Sustainable Development
How UX as means to develop a tool to reduce everyday stress and promote a sustainable lifestyle.
Fanny Gylling
Masters thesis in Interaction Technology and Design, 30 hp
Department of Applied Physics and Electronics Umeå University, Sweden
Spring - 2019
How can user experience as means support people in their struggle to keep up with their stressful life. This thesis cover how user experience can be used as method to develop a application that in short term reduce everyday stress, and in long term support a sustainable development. A literature study was conducted what stress is and what impact it has on people, also a compilation of sustainable development in everyday life together with the theory of user experience on a mobile platform was made. To create a prototype of a mobile application an iterative design process been conducted by design, test and evaluate prototypes in three stage from paper prototypes, lo-fi to hi-fi. Finally interactive prototype of a mobile application were created with functionality that reduce stress among people in their everyday life. This applications functionality to ease the burden on chores that frequently accrued in the user study as source of stress. Mainly related to laundry, cleaning and food chores.
1 Introduction 4
1.1 Objective . . . 5
1.2 Yours . . . 5
1.2.1 Galären . . . 5
2 Theory 6 2.1 User experience - UX . . . 6
2.1.1 Mobile UX layout pattern . . . 7
The Log In . . . 7
The Launcher . . . 7
The Tray . . . 8
The List . . . 9
2.2 User study . . . 10
2.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey . . . 10
Likert-type scale . . . 10
2.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews . . . 11
2.3 Stress . . . 11
2.4 Social Sustainability . . . 12
2.4.1 Gender equality . . . 13
2.4.2 Social innovation and everyday life . . . 13
Efficient consumption . . . 14
Collaborative consumption . . . 14
Transition Towns . . . 14
Lifestyle . . . 14
3 Method 15 3.1 Literature study . . . 15
3.2 User study . . . 15
3.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey . . . 15
3.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews . . . 16
3.3 Prototyping . . . 16
3.3.1 Idea generating . . . 16
3.3.2 Lo-fi prototype . . . 17
3.3.3 Hi-fi prototype . . . 17
3.4 Test and analysis . . . 18
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4 Results 19
4.1 Market analysis - existing applications . . . 19
4.1.1 Oscar Properties - Facility management . . . 19
4.2 User study . . . 20
4.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey . . . 20
Participator . . . 20
Highest indicator on likert-scale . . . 21
Open question . . . 22
4.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews . . . 22
What - Questions . . . 23
How - Questions . . . 23
Why - Questions . . . 23
4.3 Prototyping . . . 23
4.3.1 Idea generating - paper prototype . . . 23
Log in . . . 24
Menu . . . 24
Food . . . 25
Laundry . . . 25
Cleaning . . . 26
4.3.2 Lo-fi - clickable prototype . . . 27
Log in . . . 27
Menu . . . 27
Food . . . 29
Laundry . . . 30
Cleaning . . . 32
4.3.3 Hi-fi - interactive prototype . . . 33
Log in . . . 33
Menu . . . 33
Food . . . 34
Laundry . . . 35
Cleaning . . . 36
4.4 User test . . . 37
4.4.1 Paper prototypes . . . 37
4.4.2 Lo-fi - clickable prototype . . . 37
4.4.3 Hi-fi - interactive prototype . . . 38
5 Discussion 39 5.1 User study . . . 39
5.2 Functions . . . 39
6 Conclusions 40
7 Future work 41
2.1 The Launcher, basic layout based on [1]. . . 8
2.2 The Launcher, advanced layouts based on [1]. . . 8
2.3 The Tray layout based on [1]. . . 9
2.4 The List basic layout based on [1]. . . 9
2.5 The List advanced layout based on [1]. . . 10
3.1 Idea sketching. . . 16
4.1 Quantitative user study, total amount of stress. . . 21
4.2 Quantitative user study, likert-scale answers often and always added together. . . 22
4.3 Paper prototype, log in solution sketches. . . 24
4.4 Paper prototype, menu solution sketches. . . 24
4.5 Paper prototype, laundry solution sketches. . . 25
4.6 Paper prototype, booking laundry solution sketches. . . 26
4.7 Paper prototype, booking home cleaning solution sketch. . . 26
4.8 Lo-fi, log in solution. . . 27
4.9 Lo-fi, menu solution alternative 1. . . 28
4.10 Lo-fi, menu solution alternative 2. . . 28
4.11 Lo-fi, takeaway food ordering. . . 30
4.12 Lo-fi, laundry solution. . . 31
4.13 Lo-fi, book new laundry time. . . 32
4.14 Lo-fi, book home cleaning. . . 32
4.15 Hi-fi, log in solution. . . 33
4.16 Hi-fi, menu solution. . . 34
4.17 Hi-fi, food function, take-out. . . 35
4.18 Hi-fi, laundry solution. . . 35
4.19 Hi-fi, booking system. . . 36
4.20 Hi-fi, book home cleaning. . . 37
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The 2018 measurement from the Swedish Public Health Agency shows that 16% of the population experienced stress in their everyday life [2]. The most exposed group of people are those with post-secondary education and those outside labour market. The group that had the highest increase in percentage from last measurement in 2016 was young women, where the percentage of people who feel stressed had increased with 6 percentage units. After a good night sleep you can more easily cope with stress and pressure during the day.
Likewise sleep is one of the most important aspects of recovery and preventing diseases both physically and psychologically[3]. Among the population 39%
indicated that they suffered from insomnia in some grade, most common among people over the age of 44. In a society where young people feel more stressed and people in middle of life experience insomnia there is a challenge to manage these stress related problems.
According to statistical authority over Swedish populations internet habits, 84% stated that they use internet nearly every day [4] and 85% of the popula- tion over 11 years old have a smart phone [5]. As internet evolve and engage more people, naturally people also tend to use internet to search for answers and solve problems. As an effect of the internet development along with the smart- phone development, mobile applications allow us to order and get food delivered straight home, shop for groceries or get an appointment with the doctor through your phone. The development has lead to a new way of interacting with every- day problems through the phone. Applications that can help organising, deliver both products and services and help you with almost everything.
A more stressful lifestyle makes it hard for people to keep up with every aspect of life. Stress from work among with insomnia requires people to prioritise their time and energy. Balancing all part of life can be a challenge and a burden after a long day. These household related chores can include tasks like doing the laundry, shopping for groceries, making sure it is clean and tidy at home and so on. Household services have increased and are most common in households with partners with children living home and household with elderly [6]. The system of tax reduction linked to these services in Sweden, require a certain amount of annual income to take advantage of the system, which excludes low income households.
