hey mateTrack your feelings & keep those

most important to you in the loop

Jerome Bowman | 2016ph: 0412532654 | e: jeromedbowman@gmail.com

Developed by Dr Gloria Wilcox

The Idea & How the Journey Began

A way for these people to let others know how they are with little/no effort

People going through a hard time often become introverted and cut communication with people, even those who matter most

Provide an easy way for people to identify and record their feelings and share with those who care the most

Problem Statement

Discussing mental health is subject, somewhat, to stigma. People going through a hard time may not feel like letting those who care, know how they are. People often don’t recognise the causes and symptoms of their emotions and in many cases they are reluctant to ‘get active’ to get them feeling great.

“I don’t want to pick up Jim Bloggs call, he just wants to know how I am”

“I’m going to stay in this weekend, I’m just not feeling myself...I don’t know why”

Hypothesis

A mobile application facilitating the recording of emotions, encouraging and monitoring activity and sharing this information in real-time updates with those who care most will facilitate better mental health.

When will we know this is true? When the user’s results reflect a prolonged ‘optimal’ state of mind & both them and their network (their ‘immediate circle’) acknowledge a confirmed positive change.

Solution, Proposal & Addressing User Problemshey mate is a proactive mobile application, encouraging users to take control of their mental health by checking-in, getting active and reviewing their progress. At 3 stages in the process this information is sent to the people they want to keep ‘in the loop’, therefore facilitating communication in what can traditionally be a difficult topic to discuss.

Addressing User Problems:

hey mate facilitates conversation between a user and their network through real-time updates.

1. How they are feeling2. What they are doing about it3. How they feel after some activity

Users are prompted to get active and have the opportunity to review their progress and thus understand the causes and potential remedies to some of their issues.

User InterviewsAssumptions and Hypotheses

1. Social stigma is stopping people from discussing mental issuesa. Current communication methods are not catering to the facilitation of conversation for people who have

become introverted. 2. People going through a hard time will reach out to those closest to them first (‘Their Inner Circle’).3. Using a digital platform to facilitate lines of communication efficiently can assist those in need.

a. People are already using other means like Whatsapp, but it can be made easier. 4. With the rise in popularity of technology like the Fit Bit, people see great value in being able to track their progress.

1. People want to be part of something that helps break down the stigma around mental health. a. Starting that initial conversation is the hardest part of the process (overcoming the apprehension) -

reinforcing my hypothesis that people find it too hard with current methods to start a conversation like this.2. The first point of call for people when they need to reach out is their immediate circle of friends/family, reaffirming my

‘immediate circle’ hypothesis. Also, going to see a psychotherapist can be expensive and not everyone can afford that.

3. People are already using messaging applications, but would find something more efficient as a better solution for people going through a hard time.

4. Users are already using fitness tracking applications and see value in being able to track their mental wellbeing.

User InterviewsFindings

Dylan, 16, Male, Sydney. “Someone's closest friends are their best support”

Danya, 27, Female, Venezuela.“Sometimes I don’t reach out to anyone because I’m embaressed”

Clara, 20, Female, Stockholm. “Psychologists are too expensive”

Christian, 25, Male, Sydney. “Technology can be used to get people out in the real world”

Dabriella and Aprila (twins), 34, Bondi (via Cornwall). “Tracking mental health is great as long as there are no ‘goals’ - that would only add pressure to someone”

User Persona’s Neil, 35, Accountant.

“At work I’m stressed, at home I’m stressed”“My wife is always asking how I am, but I just don’t have time to speak to her”

Justine, 13, Student.

“There is a lot of bullying at school, especially with the other girls”

Jim, 52, Salesman.

“I see my psychologist twice a month, just to keep me on track”

Sammy, 41, Works part-time.

Married with 2 kids.“I’m all about fitness”

John, 25, professional Rugby player.

“Getting people to talk more about mental health in professional sport is essential”

Main User PersonaTom, 28, Plumber.

“I recently lost my job, and I just don’t feel myself”“I wouldn’t say I have any mental health issues, I never have”

Behaviours & Habits ● Tom is your average bloke, he is highly social,

loves a beer and a laugh. ● He plays sport and likes being outdoors● One of the people others look at and admire -

thinking he has it all ‘figured out’.● He doesn’t see any psychotherapists

Stories/Scenarios● Recently he lost his job. He has been looking

for work for 3 months to no avail. He has become depressed and reclusive.

● Those around him thought it was out of character, and in particular the ones who weren’t that close with him thought that as usual he will ‘be fine’.

● Those in his ‘inner circle’ wanted to know how he was, however didn't want to disturb him.

● He couldn’t be bothered putting together long messages/having conversations with those who were reaching out to him.

Need, problems/goals● Tom needs a way to let people know how he

is quickly and easily.

Competitor AnalysisKey Findings:- None of these competitors have a sharing function. Based on my user research, this is something they would love to be able to do. Hence, this is a strong competitive advantage of hey mate’s.

- The ability to customise components and interact with free text is not covered by all competitors and is important to users.

- Testing competitor applications’ push notes, not all gave the option to customise frequency. If a user is bombarded with push notes their experience will be tainted. Thus, hey mate has the option to customise frequency.

Card SortFindings worth noting:

1. Several subjects grouped the ‘can't be bothered’ card with the activities card. Suggesting a hypothesis that a user may want to record their feeling, but delay the activity. One subject - Mike - wanted more positive wording.

2. One subject, Bar, organised the cards in a manner suggesting a high level of interaction. Also hypothesized the value of selecting who posts are shared with.

