TR - VOCABULARY APP

Link to the prototype CLICK HERE

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This app helps users to be motivated to learn their desired language also giving them different options to learn like reading, listening, speaking and writing.

Problem Statement

Most adults and teenagers need a way to be motivated and reminded to learn words as they have a hectic schedule or get bored. Some of the reasons for the users to have gotten bored is the repetitive words and grammar and not much of advanced level vocabulary in different categories and also not having different learning options.

Hypothesis Statement

By building the features like email notification, motivational stars and having fluent and advanced levels along with different learning options like reading, listening, speaking and writing in the app, users will be motivated as well as learn the language in their desired method which will avoid boredom.

My Role

User Research

UX Design

Context

I was the sole UX Designer in this project and delivered it within 1 month

Tools

Balsamiq, OpenOffice, Marvel, Pen and Paper, G Suite

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Understand & Observe

Competitive Analysis

Problem Statement

User Interviews

POV & Ideation

Persona Creation

User Flow & Task Analysis

Prototyping

Paper Wireframe

Low-Fidelity Wireframe

Prototype Creation

Test

Usability Testing

UNDERSTAND AND OBSERVE

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Competitive analysis is often one of the first steps of design research. A great deal can be learnt from looking at competitors while conducting a competitive analysis, an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the competitors.

I identified 3 apps Duolingo, Visual Vocabulary and Word Up, that focus on vocabulary learning to get a better idea of the field and what's already out there.

Duolingo

Positive Features

Users need not have to register to use the app
App asks for user's language and target language, this is a very convenient and faster way to learn new vocabulary
Reason to learn a language example- travel, job, school
Sends notifications to email
Keeps track of the progress
Report a problem for each question and comment section in case of confusion which also allows users to read other's answers and doubts
Users can pick their days goal to learn new words

Negative Features

At times voice quality is not good
Too many ads
Heart system is not clear and very annoying as users cannot proceed without enough hearts
Users have to focus on not loosing hearts rather than focusing on learning the language
Repetitive words and boring
No different options to learn
Cannot pick topics to learn vocabulary
Does not have beginner to fluent levels

Summary

It has good motivation features but that would not help much because the exercises are boring and repetitive
It's like having a translator as the exercise questions are asked in the users language and must be answered in target language
App is well designed so it is easy to use and navigate
This app is targeted for basic level ,this can be improved by adding more levels
They have some unique features like report a question,discuss sentences and words

Visual Vocabulary

Positive features

No login or sign up is needed
Words can be saved
Word meaning with example is given
Vocabulary in various categories
Has different options like reading,listening, test, writing, speaking, flashcards

Negative Features

Too many ads
Ad pops up during and after exercises
No levels it is only for beginners
Voice quality is not good
App gets hanged and stops working

Summary

App gives examples along with the word meaning which is an excellent feature
Ads are very annoying it pops up during exercises
App has large collection of words in various categories but it's useful only for beginners
More levels must be added and ads must to stopped from popping up during exercises
App is easy to use and navigate

Word Up

Positive Features

Different levels are available
Assessment test to get right content for the users
Users can set goals
Exam prep (IELTS, TOEFL)
Word games, clips, examples for a word

Negative Features

Screen stops working and hung many times
More than one definition can be confusing
Paid version is very expensive
All the exciting and interesting options are paid example- movie clips, word games, exam prep

Summary

It is an expensive app
The features are very interesting and useful like exam prep and word game
App can be used by anyone as it has different levels (beginner to native speaker)
It is easy to use and navigate but has technical issues as it hangs very frequently

USER INTERVIEW

After competitive analysis, user interview which is a qualitative method of user research was conducted with 3 participants aimed at better understanding a user’s attitude towards a product or service.

I combined all the notes from my interviews. Using the “I” pronoun identified and summarized what my interviewees are doing, thinking, and feeling.

Doing, Thinking and Feeling

Participant 1

Doing

I read lot of books
I watch movies regularly
I study 15-30 minutes a day

Thinking

I am thinking of using vocabulary app again, since I need to learn lot of new words

Feeling

I feel annoyed when ads pop up during or after exercises
I feel good to learn words with examples and indicate which parts of speech
I feel satisfied when it's free and works offline

Participant 2

Doing

I read books and newspaper
I watch movies
I study everyday, minutes depends on the app I am using

Thinking

I think it is important to use the learnt words in a day to day conversation

Feeling

I feel good, when app creates enthusiasm in me to learn words
I feel like it's easy to learn with examples and translation to my native language
I feel satisfied when vocabulary adds to my personality and professionalism

Participant 3

Doing

I read books and use dictionary
I watch movies regularly
I study 15 minutes a week

Thinking

I think revision is not needed, when the meaning is understood properly

Feeling

I feel annoyed with ads
I feel good to learn with translation
I feel satisfied when there a words for various categories

POV AND IDEATION

USER PERSONAS

Meera

Manager

36 years old

Single

Hamburg

Her quote: “ In my hectic schedule, I try to take out few minutes to learn new words. Good vocabulary gives me confidence ”

Behaviors

Reads books
Watches movies regularly
Learns new words
Likes to travel
Uses laptop and phone throughout the day

Needs and Goals

Wants free vocabulary app
To learn new words for job
To use learnt words in day to day life
To be able to learn words using different options like reading, speaking, writing and listening
Needs an app with less or no Ads
App that has translation to her native language, meaning and examples of the words

Challenges

Usually forgets to learn words
Gets bored with learning apps as they have only one method of learning
Tends to forget the words already learnt
Is so tired and at times lazy as well ,that looses focus and motivation to learn words.