To what extent can an applications help handle a stressful lifestyle and ease the everyday life for people. How can a User Experience, from now on denoted as UX, relive stress among the critical group of population that suffer most from stress and insomnia? And can a solution based on UX take a natural place in
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everyday life, based on our steady internet habits, and therefore also help us to a sustainable lifestyle in a easy and user centred approach.
1.1 Objective
The point of departure of this study will be to quantitatively illuminate the ev- eryday activities that induce the most stress in the target group. This through a prototype of an mobile application with the aim to in some extent reduce stress related to frequently occurring chores. The application will function as a facil- ity management, that may include delivery of ingredients and meals, cleaning service, animal care and so on along with more standard functions like booking laundry room and starting the engine preheater.
Hence the aim with the report is to examine how UX-methods can be ap- plied to a mobile application and if it can be used as a tool to reduce stress?
All together with the aim to motivate towards a sustainable lifestyle and well- being by reducing their everyday stress and in long term promote a sustainable development of the city.
1.2 Yours
Yours is a communication agency who generate and deliver strategies, concepts and products in web, motion picture and print to communicate business value [7]. Their focus in on solving real problems and challengers through effective and efficient communication in any channel or location [8]. Yours is based in Luleå and Stockholm.
1.2.1 Galären
Galären is a real estate who manage facilities and own apartments in Luleå [9].Business idea focus on sustainability and a long term plan to own and de- velop properties. Galären aim to make Luleå a better, fun and sustainable city, through their vision "Ge staden liv". Their social responsibility includes good work environment, ethical guidelines, counteract discrimination and advocate diversity, and to build and manage facilities sustainable [10]. Their policy aim to satisfy today’s needs without jeopardising the opportunities for next generation.
This section covers the theory part of the thesis.
2.1 User experience - UX
User experience is experience in relationship to an interactive product, an event between human and product, an interaction with a clear beginning and end [11]. "Momentary, primarily evaluative feeling(good-bad) while interacting with a product or service." Good UX has three essential measurements [12].
Useful the component meet the user needs, it must be useful in all aspects.
This includes providing content, features or functions that are needed from an user perspective.
Usable intuitive functionality, this means basic functions do not require much concentrations to accomplish the task.
Desirable engage the user. This component is often accomplished by visual design, content and copy.
The constitution of each page should be in accurate proportions and re- lationship between currently visible elements. Therefore the most important elements should be appearance, tentatively by being the biggest or boldest el- ement. Elements related logically should be related visual, thus by the same style or grouped together avoiding clutter on the screen [13]. According to Steve Krug [13] usability can be defined and break down in seven essential questions to question the elements:
Useful Does it do something people need done?
Learnable Can people figure out how to use it?
Memorable Do they have to relearn it each time they use it?
Effective Does it get the job done?
Efficient Does it do it with a reasonable amount of time and effort?
Desirable Does people want it?
Delightful Is using it enjoyable, or even fun?
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2.1.1 Mobile UX layout pattern
Using design patterns that users recognise and how to use makes the solution easy to grasp, since it makes the user feel more in control [13]. A set of param- eters and pattern that is known, verified and used repeatedly can be used as for adapting layout patterns for each specific solution. By customisation changes can be made to optimize a solution. These patterns can also be combined to strengthen one another since their disadvantages and advantages may complete each other in a pleasant way [1].
The Log In
When users first enter the application their first interaction is with the log in. This pattern contains tree elements, the log in, the sign up and the forgot password, each transferring the user to a separate screen. The goal with this screen is to make the log in process as simple and easy for the user as possible and yet be graceful. To this the input fields need to be kept very simple, with the labels added inside the field to save space. The log in button should reach its full width that the screen allows for a comfortably touch. Colours should be clear to give a contrast to the background among with shapes that catch the eye so that the action of log in as unmistakable as possible. The design need to fit in the top half of the screen as the keyboard get displayed when the user fills in the input fields. To save time for the user and avoid frustration can be allowed to be saved to the internal memory. This saves time since they can return to the application without having to go through the log in screen and repeat the process of log in every time entering the application. The process need to cover cases as if the user forget the password need it to be reset, some application can have the integration allowing the user to log in through social media.
The Launcher
The Launcher pattern aim to support various functions and actions with mimic learned behaviour through interaction model of a home screen with functions that launches when touched. This pattern contains a header, content area which take most of the screen space in the middle, and an extra area in bottom for supplemental functions. The header is used to display basic functions of brand- ing area and navigation area, thus offering consistency in navigation across the hole experience of the application. The content area is flexible adapted to the experience, giving a focus on the content that launches, this may include func- tion for the user to explore the application deeper. The hierarchy of organised content that changes can make the screen feel more dynamical and promote the user to explore the solution further as their eyes move down the screen.
Figure 2.1: The Launcher, basic layout based on [1].
By adding additional panels the user can be kept engaged with different parts of the experience and we can push content towards the user, hence presented in the advanced layout of The Launcher. These additional panels can be reach either by swiping from left to right and back to access different panels with more icons and functionality, or simply scroll down the screen to expose a number of icons with functionality. By changing the look and feel by moving elements, change colour scheme and hide or show specific elements the solution can be customised to each individual user.
(a) Ex-
tended scroll down page.
(b) Page one with swipe functional- ity.
(c) Swipe page two.
Figure 2.2: The Launcher, advanced layouts based on [1].
The Tray
The Tray pattern layout has an advantage of offering more space to the ex- perience without losing the view. By a gesture or touch the tray area opens, these actions that enable the area should always be visible for the user and it should be clear for the user that it is expose extra functionality, thus is click- able. For the element to visualize this it shall have a unique shape compare to other elements in the solution and have colouring, shading and texture to make it look active. The Tray area works like a scrollable extension of the basic
solution, supplement and complement the experience by enable more advance futures that not natural fits within the basic view. The tray that expand over the current view would preferentially encompasses up to 70% of the total width of the screen to secure the user about what view there currently on and how to return back to it.
(a) Tray lay- out closed.
(b) Tray lay- out open.
Figure 2.3: The Tray layout based on [1].
The List
This layout provide basic navigation to second and third level pages while still providing a quick return back to main screen, this clearly indicates for the user when going deeper into the application. This layout contains the list item with a state that clearly indicates that it can be activated by touch, navigation bar and navigation buttons.
(a) List item with text in page one.
(b) List item with text in page two.
(c) Action- able last page.
Figure 2.4: The List basic layout based on [1].
