed
4. - Implemented option to location share as an emergency precaution
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Final Product Prototype
Link: https://www.figma.com/file/IfGw0uBe7J4HXQXRPLTLz3/MidFi-WarnMe-2?type=design&node-id=0%3A1&mode=design&t=cu3tMUC8kOErTtmf-1
