Week 13 -- Trade show / Course Reflection

Week 13 -- Trade show / Course Reflection

Trade Show:

We exhibited our final product at the Trade show and prepared a simple pitch to introduce our product. This is a new experience for me to prepare a trade show for our product that is developed the whole semester. Our group finished this product with many difficulties and we built it from the concept at first. And now it can be used on the computer. We exhibited our product with one most suitable computer and used others to play the background video, which can provide immersive feeling for users. We got many useful feedbacks as well. 

The Feedbacks:

1. Consistency style of our web application
We should keep the same style of our application, some buttons that were designed are not keep the same style with the whole style. Therefore, we should change a little bit in our final product.

2. Good reflection of the navigation bar
The reflection of the navigation bar was not good as expected in last user test. Some users clicked it, but no responding, they should try several times. We improved it and we got good reflection right now.

3. Timeline button can be trackable
Regarding on the last user test, some users pointed that the timeline buttons were not trackable so that they may confuse about they clicked or not. We improved it and the timeline button can be tracked for users and the reflection of it was as good as expected.

4. The functions are good implement as expected
All functions of our application can be implement as good as expected on the trade show, especially for the new functions that are not tested in last user test.

5. User interface are attractable
Most of users are attracted by the user interface of our application and thought it is really cool.  It is important for a product noticed by users.

6. Clear work flow and visual flow
The visual flow and work flow are clear for users. They are easy to find the information and know how to interact with our product.

7. Information page should add more information and pictures for users
For the information page, users pointed that we should add more pictures for them. We improved it in our final product.


The reflection of other groups:

Truth Detective:

1. The hints are useful, but some of hints are difficult connecting together.

2. The UI and background music are quit matching the game theme.

3. Some many words need to be read for users.

Course Reflection:

Regarding on the expectation of this course, i mentioned that i would like to progressive complete the whole product. Our group did it very well, we discussed every week and based on the schedule finished our work. Moreover, i am not good at programming, but i tried my best to study and successful build a frame.  The communication of our group was good as my expectation and we all finished work on time. Moreover, during the process of the whole project, our group met many problems and we faced and overcame together. Some issues we met we tried our best to solve or we would find a alternative way. I learned that the result is important, but the process is more important sometimes. I enjoyed the whole process in DECO7180 and we made our project one by one step.

Week 12 - Improvements for our final product

Week 12 - Improvements for our final product

This week we continued to improve our product based on the feedbacks and prepared for the Trade Show. We combined all materials together and tested the unexpected errors for our prototype.

For the design and front-end part:

1. We removed the introduction paragraph on the front page and the container of the logo.

2. We redesigned the timeline button and made it trackable.

3. We improved the visual effect of the quiz page and added the correct answer for users

4. We fixed the response problem of navigation bar.
5. We improved the visual effect of all pages to make sure consistency.

For the back-end part:

1. We fixed some small errors and bugs.
2. We modified the data that is retrieved from Trove to control the length of the text.

For the Trade Show:

We prepared the brochures and old maps for the trade show. The brochures detailed introduce our web application for users and we would like to get some useful feedbacks to improve the final product.

Week 11 - Experience with Digital Prototype and User Test

Week 11 - Experience with Digital Prototype and User Test

This week we ran a digital prototype test and collected feedbacks from users. Before the digital prototype test, we finished most functions of our application and improved user experience.

 Prepare for the Digital Prototype and User Test:
1. We finished the html of information page and optimized all pages.
2. We combined all codes together and made all pages consistency.
3. We designed questionnaires on the Google drive so that collecting the users feedback effectively.
4. We prepared the tasks for users and observation goals for ourselves:
   
     Tasks for users:
      a) Successful using timeline to search one shipwreck information
      b) Successful using photo gallery in the information page
      c) Using quiz function and get feedback
     Observation goals:
      a) How users interact with the front page (scroll up & down)
      b) How users handle with the navigation bar (horizontal & vertical) and hatch
      c) How users gain more information on the certain web page
      d) What is the feedback of the UI and the users reflection of our web application

The Improvements of our prototype:
For design part:
1. We improved the logo and location marks to enhance the visual experience.

2. We improved the timeline buttons to keep the style consistency.

3. We redesigned the information page to keep the visual flow consistency.

Function part:
1. We added the library function for users browsing all shipwrecks information on one page.