The navigation bar should be consistent all over the page to provide anchor in the experience to supply the user the information of where in the experience the user navigate and how to return to the previous view. The Navigation bar contains buttons that transfer the user one step backwards, which is typically placed in the top left hand of the navigation bar. Undefended of how deep in
the experience the user are, the button should always travel back one page.
Therefore it is also important to always make the last page actionable.
(a) List item with figures and text in page one.
(b) List item and figure in page two.
(c) Action- able last page.
Figure 2.5: The List advanced layout based on [1].
2.2 User study
The importance of both Quantitative and Qualitative research methods corre- spond to the complexity of human behaviour and users needs. Quantitative methods can answer questions of "how much" or "how many", and Qualitative can tell you about "what", "how" and "why" [14].
2.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey
A online survey aim to collect quantitative data from a wide amount of possible users [14]. Through a series of questions with a limited set of response categories asked to all of the respondent, with the possibilities to answer a more open ended question at the end, hence structured interview [15]. The survey goal is to track the household chores and every day tasks and let users state how much each stresses them on a daily basis, furthermore use the result as a way to prioritize the most critical chores to be implemented in the prototype.
Likert-type scale
Likert scale method is essentially a multiple indicator measure of a set of at- titudes related to the particular area [16]. Likert scale aim to measure the intensity of a feeling regarding the questions, which fit the aim with the project to measure stress among people in their everyday life. Likert scale often indi- cates the level of agreement or disagreement in a five-point scale from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree". It is particular important to state the item and not questions, the item must relate to the same object and the items that make up the scale should be interrelated. The survey covered statement where the user should state from one to five how often each daily chore general stresses them in their everyday life. Where one is "never" and five is "always". The
statement cover areas like meals, cleaning, housing and car care, booking of premises and other administrative relabel chores.
2.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews
Qualitative research aim to understand the "what", "how" and "why" with a product, through understand the domain, context and constraints of the product in different ways than Quantitative methods [14]. It can also track pattern of behaviour among the users along with how the existing product are used. It is important since it provide credibility and authority for the design team since their decisions can be traced by the result of the research.
Users in general should be the main focus of the design effort, since that it is important to speak to the current user and more important the potential users [14]. These are important since there are good candidates for using the product in the future since they have needs that can meet the product and they are in the target market for the product. Information from the users that are interested in learning are:
How , when and why the product is or will be used in the users daily life or workflow.
What knowledge do the user need to full fill and achieve their goal with the product.
Task and activities that the current product is required to accomplish and those it doesn’t support.
Goals and motivations for the user to use the product, and the goal with the usages.
Mental model the expectations that the users have about the product and how it works.
Problems and frustrations with the current product.
2.3 Stress
Stress can be defined as any external interference to a organism optimal equilib- rium [17]. Stress effect humans in different ways and not necessarily negatively.
Stress can be divided into eustress and distress [18]. Eustress, or positive stress, can in a moderate amount of effort, anxiety, or even fear benefit to higher per- formance. Hence its desirable to maintain a optimal amount of stress since a minimum of stress disfavour performance. Distress, negative stress, occurs when the demand exposed for the body exceeds the body’s capacity, this can also in- clude to little demand. Thus, distress is detected as a result of to little or to much demand, and eustress the level between, these levels depend on the indi- viduals interpretations. Prolonged stress without possibility to rest and recover can lead to both physical and mental symptoms, diseases and health problems [19]. Participation in social events, expectations from the environment that are hard to cater, unpredictable and uncontrolled events that we lack control over are also usual stress factors [20].
A stress response can be a effect both of a infrequent major event or trauma, or minor events that happens frequently [21]. Major events can be that you or your loved ones experience an accidents, sickness, moving, divorce, birth of a child or other life event that will have a distinctive impact of life. Other sources can be minor, like feeling stressed about work or interpersonal conflicts, but frequently everyday occurring and thus effect and disrupt daily life. Frequently experience short term stress factors over time can lead to long term stress and chronic stress.
Reaction to stress aim to mobilise energy to support the body in a situ- ation where it is under pressure [20]. In the past this reaction helped us in a threatening situations, where the stress reaction was an effect to fight the threat or escape. This reaction is called a fight-escape reaction, and activates the sympathetic nervous system which excreted sugar and stress hormones in the blood [22]. In a fight-escape reaction no energy is stored in the body and some functions, like the digestion is not prioritised since it can not benefit you in a threatening situation. In such a reaction it is common to to feel afraid, irritated, angry or hostile. This reaction can not distinguish physical and social threats, for example dangerous animals or difficulty to pay invoice, therefore both can trigger the same reaction. Neither can it distinguish a real threat from something you just worry about. If the brain estimate the threat so terrible that it feels chanceless, the play-dead reaction is activated. The play-dead reaction is a stress reaction that can result in fainting, fatigue, dizziness, weakness in the muscles and symptoms of the stomach. It is usual to isolate yourself, reduce social contacts, and a feeling of tiredness, sadness, grief and even depression as an effect of the play-dead reaction.
Short term effect of everyday stress can be a same day effect of emotions, behaviour and physical functions [21]. If the body get to recover and get enough of sleep, this type of stress is not harmful. The fight-escape reaction last only a few minutes and to it extremes a few hours [22]. Frequently short term effect of stress thus can lead to a more long-term vulnerability to sickness and effects of sickness [21]. A long term stress can lead to tense and sore muscles, elevated blood pressure, and hormones that are secreted in the blood can in a long term perspective result in memory and concentrations difficulties [22].
As an effect of the play-dead reaction the nervous system cut down on energy to the body. Thus in a long term of stress the body try to build up the body again even tho it consume less energy than usually. Which can lead to a need for comforting through eating more, especially usual to eat more sweet and fat food, and consuming more alcohol [22].
In a worst case scenario long term stress and pressure for the body can lead to for example disease like myocardial infarction, fatigue Syndrome and fibromyalgia [22]. Long term stress can also cause you to have no reserve left for if a major life event accrued that is a strain on the body. A stressful lifestyle with prolonged stress can induce bad habits including smoking, increased alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and bad eating habits [19].
2.4 Social Sustainability
A reposition against a sustainable lifestyle cannot accomplished by one single actor and therefore European Union policy recognise need for more policies
and strategies to benefit an sustainable society [23]. Technology innovations for reducing environmental impact in combination with designing better products and providing infrastructure for collective services are essential in the work towards reducing environmental impact in long term.
