Problem Statement.
A community based mobile app/platform that connects people in a disaster situation with people who can provide help.
A community based mobile app/platform that connects people in a disaster situation with people who can provide help.
Can a system help people to survive in disaster affected areas?
"Ek-Aasha" or "Ek-Kiran"
We Stand Together
It's a platform that aims to facilitate how people deal with the aftermath of a disaster. It can be an earthquake, flood, fire, communicable diseases, outbreak of epidemic diseases after flooding etc.
Ek-Aasha is a practical and simple solution to encourage the provision of help to unknown people.
There is no need to juggle between different apps to help for a cause, or to fall for false information, when there is one place that filters everything and facilitates the aid provided to the victims of these natural catastrophes.
The name Ek-aasha comes from the word "Aasha" which makes reference to the idea of the platform being the core of the relief effort during the times of crisis/disaster.
Facilitating and monetizing help is our mission.
Technical Constraints and Platform:
Ek-Aasha will be a responsive app/platform, taking care for:
- Page Performance (Loading time)
- Limited Screen size on Mobile/Tablet
- People not able to use mobile devices, hence app should be simple for any one to use
- Limited Screen size on Mobile/Tablet
- People not able to use mobile devices, hence app should be simple for any one to use
UX Strategy
Strategy + Scope + Engagement
At this stage, focus on potential user needs, business goals and environment (business & technical restrictions). Basis this information, define project scope (content & functionalities).
- User & Market Research/Segment
- User Segments/Personas
- Help Providers/Victims Journey Map
App Engagement Prior To Disasters
Crisis informatics revolves mostly around the response and recovery stages, from preparation to mitigation. We need the involvement of information, communication, and technologies.
Importance of the preparedness phase:
- Awareness of and familiarity with the apps/platform must be established before a disaster to ensure full utility.
- For apps/platform to be useful to the public in the succeeding phases of the disaster management cycle, the users must already be acquainted with the apps/platform before the disaster event.
Any technology meant for disaster management must be familiar to users on a regular basis. Otherwise, it will be of limited use during larger and more complex disaster situations.
It must be acknowledged that the potential user population of disaster tools may or may not be familiar with the technology when the need arises.
From this review, we have observed that during disasters, the public can potentially interact through existing general-purpose apps/platform or through specially built apps for disaster purpose.
As such, research on engaging the public to use apps/platform before disaster occurrence has two general directions:
1. Integrating disaster management capacities into existing and popular platforms or
2. Attracting interest and retaining continued use for built-for-disaster-purpose apps.
Ek-Aasha - UX Vision
Needs of a Person in Flood
Understanding Users
- Focus on the User and all else will follow.
- Focus on the right kind of Target audience.
I started the process of user research by conducting an open-ended research with people around us - Friends, Maid, Security Guard in the society, Office Helping Staff.
I ran a couple of unstructured telephonic interviews with the survivors, one of my friends parent and relative were stuck in the flood at Badrinath. This gave us a good insight into the problems faced by the survivors.
There is a lot of impact on the survivors and the state that faces the flood. Loss of property, crops, damaged electricity poles/wires, tree uprooted, walls-collapsed, old construction and buildings, food, clean water supply and so on.
Key Insights
Based on our research and telephonic conversation the main problems faced by the survivors/victims are:
1. Food and Water
2. Connectivity
3. Transportation
4. No Electricity/Power failure
5. Bridges/connecting links damaged
6. Relief and Medical Camps, Daily Needs for the injured victims
What would anyone want being in flood?
What all information anyone would want to help flood victims
Online System, News update, and Gathering data to act
- Want to know users location
- Servicing the needy people
- Community Centers, Govt. Schools, Colleges, Temples and Gurudwaras can offer help as shelters.
- Provide real-time info to authorities to carry out relief operations in a sequence, according to location and user's needs.
User Segments
To identify target users for this app, I conducted user research on similar tools/apps/websites available in the market. I also gathered insights from user feedback on these tools to understand major pain points and key needs.
Features/User Flow
NEXT STEPS
I then mapped the user flow for each of the personas I developed. I concentrated on the journey of requesting help and volunteering for each of the user personas. Some of the key points covered in this journey include Needs of Victims, On-boarding, Donation/Charity, Find a Safe Place, Medical Aid and Camps and Sign-up/Sign-in to the app.