Iterations:1. Added a ‘reschedule’ button in the activity stage of the prototype & changed

‘Can’t be bothered’ to ‘Can we talk later?’.

2. In Settings users can create different groups (which can be selected in at sharing points) with different sharing frequency rules.

Feature Prioritisation - 2x2 Matrix: Effort / User Value

Contacts have their own login - receive user messages as push notes

Key Findings:- Contact-side application is not essential in hey mate MVP

Feature Prioritisation - 2x2 Matrix: Essential / EffortKey Findings:- Capturing and graphing results should be part of the MVP. After speaking with a developer, this was an easy function to build in, and user interviews found this function to be important to users.

- Although Damian rightly pointed out that hey mate can be ‘gamed’ and a solution is audio/video notes to accompany a comment, user interviews suggested that initial users will be more focussed on working with the app, not against it. This function will be added in 2.0 as it will assist the ‘gaming’ of hey mate.

Feature Prioritisation - Now, Next, LaterKey Findings:- Intuitive elements left for later versions.

- Other non essentials: native resources, linking to other apps for activity (hey mate aims to get people active and in the ‘real world’).

- Some of the ‘Next’ functions are fairly easy to implement (after speaking with a developer), so their inclusion in the MVP is justified.

MVPCombining findings from the card sort & feature prioritisation process, below are the most essential features for my users, and thus part of my MVP:

1. Tell someone how you’re feeling2. Setup contacts (inner circle)3. Check in ‘how you’re feeling’ (add comment)4. Select an activity to get/keep you at optimum state5. Review mental health/activity over time6. Create a profile

hey mate MVP features include:1. emotion check-in function2. sharing functions3. comment4. activities (with interactive timer)

a. customisable5. push note reminders

a. reschedule/reminder functions available6. attributes list

a. customisable7. information sharing with contacts

a. customisable i. can create groups with rules

b. private session function8. live graph for progress review9. password protection function

10. FAQ11. create profile

a. optional (in line with Apple Store policies)

User Flow

User Emotions

Sitemap

1.5.4. FAQ

1.5.5.. Password protection

Wireframe SketchesBelow you will see original wireframe sketches (4 screens) outlining the main user flow, addressing the main user needs.

1. User selects a feeling from the wheel reflecting how they feel.

2. The User moves to the next screen where their feeling is displayed (XYZ), they can then add a comment, which will accompany the message to their contacts.

3. User then chooses from a list of pre-determined activities to get them into an optimal state-of-mind. ‘Start’ will begin a countdown. Once this finishes, they are prompted to check-in again with a push note.

4. At any stage, User can review their progress which is tracked in real-time.

Wireframe PrototypesThese are the 4 main screens of the high-fi prototype, corresponding with the main user journey

User Testing - Hi Fi PrototypeUsers

You enjoy your job and have been working towards a promotion promised to you for some time. Today, however, in the team meeting, the promotion was awarded to someone else who hasn’t worked nearly as hard as you to get it.

You’re furious and don’t want to speak to anyone. You get a text from your parents asking how you went but you don’t respond.

Your first break is at lunch time and hey mate sends you a push note. You open the application and see the opportunity to contextualise how you feel...

Scenario

Results & Design ImplicationsResult/Finding Implication/Design Updates

Orientation - some Users didn’t know where they were in the app at some points.

● Red dot on footer orientation icons● ‘Back’ options on all applicable screens● Selections are annotated

Privacy - some users felt the information quite sensitive and wanted some protection.

Beyond sharing rules, they also wanted the option to run the app ‘privately’.

● Password protection possible (>more settings)● Can run a ‘private’ session (>more settings)

Check-In function - I tested 3 types. My original design idea (the wheel) was left behind in favour of the spinner, based on user feedback.

● ‘Spinner’ for feelings Check-In

Onboarding - too much information on the pages ● Moved some of the information to FAQ

Settings changes - unsure of changes being made ● ‘Changes Saved’ popover to confirm changes

Fidelity options ● Made new screens for realistic options, including ‘Attributes’ and ‘Graph By’

hey mateDemonstration

https://youtu.be/6MBq_0WbfUY

SUMMARYhey mate has been through a journey, starting with ‘The Feelings Wheel’, pivoting to a ‘spinner’ through user testing and feedback it's clear this application has become something more than originally anticipated.

● I have discovered that people who aren’t even necessarily going through a hard time still see value in tracking their mental health - much like the ‘Fit Bit’.

○ This function also serves as a ‘hook’ to keep people coming back.● Giving people the means to communicate how they feel with their network vicariously, gives them a sense of

satisfaction...as Julie said “I would feel a sense of comfort letting those who care know how I am”. ● Paul said “this is a proactive way to really get to know myself better” - reinforcing my idea that people want to

have a greater sense of control over their emotions.● hey mate gives power back to those who need or want it.

“Get active, whilst Identifying, tracking, sharing and reviewing your mental wellbeing, now, with hey mate.”

What’s Next?For hey mate:

● 2.0 - New features○ Intuitive activity/feelings options○ Voice/video in addition to commenting

● 3.0 - Monetisation○ Have a ‘Contact-side’ login, pitched at psychotherapists who have to pay for the service.

■ This essentially allows them to know how their patients are tracking, have 2 way communication with them and make changes to activities based on the treatment they are prescribing.

● hey mate in the ‘real world’○ I have reached out to several mental health organisations and have heard back from 3.

■ I have a call this week with Suicide Prevention Australia and a Skype call early Feb with technology company that specialises in medical applications

And for me?

● A successful career in UX Design○ Follow your passion