Overview: I took part in the civic tech hackathon, MakeZurich 2020 as part of the Smart Wäsherei team.
The project was created because of collective laundries, a common feature in Swiss apartment complexes. Instead of having washing machines in individual flats, Swiss buildings typically incorporate a shared room in the basement with washing facilities for the entire community.
The project was created because of collective laundries, a common feature in Swiss apartment complexes. Instead of having washing machines in individual flats, Swiss buildings typically incorporate a shared room in the basement with washing facilities for the entire community.
Challenge: create a solution that provides with the operational status of washing machines – whether they were in use or available for others.
Solution: develop a sensor capable of detecting machine vibrations and transmitting this information to users through channels such as LoRaWAN and cloud services. The ultimate aim was to offer real-time "machine status" updates through a mobile application.
Research
While my teammates were busy setting up sensors and checking connections, I took to Instagram to find people for interviews. We didn't have a user database, plus time was tight. I focused on people in Switzerland with shared laundry rooms.
I was interviewing 10 people and learned loads about their laundry problems, routines, and schedules. Listening to their stories sparked ideas for fixes. To get organised, I sorted the problems into groups and brainstormed solutions that tackled several issues at once.
We settled on two main solutions:
- knowing if a machine is occupied or free
- accessing machines online
- knowing if a machine is occupied or free
- accessing machines online
These fixes were a no-brainer since our detectors worked well and no extra setup was needed.
Persona
To proceed further with user-centered solution, I was working on creating a User Persona and a User Journey Map.
The User Persona, Rebecca, is a 32-year-old working mother from Zürich who values convenience and is willing to invest in a paid application subscription.
Rebecca's story resonates with many – she often worries about the washing machine's availability. Living with her husband and two kids, she needs comfort and efficiency.
Rebecca's story resonates with many – she often worries about the washing machine's availability. Living with her husband and two kids, she needs comfort and efficiency.
User Journey Map
There are two scenarios: when the machine is free, she's content, but if it's occupied, she faces inconvenience and uncertainty.
These issues find a simple remedy in a device that tracks machine status and communicates it to the mobile app. This way, Rebecca and users like her can seamlessly plan their laundry and avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
Low VS High Fidelity Prototype
My main aim was to start user testing early. I began crafting a simple prototype to understand how well users could identify available washing machines. In the first round of tests, users understood machine status, but found on-screen presentation unclear. I realised individual icons for each machine's status were not necessary.
Embracing the layout's clarity issue, I designed a new one. However, a new challenge emerged: booking wasn't clear when machines were grouped. So, I revamped the layout to ensure each machine's status was clear, and added a card for each machine with a "Book it" button. This improved both the presentation and booking process.
Users adeptly understood machine statuses and the booking process, even expressing the desire for saved information. However, this feature was absent due to time constraints. The experience revealed opportunities for improvements such as date/time selection and clearer booking notifications.
Reflecting on this experience, it's clear how rewarding it has been. Our journey started with the problem statement and ended up with the functional mobile application and a seamlessly synchronised sensor system.
I believe that throughout this experience, collaboration was key. Working closely with organisers, developers, and fellow team members added depth to our process.
Last, but not least I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all those who played a part in bringing this Hackathon to life.
I believe that throughout this experience, collaboration was key. Working closely with organisers, developers, and fellow team members added depth to our process.
Last, but not least I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all those who played a part in bringing this Hackathon to life.
Furthermore, I invite you to explore the app we unveiled. It's worth noting that I did on a thorough app redesign after completing UI courses after Hackathon was done. This redesign focused on bolstering accessibility, ensuring consistency, and adhering to the finest principles of material design.
Thank you for exploring my project! If you're curious to see more of my work, head over to the "Work" section. And if you have any questions or just want to chat, feel free to reach out – I'd love to hear from you!
Tschuss, ciao, au revoir, ade!