In a nutshell...
Mobile App Design. Thesis Project 2016.
Summary
The user problem for this project was how user interactive design could help recruits train themselves before leaving for Basic Combat Training.
Team/Others
I was the designer and had three rounds of user testers and a Subject Matter Expert
Results
After this project, my initial reaction was to have it finished out; after serving several years myself, however, I feel that this tool needs to be researched further on the grounds that it would help recruiters more than the recruits themselves
Constraints
Time was about 6 months of research and design
Problem Statement
How can User Experience Design help newly enlisted soldiers ready themselves both physically and mentally before leaving for Basic Combat Training?
Research - Branding
I had originally wanted to make the brand different than what most people think of when they interact with the Army, because most of who would be using this application, would not be in the Army yet. During the Design process research though, I found people were disassociating the mobile app with the Army entirely. So I decided to explore hues of green colors, as well as autoradiographic fonts to tie the mobile app design in with the Army itself - but still stand a part on its own.
Research - Physical Fitness
There are billions of applications and tools and resources to give guidance to anyone who wishes to become more physically fit, but at the time of my research the only program was an in - person physical program that was under the Future Soldier's Program. Recruits prior to leaving would engage in the program but depending on their departure date would not have ample time to establish themselves, creating problems with injuries down the road. Future Soldiers do receive a 'pocketbook' for physical training, but it is extensive, which can create confusion as to what specific area recruits need to be working on in their own personal time. The best preparation for physical training is to be present for the training sessions. Other resources are the APRT app, but, again, this can create confusion for the recruits who haven't departed for training and aren't sure where they should be at, causing potential injuries and delays in their departure dates.
Current Tools, User Testing, User Research
There are multitudes of current tools and applications for each specific area new recruits are looking for, but none of the resources are together in one places for ease of access. In fact, there are so many different resources for general pieces of information, it was literal overload even approaching research. can be confusing to discover where to go. At the time, I found the best tools for learning about the Army practices in general were the Army website and the Go Army website.
The best tools for ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) were actual books or the mobile applications made from individuals to help recruits that were dedicated to studying specific portions of pre-enlistment processes that can cost money. The best tools for discovering general pieces of information about training itself as an outsider were the actual websites where the locations of training took place. Future Soldier Training, a tool to keep tabs on new recruits, is also a major tool. The preparation of both physical and mental tasks would be more viable, however, if all of the resources were combined instead of spread out without any sort of execution or planned schedule to help future soldiers stay on track and progress through certain areas.
Each piece of research taken from the different places seemed to take its own information as gospel, whereas the Army as a unit wants to work as a group. This is contradictory. If I wanted to know information about Basic Combat Training health practices, the information should be where the rest of the information is, instead of in a completely different application, printed product, or website that each have its own contradictions in what is spread around.
This project was heavy in user research and user testing, and I found myself going back to the target audience quite a bit, which was made easier by my being with them each week as a future soldier myself. Through several interviews and a few surveys, I found that the target audience users wished to be challenged mentally and physically, keep track of their progress for their own benefits, and be rewarded instantaneous after achieving certain goals. The users also wanted a way to check in with their recruiter weekly, because a lot of them have a hard time working with their recruiters around busy schedules such as work and school in a higher level of education. Some user surveys consisted of questions targeted towards people who have gone through Basic Combat Training and their thoughts about what may have helped them prior to departure. The other types of surveys given were adjusted over time, to allow specific questions about user flow as well as what newly enlisted soldiers were most concerned about before their own departure.
This type of research gathered allowed me to think about what was best for the target audience who are consistently under time constraints and working on achieving a trackable progression through items they should know before shipping out. Because of the concerns of my target audience, I was able to decide on a mobile app, designed like a field manual, in which users would be able to track their progress of both physical and mental tasks in a fun way which was rewarding. The mobile app has been tested through a few versions, each version being brought to another set of target audience users, as well as my subject matter expert, Emery, and a few experienced designers. After rapid prototyping on several fronts, I started to use Invision to create a demo of what several typical user flows would look like to the user.
Wireframes
The wireframing process consisted of prototyping with classmates and target audience, as well as interviews. The mobile application will help track progress in mental and physical mini games, as well as have a set training schedule. The recruit using the application will also be able to check in with their recruiter, a process which will benefit both the recruiting office and the new recruit. The mini games will be subjected to instantaneous gratification through earned badges. The badges will be like trophies that show your recruiter and fellow future soldiers what tasks you’ve accomplished. The new recruit’s battle buddies can work together to help each other accomplish certain tasks that individuals are struggling on. This will remind the future soldiers the importance of working in a team - even prior to departure for training.