According to Western Australian Council of Social Service, social sustain- ability can be defined as [24], "Social sustainability occurs when the formal and informal processes, systems, structures and relationships actively support the capacity of current and future generations to create healthy and liveable commu- nities. Socially sustainable communities are equitable, diverse, connected and democratic and provide a good quality of life".
This ensure that everyone can live a healthy life and benefit well-being in all ages [25]. Health is fundamental for reaching their full potential and con- tribute to developing society. One essential aspect is to reduce mortality by non-contagious diseases through focus on and prioritise mental health issues and well-being among people. This also includes drug abuse and unhealthy consumption of alcohol.
2.4.1 Gender equality
Strengths politics and legalisation that promote gender equality can benefit the progress towards a better world. By equal rights and shared responsibilities within the household and family, people can be given the opportunities to reach their full potential. A prerequisite for this are unpaid care and domestic work need to be recognised and valued, through offering social protection policies, infrastructures and provision of public services [26]. This also include ensuring equal participation leadership at all level of decision making in public, economic and politic life. Also retaking reform that helps women too equal economical resources as properties, land, financial services, inheritance among others. To reach equality, information and communication technology among women also need to be enhanced to promote their empowerment.
Thus, there are some different opinions whether equality in work life can not reflect equality in domestic work and work corresponding to family, leaving women with the same amount of burden from work life as men but adding a wider amount of responsibilities about family and household work [27]. There- fore the work-life balance, flexible work hours and childcare provision needs to be included for every employee, to find a balance between work life and unpaid work connected to home and family regardless of gender.
2.4.2 Social innovation and everyday life
Social innovation is an essential part of sustainable living on local level that can bee reached by engaging people to enabling dynamic social process to meet social needs more effectively than existing solutions. Social innovation is vital for a significant change in the way people define well being and defined quality of life [23]. The consumption pattern is at a unsustainable level environmen- tal and social impact. Impact from household consumption, food and drinks, consumption-materials and private transportation are a growing source of en- vironmental impact caused by consumption in European Union [23]. Meat and dairy consumption covers the largest share in the food and drink sector, along
with domestic heating and water consumption and individuals car ownership occupies a great deal of relevance of Europe’s environmental impacts.
A sustainable lifestyle enable a sustainable contemporary society need to be accommodate human diversity, different approaches to find a balance between work and life and each individuals personal well-being. A sustainable lifestyle must in the future fit within the global resource limits and be based on equity, efficient and sufficiency [23]. A challenge to practices a sustainable lifestyle is that it need to be known of the dynamics of lifestyle and how to offer a sustain- able lifestyle for those who are not included in local and privileged minorities and make it an more mainstream way of living. Societal innovations that are relevant for this aim are:
Efficient consumption
As an result of the increase material consumption the global resources use, the environmental impact continues to grow [23]. This can be counteracted by wasting less and shift the consumption that happens to higher quality goods and services. Reduced material consumption can opportunities for sustainable ways of utilising products and services and a more sufficient consumption pattern.
Collaborative consumption
Shifting from ownership to make things and services accessible for people can transfer from being passive consumer to a co-producer by producing your own food etc. These can also be practised by sharing, swapping and trading goods and services between one another. These can be applied either by resell your own product or existing gods that you do not use anymore.
Transition Towns
Initiatives by the city towards sustainability among other community actions can exhibit the success of part taking approaches to a long term living and mobility options to a sustainable city [23]. Furthermore the aim to build a more coherent and strong community that can corporate with and absorb shocks and respond to them with a positive change [28].
Lifestyle
By examine the way we live, eat and move an question the usual pattern and promote health, equity and well-being. These parameters can differ between people, some may need to prioritise mobility and transportation while some prioritise a larger apartment. Gist are not everyone need to live within the same boundary but on average have the same footprint and a societies that support more sustainable ways of living but also allowing it in different ways.
Sustainable lifestyle represent the exact economics, cultural and political and social heritage of each society[29]. By reorganise everyday life and promote people to define their individual well-being and quality of life a individual and collective identities can be defined.
This section covers the method part of the thesis.
3.1 Literature study
A literature study were conducted by collecting information and knowledge from similar work and articles from Umeå University Library’s database, Google scholar and other scientific publications. The literature study contain topics like "user experience", "usability", "stress", "health", "sustainability", "mobile applications" and theory for testing and analysing prototypes. Information of value were compiled to a literature study to base the design choices, prototyping and analysis on.
This section also covered analysis over UX design pattern that are used for mobile solutions and analysis over similar applications and their architecture and how there are organised.
3.2 User study
User study have been conducted to detect strengths and weaknesses of the prototype. In addition, it was used as a tool for ordering and prioritize chores with a high indication of stress to be implemented in the prototype. Based on the user studies, desirable functions and services have also been developed which have been implemented at this stage of prototyping as well as desirable functions and services for future work.
3.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey
A online survey where conducted to collect data about which chores that people experience stresses them most in their everyday life. The survey was conducted with Google forms and spread through Facebook. The survey collect data about the anonymous user to provide the possibilities to compare the result to the target group presented in the introduction. The survey consist of statement of possible every day chores related to cleaning, meal, food, car and other.
Each category consist of statement where the user choose in a scale one to five, where one was "never" and five "always" hos often in their everyday life they experience stress feelings about the statement. Thus the possible answers followed the likert-scale, which made it possible to in some extent measure the
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users attitudes towards the statement. The aim with the survey was to estimate how many that are stressed about each individual chores, making it possible prioritise the chores based on the amount of people that feel stress related to the chores. And furthermore designing the application with focus on the most critical functions based on the quantitative answers.
3.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews
A interview have been conducted to collect qualitative data about users atti- tude towards the product. The interview started with some open and friendly questions to make the conversation relaxed and make the user feel comfort- able expressing themselves and their thoughts. Furthermore the conversation adapted to circulate around the questions about the product and the users feel- ings and thoughts of how it would adapt into their life and where, how and why they would, or would not, use the product [14]. The conversation started with the following questions and then adjusted according to the answers the user gave.
3.3 Prototyping
A prototype is an essential part of develop a design or product idea as it allows us to test the design before creating the real product [30]. An iterative design process was used developing the prototypes.
3.3.1 Idea generating
Detached application with the purpose of each individual chores were collected and desirable elements from each collected as inspiration for idea sketching with the purpose to compile the ideas to new solutions. Thus based on the method of idea sketching [31]. The sketches were compiled and displayed for users, see fig 3.1.
Figure 3.1: Idea sketching.