2. We added the quiz function for some users to test their knowledge after browsing.

3. We inserted the google map on the information page and it will show the location as well.

4. We added the about us page for users.

5. We added the vertical navigation for users

The feedback from users:
1. The logo on the front page looks like a button, do not need the container for the logo.
2. The response of the timeline buttons is not good enough.
3. The photo gallery does not have the close button for users.
4. The interaction of the "pop" information is not good enough for users.
5. There are some problems of the navigation when users click it.
6. If the users click the logo, they can enter the home page as well.
7. They need the correct answers for the quiz.
8. The background of the enlarge pictures should change to black so that it will keep the style consistency.
9. The timeline buttons can be improved traceable for users.
10. Vertical navigation is display on the left all the time.
11. The results of the quiz can be shared to the social media.


The future work:
1. We will fix the bugs of navigation bar and timeline buttons.
2. We will improve the design of some icons and buttons to enhance the user experience.
3. We will combine all codes together and make sure all functions can be implement.
4. We will add more pictures and information for the information page.

Week 10 - Mid Break

Week 10 - Mid Break

This week is the mid break, our group continued to improve our project. I tried to help building a frame about our information page during this week.

Based on the mockups of our websites, I used HTML, CSS and JQery to build the frame of information page. 

After built the frame of webpage, we would like to optimize the webpage to enhance the visual effects for users. 

Moreover, in this week, our group decided to add quiz function for users. We draw a wireframe first, we would like to keep the consistency style of our web application, therefore, we use dark background with white text font.

Week 9 -- Presentation Progress Demonstration

Week 9 - Presentation Progress Demonstration

This week we presented what we have done in last weeks and got many useful feedbacks.We have finished some main functions for our web application and improved UI for users.

What we have done:
1. Firstly, we improved our front page to make it more clearly for users. We clearly introduce our web on the front page and added instructions  for users.

2. Secondly, we fixed some bugs for the back- end issues and achieved basic function of our project. The information from Trove can be retrieved when user search related information. Moreover, we loaded location data on the google map dynamically. 

3. Thirdly, we began to wrote the html for our information page. We collected useful information and pictures for that page.

The Feedback:
1. Do not need the introduction on the front page.
2. Please add a scroll bar for users to show they can scroll down on the front page.
3. We need to explain why people will use our website 
4. Our goals are too simple and we need to add more interactive functions to engage users. 
5. Some users pointed that the video on the front page may be compressed to reduce the loading time. 

The Future Work:
1. We will continue to finish the information page.
2. We will combine all code together.
3. We will improve our functional to enhance user experience.
4. We will improve our UI and some icons.

Week 8 -- Prepare Presentation for Progress Demonstration

Week 8 -- Prepare Presentation for Progress Demonstration

This week we continued to improve our project. Based on the feedback of paper prototype, we chosen some suitable ideas to improve our idea as well.

Firstly, for the design aspect, we decided a interaction plan to help our group to implement the whole project. Our web application is very simple and easy to use, and the logical of interaction is very clearly.

Secondly, for the front page, we nearly finished our front-end based on html, CSS and JQery. We have already built the basic function for the front-end.

Thirdly, based on our schedule, we continued to develop our back-end. We can load the location marker on Google map dynamically and connected the Trove API successfully.

Fourthly, we designed a success criteria to help us to do the user test.

Then we combined all materials together and prepared our presentation with Powerpoint. 

Week 7 -- Paper Prototype

Week 7 -- Paper Prototype

This week we prepared paper prototype for our project -- Atlantis shipwrecks searcher website. We tested our prototype in the class and got many useful feedbacks. Our group prepared the tasks for users and observation goals for ourselves. We observed users workflow and users behavior with our prototype. Most users can find shipwreck information by themselves and thought our prototype was easy to interact. 

Tasks for user:

1. Using timeline to search shipwrecks information

2. Clearly know how to interact with the Google Maps

3. Successful gain detailed information.

Observation Goals:

1. How users handle with the navigation bar and hatch

2. How users get the accurate information on the target page.

3. How users feel about the UI and interactive plan.

Feedbacks:

1. Some students pointed that the front page should have an information button to help users to understand our web.

2. The button of timeline is a little bit confusing, some users thought that the timeline can be used to search for a specific year. 

3. Most of users were suggesting that we could add a function to share information to the social platform, such as Facebook.

4. One suggest was that we could add different languages for users.

5. For the front page, users suggested that it could be loaded automatically instead of clicking button.

Week 6 -- Experience in the Poster & Pitch

This week we presented our design proposal. Our project is a website for shipwrecks. We got many useful feedbacks from other teams and tutors and we will consider these feedbacks to improve our project.

Prepared:

1. We finished designing UI for our web application mostly.
2. We began to decided what we would use for front-end and back-end.
3. We began to build frame for our web application

We would like to gather the specific feedbacks from users:

1. How users feel about our existing UI.
2. Please give some suggestions about functions.


Feedbacks:

• Entry page should have one sentence to explain our website (Easy to implement)
• The map should focus on Australia rather than the whole word (Implement)
• Considering how easy to find information (Add searching box)
• Using story to tell information
• Pin journey to ships (Difficult to implement)
• More information from other websites

Week 5 -- The Six Hats

Six Hats:
Reflection of our project with six hats method.