User Stories

As a full time professional, I want an app which sends me notifications, so that I do not forget to learn words
As a manager, I want to learn new words with meaning and examples, so that I do not forget them after few days
As a busy woman, I want to be motivated at times, so that I get to do other activities apart from my job

Job Stories

When I am occupied with my office work, I want a reminder(notification), so I can take few minutes out from work and learn words
When I am doing a presentation or a business deal, I want to use advanced level words , so I can look confident
When I am tired, I want to be motivated, so I can expand my horizons apart from job

USER FLOW AND TASK ANALYSIS

To know the exact actions users will take to accomplish tasks in a product, one can perform a task analysis. It is a process that identifies the common steps required to perform and complete a specific task.

Task Analysis 1

User Story: As Meera, I want to learn new words with the meaning and an example , so that I do not forget them after few days.

User Goal: To be able to get the meaning and an example for the word.

Task Analysis:

Entry point: Open App

Open App
Splash Screen
Login or Signup
Land on home screen
Select Vocabulary category. example- job,travel
Select in which way to learn. example- writing, reading
List of words with their meaning and an example

Success Criteria: The meaning and an example for the word.

Task Analysis 2

User Story: As Meera, I want an App to send me the notifications, so that I do not forget to learn words.

User Goal: To be able set an Alarm and an Email notification.

Task Analysis:

Entry point: Open App

Open App
Splash Screen
Login or Signup
Land on home screen
Click on Profile(User Area)
Select Notification
Set an Alarm and an Email notification

Success Criteria: An Alarm and an Email notification set .

PROTOTYPING

LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

I have sketched out wireframes for the 2 user flows. Started off with hand drawn wireframes due to speed and to focus on basic structure and functionality and also this prevented from getting bogged down in details.

MID FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

Balsamiq was used to create mid-fidelity prototype after basic functionality was finalised and the purpose of these more detailed wireframes was to convey form and function.

TEST

USABILITY TESTING

Usability Test Plan

Scope: To test the overall usability of the vocabulary learning app, Vocabulary Booster. I specifically tested 4 direct tasks.

Schedule: I met the participants virtually through Skype.

Sessions: The sessions with the participants were for 10 minutes. I conducted the test with 3 participants.

Equipment: All participants were given the link to Marvel prototype. As the session occurred, I took notes. I did not record the participants.

Metrics: Jakob Nielsen’s error severity rating scale was used

0 = I don't agree that this is a usability problem at all

1 = Cosmetic problem only: need not be fixed unless extra time is available on project

2 = Minor usability problem: fixing this should be given low priority

3 = Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority

4 = Usability catastrophe: imperative to fix this before product can be released

Usability Test Report

Task#

Sign-Up and Login

Set Alarm and Email notification

Find word with their meaning and example

Find word with their meaning & example

Set goal

Different methods to learn Vocabulary

Observation

Sign-up and login was very clear and easy for the participants

Searched for the setting icon to set an alarm
Other two participants did the task without any problem

Could easily navigate to find word meaning and Email notification
There were other confusions in this page due to 'inform problem' and 'comment on word' . They could not understand what it meant.
Save word was not very clear

They expected list of words

Participant was not sure whether goal will be settings or profile
Other two participants had no issues in locating the goal setting feature

Understood what it meant

Severity

Recommendation

I will not make any changes

I will change it to Any problem? and Need help with the word!

I will change it to Any problem? and Need help with the word!

I will be adding some more screens

I felt I can make it much clearer by changing the sentence.”select preferred learning method”

Improvements

Based on usability test report recommendation screens were improved

NEXT STEPS

I will go in depth of the menu area, review words and add to my word list
I will create high level fidelity prototypes
Later I will proceed with usability testing
I will continue with the improvements till l am satisfied with the app features and design

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

Pros

Competitive Analysis gave me ideas for my app
Persona gave the base to my app design like goals, needs and motivations
Inputs from users/participants are very valuable
Wireframes brings ideas into life
Every step adds to the design, the entire process was very interesting and enjoyable

Cons

It is not easy to recruit participants for User Interview
Hicupps with tools
I lost lot of time in taking wireframe pictures, loading and editing them.
Usability testing can get delayed due to participants

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