The users got to go through the sketches and mark strengths and deficiencies of their individual opinions, hence the method with a few modifications follow the "The prototype mindset" [31]. When the ideas were set, the prototyping began. Roughly these prototypes can be divided into low-fidelity and high- fidelity prototypes [30].
3.3.2 Lo-fi prototype
Main goal with low-fidelity, from now on called lo-fi, prototypes is to test func- tionality [30]. These include for example key elements, shapes and basic visual hierarchy of the solution. Therefore the first sketches were quite simple, im- proved versions of the paper prototypes from idea generating, called wireframes.
These Lo-fi wireframes were used as a visual representation of the design with its elements and the attributes of the elements. These simple wireframes were linked together to make it feel clickable for the user. Lo-fi wireframes were cre- ated by the digital design application Sketch, which can mirror the solution to iPhone for testing [32].
3.3.3 Hi-fi prototype
For the high-fidelity, from now on called hi-fi, the prototype were interactive allowing the user to explore chosen parts of the application. This include fea- ture like a scrollable objects, feedback on actions and smoother transitions be- tween different views. This version were developed in the interactive design tool FramerX [33]. Layouts have be exported from Sketch to FramerX where more interactive functions have been added to the elements among with im- provements based on the user tests. In FramerX layouts are responsive and the solution have been mirrored to a iPhone for testing.
What
What functions would you use?
What would be the goal if you use this function?
What is your expectations on the product?
What is your favourite service with the product?
What do you like the least?
How
How do you think such a product fits into your life?
How would you use these functions?
How often would you use this product?
Why
Why would you use this product?
Why would you use this functions?
Why would you be motivated to use this product and not just continue as it is now?
3.4 Test and analysis
Since people tend to be incapable of assessing their own behaviours, and often fear of seem dumb, incompetent, or impolite many avoid to rise subject they feel accurate, problematic or incomprehensible [14]. By talking to the user about how they think they behave and observe their actually behaviour in first hand at the same time you get a more quality answer.
Based on the result from the online survey, prototypes of the three most stressful chores cleaning, food and laundry, was created and tested. Users was handed a paper with instruction categorised by these three factors and each containing a number of task to solve. These include task like book laundry a specific time and date, order delivery of food and schedule home cleaning. User observation where users were encouraged to think out loud was used to in a cheap, robust and easy to learn way collect data from users about the prototype [34].
Each individual have their own pattern but somethings overlap in between users, hence as more and more users are added to the test, more and more errors overlap and the same things will come up multiple times, making it time ineffective. Jacob Nielsen state that "After the fifth user, your are wasting your time by observing the same findings repeatedly but not learning much new"
[35]. Therefore each session of the iterative design process include tests of five different users per prototype stage hence finding about 85% of the critical errors in each session. Thus distributing time and energy on user testing on a higher number of small test since the goal is to improve the design and not document existing weaknesses, hence it is not necessary to find all errors in every design.
This section present the result of user study along with the result from idea generating and figures of the prototypes in both the Lo-Fi and Hi-Fi prototype stage.
4.1 Market analysis - existing applications
This sections covers existing applications that are commonly used and in some extent solves frequently accruing chores that most people experience in their everyday life. These applications aim to in someway simplify everyday life for people through their services.
Tiptapp A free application that let you publish an ad of something you want transported somewhere, the publisher of the ad decide the price. Someone offers to help and the publisher chose a suitable person to help out with the transportation. When the procedure is fulfilled the payment is transferred [36]. Tiptapp also offers to transport stuff to charity and for recycling.
Foodora offers delivery of food from optional restaurant to your door [37].
Foodora let you order your food and decide if you want it delivered or pick it up yourself.
Yepstr connects you with youths in your geographical proximity in aim that the youths can help you with easy everyday chores [38]. This can include chores like childcare, animal care, garden, help your children with their homework or assist under a party.
Planta Helps you keep track of you plants well being. Planta send you a notification of when its time for care taking, and all other help you need for impressive and prosperous plants [39].
4.1.1 Oscar Properties - Facility management
Oscar Properties world is a mobile application with functions and services that aim to simplify the residence living and in long term improve the accommoda- tion experience [40]. The application includes services like handling of packages of e-commerce, booking of trips, restaurants and concerts that promote art and design event. A deli concept adapted to each building offering food to eat there or to go. Food and groceries are delivered directly up to the residence and can
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be ordered via the application. The application keep track of each individual electricity and water consumption corresponding to each apartment, giving the accommodations opportunity to protect the environment and strive for sustain- ability. Throughout the platform the accommodations can take control over their residence by using smart home to control the housing technology. To create a stronger community among the residents and provide easier communi- cation channel a chat forum for communication both between association and accommodations can be found in the application. Simpler household services like cleaning and easier repairs can bee book via the application, along with craftsman and other services connected to RUT- and ROT-deduction. Infor- mation about the apartment, agreements, guarantees and instructions can all be reached through the application since it provide a digital accommodation binder. Each apartment building have a custom solution offering that little extra, for example subscriptions for cut flower. Altogether with the aim to of- fer something more likely to a Facility management concepts solution for their rentals. Facility management is a discipline focused on efficient and effective delivery of support services and coordinate demand and supply of facilitates and services for organisations. The ISO defines Facility management as "or- ganisational function which integrates people, place and process within the build environment with the purpose of improving the quality off life of people and the productivity of the core business" [41].
4.2 User study
Here both the quantitative user study data, collected through a online survey, the qualitative user study including more detailed user interviews and user ob- servations from testing the prototypes are included.
4.2.1 Quantitative - Online survey
Result from the online survey presented in this subsection.
Participator
A total of 202 anonymous people answered the online survey, among them 83,2%
were women, 16,3% men and remaining chose not to answer and/or identified with other. The age distributed as following:
• Age 15-24: 23,3%
• Age 25-34: 49%
• Age 35-44: 19,3%
• Age >44: 8,4%
57,4% had a full-time employment and 32,2% were students, remaining had another main occupation. 18,3% had 1-3 year of post-secondary education and 46% had more than 3 years of post secondary education, 33,2% had upper secondary education and remaining less than upper secondary education.
The living situation where distributed as 42,7% live in a rented apartment, 24,9% in a apartment they own, 23,9% live in a detached villa or townhouse, 7,5% are inherent in someones else house and remaining have other living ar- rangement.
Highest indicator on likert-scale
Each individual chores that are included in the online survey are presented in percent of who many that answered two of the highest levels of stress in the liker- scale. These categories are categorised in Often and Always and are represented in fig 4.1.
