Students will be required to identify a problem in an existing interface or choose an activity which has not yet been addressed by an app, website, etc.
Brainstorming
As a group, our first task was to identify the problem that would form the basis of this project. Via our chosen method of communication, Slack, we brainstormed a number of ideas to get the creative juices flowing. These ideas included re-designs/additions to the websites of Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, both Dublin and Cork City Councils, eir Mobile and West Cork Vintage Car Club.
We also discussed “new” solutions, such as a student resource for tracking notes, assignments, classroom locations, etc. Or a new alternative to ATMs and their outdated and non-friendly user interface.
Shortlist
Eventually we settled on a shortlist of four ideas, and compiled areas to improve or new items of functionality for each:
Existing Websites:
“Cape Clear Island Ferry Service”
- New App will be created to improve upon existing website.
- Facilitate improved online booking service.
- New and improved timetable at a glance.
- New interactive map with tour information and areas of interest.
2. http://irishwrecksonline.net/
“A diver’s guide to the ship wrecks around Ireland”
- New App will be created to improve upon existing website.
- New and improved UI for listing and filtering wrecks by name, county, type, etc.
- New and improved UI for viewing detailed information on a selected wreck.
- New interactive map with highlighted wrecks and links to the detailed information mentioned above.
New Apps:
3. Smart Home App
“Control your Home Security & Entertainment from the palm of your hand”
- New App will be created.
- Security: Control Lights, Blinds, Alarms, Locks, etc
- Entertainment: Control TV, Media-Center, Wi-Fi, etc
- Map and configure your home for the above.
4. Legal Driver App
“Drive Legally – Drive Safely”
- New App will be created.
- Digital version of Garda I.D.
- Digital version of Tax & Insurance Discs (if not on vehicle windscreen)
- Facilitate the online paying of Speeding Tickets and other Fines
At this point we sought advice from course lecturer, Dr Andrew Errity, who confirmed that each of these ideas was a suitable project, providing the scope/amount of functionality was kept at a realistic level.
Problem Location Agreed
To decide which idea would be our initial and primary focus for the project, a pointing system was agreed upon. Each group member would assign a score to each idea, with 4 points being their most favoured idea and 1 point being their least favoured.
Once the group ratings were tallied, the results were as follows:
| Points | Name |
|---|---|
| 11 | Irish Wrecks |
| 9 | Ferry Service |
| 7 | Smart Home |
| 4 | Legal Driver |
After a final discussion, all group members were happy to proceed with further investigation and identification of problems with the http://irishwrecksonline.net/ website.