Installation
Installation is a pretty key idea for the piece of mind of any prospective user, we've already discussed that someone will need to come into the house/flat to set up the system. Before we complete the prototype this needs to be designed and added to the video.
Proposed Phases (Installation Steps):
1) Engineer comes to install the hardware
2) Engineer installs the sensors
3) Engineer installs the T.V. box
4) Engineer configures the system to the house
5) Engineer shows the customer how to use the system
I just thought a bout the stages as they are above, please post any ideas of other phases to be added or removed and also details on possible animations to represent them.
Proposed Phases (Installation Steps):
1) Engineer comes to install the hardware
2) Engineer installs the sensors
3) Engineer installs the T.V. box
4) Engineer configures the system to the house
5) Engineer shows the customer how to use the system
I just thought a bout the stages as they are above, please post any ideas of other phases to be added or removed and also details on possible animations to represent them.
Labels: ideas/suggestions
posted by Fielder at 1:03:00 am
5 Comments:
We need to remember that the engineer will have to test the system as he installs it.
If we are having such features as emergency calls to neighbours or family, that will need to be set up too(comes under configuration perhaps?). Also, if family are to somehow access system from the outside (we need to discuss these ideas), that part will need to be configured.
Animation ideas... All I can suggest is a house map, with the engineer represented as sensors appear. Something showing that the tv box is easy to install, being plugged in. Do we really need the installation if an engineer will be doing it? It's not going to affect the user that much if someone does it for them... (Except for the sensor installation - are we still running those on wifi?)
I'd completely forgotten about the calls, I guess it comes under configuration. This is unless we really need to show that the engineer will test that particular feature.
Perhaps we don't need a lot of detail for the installation, since as you rightly point out an engineer does all the work. From talking to Russel about the idea and especially the concept of the prototype in user centered design, installation is something a user would care about and especially I think a concern to older people.
As for the animation do we need a design for the box or shall we just make up a simple mock one for the prototype along the lines of a sky box?
As far as I know we are still planning to run the sensors on wifi so as to avoid running cables.
I think concerns an elderly person would have about the installation are things like:
-will it be messy/disrupt my house?
-how long will it take?
-do I have to do anything?
And there are also some social aspects that may or may not be relevant, for example:
-elderly people, in my experience, are suspicious about opening their door to people they don't know, so the installation would need to be arranged and confirmed. Anymore than one engineer required for installation may be intimidating.
-linked to the first; user has to trust the engineer. They'll be going throughout the house installing the system, bedroom, front room, cupboards etc. They have to be able to trust said engineer is not also rummaging through their belongings.
-perhaps it would be best to encourage another family member to be there, if possible, during the installation, just to reassure the user and also assist with any configuration questions?
I think you've got some good points there, its never going to be easy to convince older people to let strangers into their house and in generally do have this natural suspicion about anyone who does. We can't make them trust the engineers, but we can reassure them that they are trained professionals. As for family members being present, it only helps if they do live locally or it can be arranged so they can be there.
With a large system like this its going to take a while to set up, so installation will have to be booked in advance. In terms of a time scale for installation, it depends on the size of the house and as such the number of rooms and sensors that need to be installed and configured. I can't see it taking more than an hour to install, providing there aren't any real problems.
As for the other points, we were talking about wifi for the sensors so it shouldn't be messy and the home owner might have to show the engineer round but thats about it really.
I agree that the installation is important as it needs to be installed according to the layout of the house/flat and congifured to suit a particular customer's needs.
So the customer is going to have to be invovled in some way, particularly the configuration step.
Another thing to consider....is the software going to be customizable such as being able to change the colours or fonts? (I know we previously talked about text size but that was due to customers having bad eye sight). Do elderly people care about customizing their system?
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