0,00%
10,00%
20,00%
30,00%
40,00%
Often (%) Always (%)
Plan meals
Shop for meals
Cooking Clean up after meals
Remove items from surfaces
Make the bed
Dishwasher
Source waste Vacuum
Plants
Wash clothes
Windows Toilet /wet room
16 till
Figure 4.1: Quantitative user study, total amount of stress.
Over 30% are often stressed about the meals related questions and more specific cooking, cleaning up after meals and more careful cleaning. Above 20%
were often stressed about remove items from surface, wash clothes, clean toi- lets and wet rooms, planing meals, shop for meals and vacuum. Other chores that often stresses the user, with a percentage over 10%, were open to visi- tors, fill/empty the dishwasher, recycling garbage and source waste, take care of plants, clean windows, change bedding’s, seasoning decor, easier chores at home, sweep snow, scrape windows panes on the car, pay rent and book laun- dry/sauna/general areas.
Among chores that always stresses the user, over 10% answered wash clothes and clean up after meals. Other chores with a percentage between five and ten are plan meals, cooking, remove items from surfaces, vacuum, take care of plants, clean windows, recycling, seasonal decor, switch between summer/winter tires, pay rentals and book laundry/sauna/general areas.
The two highest answers on likert-scale, Often and Always are added to- gether and represented in fig 4.2.
0,00%
10,00%
20,00%
30,00%
40,00%
50,00%
Plan meals Shop for meals Cooking Clean up after Remove items from Make the bed Dishwasher Source waste Vacuum Plants Wash clothes Windows Toilet /wet room Careful cleaning Change bedding Recycling Seasonal decor Easier chores, Extensive chores, Engine pre-heater Sweep snow, Wash the care Switch between Walk with pets Pay rentals Open to visitors Book Water/electricity Info about your
Often and Always
Figure 4.2: Quantitative user study, likert-scale answers often and always added together.
Over 40% answered that cooking and cleaning up after a meal often or always stresses them. Between 30% - 40% indicated that plan meals, remove items from surfaces, wash clothes, clean toilets/wet rooms and more careful cleaning often or always stresses them. Between 20% - 30% indicated that shop for meals, vacuum, pay rent and recycling often or always stresses them.
Open question
The open question at the end of the online survey indicated a highest amount of people wanting the food to be prepared and/or cooked, recurrent cleaning services and more time at home/work less. These three clearly stood out as most frequently answered when the user could freely dream what would have simplify their everyday life most. Among other recurrent answer were more money, own Washer/dryer, help with household chores and delivery of food home.
4.2.2 Qualitative - User Interviews
Interviews were conducted with five different persons, two of them living in apartments and three in houses. Two of them men and three women. The age varied between 21 to 61 years old, and educational level differed from upper secondary education to more than 3 years of post secondary education. One were an full time student and remaining had full time employment.
What - Questions
Laundry function wast frequently mentioned as desirable, this including booking of laundry room primarily and following ongoing laundry session secondary. Also cleaning, engine preheater and open entrance door got mentioned often. Food delivery would maybe be used among the correspondent, mostly take-out and
"matkasse" in that case. One respondent stated that they possible would have used the function for lunch boxes. One person stated that they would not use cleaning services since they live alone in a fairly small apartment that does not require much time to clean, and thus feels like unnecessary money to spend on cleaning services.
All correspondent answered that the goal and expectations with the usage would be to save time and be more efficient. One-time code scheduled for open entrance door at certain time are mentioned as favourite function, and multiple answered they would use it.
How - Questions
Laundry every week, take-out food possible once a week and lunch box less fre- quently, maybe a few times a month. Engine preheater would be used everyday during winter and cleaning less frequently, but maybe once a week stated all the interview persons.
Why - Questions
One big positive aspect mention by all the participants were the advantage of not need to be physically in place, you can do it remotely. The application also made it easier to keep track of everything according to the participants.
One participants stated that one big motivation would be if you could start the washing machine from the phone so it would be done when you got home from work. Another that if he could book the laundry room in the application that would be motivation enough, since he would not need to go down to the laundry room for check for free time slots. Another motivated the usage of the application by not having to go out to put on the engine preheater, that would be reason enough since it simple and practical.
4.3 Prototyping
This section includes figures over the prototype sketches from paper prototype, Lo-Fi and finally Hi-Fi wireframes, all created during the thesis.
4.3.1 Idea generating - paper prototype
Since the navigation of the application is essential for the user experience, menu solutions were also collected and evaluated for developing a pleasant navigation for the application.
An idea sketching session were conducted and solution for chores with the highest indication on likert-scale from the online survey were examined. These including navigation, food services, booking and tracking laundry and booking cleaning services.
Log in
The log in is based on the The log in pattern, hence with the key meaning of log in, sign up and reset password. This prototype focus on the log in and three different sketches have been made, see 4.3. The first were two fields for filling in information are shown and below a button for log in. Second have sign up and log in besides each other and transferring respective to a new view, and the third similar to the first but with the fields separated from the button for sign up.
Figure 4.3: Paper prototype, log in solution sketches.
Menu
The navigation have four different solution sketches, see fig 4.4. Three first so- lutions with buttons to reach each individual function is represented and placed accordingly to the launcher ux mobile pattern. And the fourth following the list layout pattern with a additional add on with the tray pattern conducting information not used as often. The first sketch also conduct a surface for cur- rent and important information that concerns the user. The second contain a vertical time line with upcoming individual schedule for the user, where booked services are displayed.
Figure 4.4: Paper prototype, menu solution sketches.
Food
The functions of food were evaluated as need to contain four essential parts.
"Matkasse", online food shopping, take-out and a function for lunch boxes.
A solution for pre order a lunch box that could be ready for pick up on the users way to work were an desirable services from the online survey. Since a similar solutions can be conducted to all four parts, the Take-out function were evaluated and sketching on further to be time-efficient.
Laundry
Laundry service solution have requirements from user to track current laundry status and effort a overview of their upcoming bookings, three different sketches were made, see fig 4.5.
Figure 4.5: Paper prototype, laundry solution sketches.
The first solution contain a schedule visualised in a vertical timeline and each machine represented with their corresponding washing symbol underneath. In- side the symbols information about what program that currently are running, among with a estimated time to finish program are shown. In sketch two the time line is placed horizontal and the visualisation of remaining time corre- sponding to each machine is shown in a progress bar. Both solution display all machines all the time, unlike the third solution where each machine have a individual tab. Each tab represent one machine and effort a more informative rich solution were the user can follow the process more in detail. Each three have a toolbar at bottom of the page for function like booking a new laundry session, see fig 4.6.