APP FEATURES
- Current News
- Ask for Help/Help Seekers
- Notifications - Alerts etc
- Location/GPS tracking
- Donate/Charity
a) Based on Data available/Direct Cash Donations/Food/Medicines/Other articles
b) Reliable and Trustworthy organizations
- Ask for Help/Help Seekers
- Notifications - Alerts etc
- Location/GPS tracking
- Donate/Charity
a) Based on Data available/Direct Cash Donations/Food/Medicines/Other articles
b) Reliable and Trustworthy organizations
- Become a Help Provider/Devote time
- Give a Smile: Prepare/Gather items for a future disaster
- Resources/Safety Tips
- Crisis Mode functionality - B&W to save battery / Less Usage of Internet
- Give a Smile: Prepare/Gather items for a future disaster
- Resources/Safety Tips
- Crisis Mode functionality - B&W to save battery / Less Usage of Internet
SETTINGS
- Set reminders to update contact of family or friends
- User Profile settings
Ek-Aasha is an app/platform to support flood victims.
The app should have big buttons because some of the victims will be from poor background and would need assistance/video walkthrough.
Ek-Assaha will a Free app compatible on Android and iPhone devices.
Future Enhancements - Phase 2
1. Ek-Aasha, helpline facility: Users will receive and can make calls to victims/providers who are enrolled on the app to check on them, find out if they're doing okay at home or travelling and even arrange for a camp etc.
2. On-boarded Users:
- A list of customers and that can be given a call and check if they are fine during travelling, wish them birthday calls, festive calls, any emergency assistance or just general care calls if they allow the services through settings of the app/platform.
- We can also think of having a smartphone pre installed with this app at very subsidized rates and mobile plan supported by BSNL, Vodafone or even think of renting them out during travelling, similar to how we rent dresses, shoes etc during trips to hill stations.
During any travel they can purchase or rent these phones online and carry during travel as a first aid kit. This has long battery life with universal charging points. They can call anytime and we can get the appropriate services.
During one user interview, I proposed this idea of renting the Ek-Aasha phone.
The reply from one of the user was: "I will be very happy and will feel a sense of safety. Because if anything happens to me, I can call Ek-Aasha and inform my family and relatives."
Site Map/ Information Architecture
User Flows - Diagrams
On Boarding
With our user persona and the problem statement in mind, I started brainstorming ideas, both individually, and as a group (by discussing with colleagues, society people). I worked to come up with a solution that had a good balance of achievable and aspirational goals.
Users who Need Help (Help Seekers / Get Help)
- Safe locations list
- Connect with people nearby
- List of users who need help after a disaster
(if any users has any details ....they will upload an ID and Address proof details for verification of location by the Local Authority)
- Inform/message/call users if any location is under red/yellow alert
- Users who are homeless after a flood, guide them to nearest safe locations
Users who are keen to Help Others (Help Providers)
- Doctors who want to help people
- Volunteer doctors and citizens ready to devote time in case of disaster
- Anyone from society (Corporate office people that donate money/items)
- Encourage people to join hands and help victims/donate funds/food etc
- Medical help provided by people/stores
- Help find homes for the victims, near the location of disaster
- Users who register friends/family members/community ...a social group
- People who want to donate items...clothes, daily need items, food, money, books etc
- Retired/Youngsters/Social workers/Doctors/NGOs and other centers
Common Scenarios
1. The app/platform will be simple and let registered users quickly complete the task of donation or seeking help they want to.
2. Users will register with the app/platform as Help Providers and Seekers. Users can also browse the app as Guests.
3. Once registered, the users can request any services like rescue, medical help, supplies and also allows people to provide rescue, supplies and so on during disasters.
4. This App/interface will use real-time GPS data to show the location of the nearest rescue-and-relief providers. However, users can also manually enter the location, incase of internet or GPS is not working.
5. Often people who need help are not able to reach the helpline numbers due to the limited number of parallel calls that these lines can handle. This impacts rescue, and precious lives are lost.
6. The app/interface will directly link the help-seekers and providers in a post-disaster environment using smartphones and the Internet, where the location data is picked up automatically using real-time GPS data. In disaster situations, pinpointing locations of survivors is the key.
Gift a Smile
Send a gift to support a cause that is close to your heart; a gift that will bring joy and help those in need take a step towards a brighter future. The "Wish lists" created by the NGOs support the immediate needs of women, children, senior citizens under their care. Gift a smile now!
Ideation & Sketching
Main Pages