The White Hat:

• Shipwrecks information
• Story
• Time (1800-1900)
• Pictures
• Actual facts

The Yellow Hat:

Our project is a website for Australia shipwrecks between 1800 -1900. The target audience is adults who are interested in shipwrecks, not for children.

The Black Hat:

• The information from Trove is too less to give detailed information for users. 
• The location of shipwrecks is not clearly.
• The newspapers are hard to read

The Green Hat:

• Front-end: HTML
• Back-end: PHP

The Red Hat:

• Easy to use
• User will feel "Professional"

The Blue Hat:

The limitations of technologies and information, the time may not accuracy and some original resources are hard to read. 

Week 4 -- Teamwork Module Studies

After completed the teamwork module studies, I had to say i had never thought about the role about me in my team. During the whole studies in UQ, there are many group assignments need to be finished, therefore, finished teamwork module helping me more effective implement teamworks. 

Regarding on the result of modules, it clearly pointed that i am not a leader person, but i am an effective team person. I can assistant leader to develop some necessary skills. I would like to interact with people who are coming from different cultural and i am comfortable to work with people who have different backgrounds. 

However, for my own aspect, after finished the teamwork module, i recognized my communication skills should be improved. I scared to express my own opinions sometimes, especially for my ideas were different with others. I am easy to be convinced by others, however, i should be more brave to express my ideas in my future teamworks. 

Moreover, i am a little bit scared about conflicts in teams. Most of time, i will keep silent if there is a conflict in team. I think the best way to solve different opinions is voting, and this method will help to avoid conflicts in teams. 

Week 4 -- Poster Presentation

This week we presented our project idea based on poster and listened to others' idea, then chose favorite ideas to arrange groups.

Finally, i chose Birthday Newspaper Website for my project idea. It is obvious that it is a website that people can search newspaper with your birthday date. For my observations in my life, many people curious about what happened on the date of they were bored. Newspaper is a good way clearly know about it. Therefore, this website is a tool to help people to do that and it provides more than just searching. This is a good birthday gift as well. People not only can search information for themselves and also can search for others. It is very simple to interact with this webpage, people only need to type the birthday date on the searching box, and then it will show all related newspaper on that date. Users can read them all and they can save as electronic editions. Moreover, people can choose one or more interested newspaper and print them out as real traditional newspapers to keep them. This website can post them to your address. For people who would like to make it as a gift, we also provide packaging service for people. The datasets of this website are from Trove API so that it will just show Australian newspaper rather than all over the world.

                                      

Week 3 -- Contact -Five ideas for poster

This contact session, we brought 5 ideas and share with classmates, then chose one that is most suitable for poster. For my five ideas are:

1. Timeline newspaper
Based on timeline to choose newspaper, and data from trove

2. Birthday newspaper
This is a website that people can search and read newspaper that is the date on their birthday, moreover, they can order the real traditional newspaper for themselves or others as a birthday gift.

3. Puzzle Game
A game is related to history and the style of this game is QA. People should based on your own opinion to choose the answer, different answers will lead to different results. For example, for wars, different decisions for strategies will have different results.

4. Locations
Based on maps or your location to search useful or interesting information.

5. Scan information
Scan the keywords to get the information.

For the first discussed, most classmates were interested in Birthday newspaper, they thought this idea is interesting and innovation. For the second group shared, most students thought based on timeline searching newspaper are most implement.

Week 2 -- Contact _ Exploring Trove & Brainstorming

This week contact session was exploring Trove and came up with some new ideas. I never heard and used Trove before. After contact session, I knew Trove is a website with many resources and it is an Australian database aggregator. People can search online newspapers and books by using Trove.

We discussed about interested part for the Trove in our group one by one, and then we provided some new thoughts for Trove. For my opinion, I am interesting in biography and history parts. If i search key words on Trove, it will show related information for me, however, i need to read through to get my interesting information. Therefore, i am thinking that many websites have "live chat"function, when we read online, we have an option to type key words and get back useful information immediately through "live chat" instead of reading the whole papers or books.

                          

Week 1 -- Expectations for Studio 1

Based on what I learned and I know about this course, I expect to learn more practical skills and improve capabilities during the semester. I hope that I can work well and effectively communicate with my team members and make a contribution to my team.

To be honest, I am not good at programming and I am a little worried about this part after first class.
However, i will try my best to catch up this part and improve my self-learning skills. I expect to start new project and learn more during the process.

I hope that I can manage my time effectively and finish all study works on time and have more experience for actual project.