Figure 4.6: Paper prototype, booking laundry solution sketches.
For booking a calender is used to show both already booked times, occupied and free time laps. A drop down menu is used in one sketch to filter among different laundry rooms and different time laps. In the other sketch the filtering is implemented by buttons that can be pushed and locked, only one can be locked at time. These can also be used fort scheduling both reminders and booking of laundry time.
Cleaning
For booking home cleaning the user need to fill in information about their home, number of rooms, number of bathroom and size which all can be adjusted by pushing the minus or plus button placed on representative side of the informa- tion, see fig 4.7.
Figure 4.7: Paper prototype, booking home cleaning solution sketch.
Additional information like added extra services and/or information that the user want to add to the home cleaning company can be added at the bottom before confirming and booking the appointment.
4.3.2 Lo-fi - clickable prototype
These prototypes was made in sketch and are to some extent clickable.
Log in
The log in view is minimized to the most important functions, the field for email that also works like user name, password, button for forgot password and sign in, see fig 4.8. Thus follow the log in pattern and focusing on one of the three key elements.When the user starts writing, the button is changed from registration, see fig 4.8a, to log in, see fig 4.8b, as a feedback that let the user know that the application catches their log in information.
(a) Registration but- ton.
(b) Log in button.
Figure 4.8: Lo-fi, log in solution.
Menu
The navigation solution was compiled to two solutions, both with a tray layout that opens for information and function not used as frequently. The navigation area on both solution also contain a surface for information concerning the user and their household. A schedule in which upcoming and ongoing activities personalised for the user to help them organise are presented along with buttons for more frequently used functions, fig 4.9 and fig 4.10
In the first solution schedule is presented as timeline where planned and ongoing events is collected under respective tab, see fig 4.9a.
(a) Menu solu- tion with timeline schedule.
(b) Menu solution with open tray lay- out.
Figure 4.9: Lo-fi, menu solution alternative 1.
The second solution schedule presented as cards with main focus on date and time of the event, also collected under respective tab, see fig 4.10a
(a) Menu solution with card schedule.
(b) Menu solution with open tray lay- out.
Figure 4.10: Lo-fi, menu solution alternative 2.
Food
Since the four functions correlated to food probably will follow the same struc- ture one solution sketch were produced that , with modifications, can be applied to each four functions. The solution were focused on take-away food that can be ordered in the application for both pick up or home delivery, see fig 4.11.
(a) Food menu. (b) Restaurant and delivery time.
(c) Available dishes. (d) timeline over de- livery status.
Figure 4.11: Lo-fi, takeaway food ordering.
Laundry
Schedule for when the user have booked the laundry room are shown at top of the solution, also containing a button for adding new laundry times. An area for ongoing laundry machines are shown and visualised as circles with a
progress bar corresponding to the percentage of time that the current machine have conducted of the selected program. Inside the circles information about the program and remaining time until finished is presented, see fig 4.12.
In the laundry solution also two different schedules, same as in the navigation area, are used and tested. One where booked laundry rooms are shown as a timeline, see fig 4.12a and the other where it is presented as cards, see fig 4.12b.
(a) timeline schedule alternative.
(b) Card schedule al- ternative.
Figure 4.12: Lo-fi, laundry solution.
The booking solution can be applied to more functions in the application as further developed, but in this stage focusing on the laundry booking system.
If the laundry room are fully booked, available or booked by the current user is represented with different colors in the calender. Available times can be filtered throughout the user choose which laundry room and which time slot that suites them, or by only showing available times. If a filter is added the calender is updated to only showing available times that matches the filter. If no preferences are requested, the user can choose to browse the calender as it is to search for available times, see fig 4.13.
(a) Before filtering. (b) After filtering.
Figure 4.13: Lo-fi, book new laundry time.
Cleaning
For booking home cleaning the user choose to schedule the cleaning or book a one time appointment. Then fills in the form with information about their home, optional additional cleaning and then possibility to add a comment to the cleaner, then chooses a time and book the cleaning, see fig 4.14.
Figure 4.14: Lo-fi, book home cleaning.
4.3.3 Hi-fi - interactive prototype
These prototypes was made in FramerX and are to some extent interactive.
Log in
The log in fields have been added text inside them to guide the user and save space in the view, see 4.15.
(a) Registration but- ton.
(b) Log in button.
Figure 4.15: Hi-fi, log in solution.
Menu
The menu that let the user navigate the application have three key elements.
At the top the information area where important information are shown for the user, here multiple views can bee added and the user can scroll horizontal to see them all, see 4.16. Below are a personalized schedule with two tabs, one for planed activities and one for ongoing, here the user also can navigate to the current function or delete the event directly from the activity in the schedule.
The functions are divided to more frequently used and lees frequently used, personalized from each individual user. The more frequently used functions are shown at the bottom of the view as six buttons, see 4.16a, while lees frequently used functions are placed in the tray menu that can be folded out form the right, see 4.16b.
(a) Card schedule and most frequently used function.
(b) Tray open, displaying less frequently used functions.
Figure 4.16: Hi-fi, menu solution.
Food
Food solution focus on the take-out, as the user enters the function a schedule are shown with all food related activities. Below the food functions are listed as buttons including take-out, "matkasse", online food ordering and lunch boxes, see 4.17a. The user can chose food function, in this case the take-out function and see which restaurant that deliver food and their estimated time, when a restaurant is chosen the user can add dishes they want to order, see 4.17b.
When a dish is added in the cart an button is shown i the bottom of the screen with the total amount of dishes that are added, when the order are placed the user can follow the cooking and delivery throughout a timeline, see 4.17.
(a) Schedule and food functions.
(b) Dishes that can be filtered by cate- gory.
(c) Delivery timeline.
Figure 4.17: Hi-fi, food function, take-out.
Laundry
The laundry function let the userseeall their laundry related activities in a time- line schedule, here are information like day and date presented along information about which laundry room that are booked which time. Also a timer of current laundry session is shown besides a button for adding new laundry times, see 4.18. Below are the current used machines shown with an progress bar that represent remaining time until furnished, inside the progress circle information of the running program corresponding to respective machine along with a time until finished program are shown.
Figure 4.18: Hi-fi, laundry solution.
The laundry booking solution can, with a few modifications, also bee imple-
mented for booking other rooms and public areas. In 4.19 the booking solution is presented for the laundry system. Blue color represent the users booked time slots, grey fully booked days and green days with free time slots. To easier the process, it is possible for the user to filter the calender. Either by only showing available time slots, see 4.19b, or filtering by rooms and time slots, see 4.19c.
(a) Booking system with no active filter.
(b) Filtered by avail- able time slots.
(c) Filtered by room and time slots.
Figure 4.19: Hi-fi, booking system.
Cleaning
Cleaning solution holds a schedule over cleaning related activities for the user, and below the choice to book cleaning either one time or schedule it, see 4.20a.
The application can based on information about the users apartment, estimate and auto fill the information. Furthermore the user can adjust the information, see 4.20b, and add additional services like window cleaning or take down season based decor, see 4.20c.
(a) Schedule over cleaning.
(b) Fill in our adjust home information.
(c) Additional ser- vices.
Figure 4.20: Hi-fi, book home cleaning.
4.4 User test
Based on user tests of the different stage of prototyping some conclusion could be drawn for following work with evaluation and developing prototypes.
4.4.1 Paper prototypes
• On the menu page keep information box and time line and always display both. Do not show to much different button functions at the same time to avoid to much scrolling in the first page.
• Display a schedule over current and booked times at the laundry page, also show a time indication of how much time remains before the laundry is done. Display which program are running on which machine. A function to schedule both reminders and time bookings are desirable. Have a option to filter only free time in a search for booking.
• Unnecessary to have a menu always showing at bottom of the page in the laundry view since it does not contain that many functions.
4.4.2 Lo-fi - clickable prototype
• Use card schedule solution in navigation page where different events are presented in the same place. Use timeline schedule solution in each re- spective functions where the events that are shown for the user all falls under the same categories, for example food or laundry.
• Enable the user to be able to navigate to respective function by pressing the event in the calender along with the button corresponding to each function.
• In the laundry view, show remaining time of booked laundry time. Possible limit the washing machine to start a program that does not finish with in the existing laundry time.
• Buttons that pop up in the bottom of the screen when a service or product are added should be locked to the bottom, avoiding it to disappear for the user when the scroll page is to long.
4.4.3 Hi-fi - interactive prototype
• All subcategories, functions that buttons from menu leads to, should preferable follow the same pattern at first stage. Hence, each function should have a timeline schedule on top of first page, the either buttons for subfunctions and/or the main function.
This section covers the discussion part of the thesis.
5.1 User study
The user interviews original plan was to interview Galärens existing renters to examine the pattern of behaviour along with the interest of both each function and the application overall. Unfortunately due to trouble with GDPR it was first delayed to then prove that it was not possible to get in touch with rentals via the customer register. Due to time constraints following the delay and trouble finding relevant people to interview the qualitative user study part of the thesis did not get as much time and place in the overall work as first desirable.
5.2 Functions
Collected solutions worked as inspiration and combined with requirements based on the online survey. The functions of food were evaluated as need to contain four essential parts. The function of "matkasse" were the user get a pre planned bag of groceries adapted to a set number of meals for a set number of people, these can thus be adapted to each household. Second the function of conduct- ing your own food delivery by online shopping for food instead of the need to physically go to a food store. These delivered straight home in a day and time of the users choice. These function are fairly extensive and there are pleasant solutions for these that in a later stage could be implicated and linked together with the solution of this application. Accordingly the decision of exclude the evaluation for these function in collaboration with my supervisor from yours were taken. Leaving that for the possibilities for further work with the solution and the food function with the functions to be evaluated as the take-out.
User study overall indicated that engine preheater was a desirable function among the correspondent. It indicated fairly high in the Quantitative - Online survey user study and the user interviews also confirmed these with multiple in- terview persons that said they would use engine preheater that could be started by the phone a lot. A problem here is the focus on sustainability, an easier way to start and use engine preheater would probably also lead to a higher user frequency, and thus a higher energy usage. Something that goes against the core of the thesis with the focus on a sustainable development.
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Engine preheater was an indication of stress and would be a easy way to re- duce stress among rentals. A solution for controlling engine preheater in the application would reducing peoples everyday stress, but at the expense of the environmental effect, and hence not benefit a sustainable development in long term. Thus the functionality was not implicated in the application and would with benefit not be that in the future either.
Other high indicators of source of stress feelings were taken in consideration while developing the application. Food, cleaning and laundry were the priori- tised and a corresponding solution to each were created to ease the burden on each people using the application. Especially the laundry function have been a favourite among the users based on user tests. The function of booking laundry times seems to be motivation enough among the participants to use the applica- tion, and the function of tracking your ongoing laundry in your phone received the most amount of positive feedback.
Since these three were among the highest indicators of stress sources in everyday life, and the application to some extent offers a relief of this, the application to some extent meet its means of reducing everyday stress. In other ways, UX as means of a method is used for at within some restrictions reduce stress and in a long term promote a sustainable development.
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Additional further work can be drawn as needed based both from the user online survey and user test of existing prototypes.
• Food: implement a solution for online shopping, ready to pick up lunch boxes and ordering of a "mat-kasse" solution delivered home to the user at a scheduled day and time as food occurred as a stressful chores from the online survey.
• Car, conditions and whether at cars current place, reminders for switching the tires, washing the car, services and so on. Also a desirable function based on the online survey.
• Functions like, my residence collection valuable information concerning the apartment like contracts, insurance, instruction books, personal economics linked to the apartment among others. This is a desirable function from Galären since they now have this in a web application solution.
• Function for tracking the distribution of workload to strive for a more equal distributed gender equality relationship, thus a more sustainable lifestyle. This since gender equality concerning workload corresponding to household chores are a importance aspect for benefit a better world and thus a sustainable development.
• A communication channel that connect the residents both to each other and the landlord. This for a richer social life among the residents which is a valuable aspect of a sustainable lifestyle. Both in the aspect of sharing information and finding new social circuits.
• Function for tracking consumption of water, heating and electricity. Along with a Function for helping, support end encourage recycling and waste sorting. All for a strive for a more sustainable lifestyle and efficient con- sumption
• Sharing function for more rarely used items. More efficient consumption, less owned items and higher quality. Collective consumption, share items and change items and services between each other.
• Open entrance door and garage gate in a distance and/or through your phone. Allowing u to let in visitors without go down our giving them the code to the entrance. Also possible to activate a time defined code
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that only works between a scheduled time. Maybe possible toseeyour own history, example if your child get home before you. This since a discussion about the possibility to open entrance from your phone arose during the qualitative discussions, therefore it might be interesting to explore and implement in a later stage.
