Airaware
Research
Identifying the plan and goal
Competitor
What are the current most popular whether monitor app on the market? What is their unique strength and weaknesses?
User Needs
How do people monitor their current population levels, and are they aware of their health affected due to pollution?
What did we learn
What is the take away from our research? and how can we build a product for the users?
Competitive Analysis
How are other air quality apps enhancing usability for real-time environmental data?
When researching competitors for AirAware, I focused on how air quality monitoring apps deliver real-time environmental data. Apps such as Plume Labs and AirVisual by IQAir provide detailed air quality updates through mobile platforms, but differ in user engagement and data presentation.
Beyond dedicated air quality apps, there are broader environmental apps like The weather app that incorporate air quality indices and many other environmental indicators.
This research bring Potential opportunities of:
1.Integrate the added feature alongside familiar and frequented existing features.
2.Bring clarity of health recommendations, and the level of customization to the costumer.
3.Implement intuitive and organized information architecture to reduce any sense of overwhelm.
User Interviews
The Goal
• Identify where users currently get their air quality information, the frequency of access, and their satisfaction with these sources.
• Assess the level of awareness urban residents have regarding air pollution and its health impacts.
• Explore how air quality affects users personally and within their community.
• Learn how users currently respond to poor air quality conditions.
Some questions I asked
How long have you been living in your current city or neighborhood?
Are there any types of pollution you're particularly concerned about? Why?
In what ways, if any, has urban pollution affected your daily activities or lifestyle?
How do you usually find out about pollution levels or air quality in your area?
Are there any preventive measures you've taken to mitigate the effects of pollution on your health?
Responses
I’d like more detailed information about what causes the pollution and how it varies throughout the day.
voice recording
During high pollution days, my children often cough more and complain about eye irritation.
voice recording
My Husband has developed some respiratory issues when we lived in Toronto downtown, they had a lot of dusts due to developments.
80% felt their daily routine is affected by pollution of water
100% has encountered minor health change or issues
60% is dealing with hair loss problems
40% is dealing with respiratory problems
80% desires a more transparent information from the government
Participants from different ethnic backgrounds
Interviews
Living in or have lived in a metropolis
A mix of students and working professionals
5
Number of Participants
Takeaway
• Users are generally aware of air pollution and its potential health impacts. There is a strong concern about how air quality affects personal and family health, especially among those with pre-existing health conditions like asthma.
• There is a clear demand for real-time, easily accessible air quality updates. Users want to be able to check current air quality levels quickly and receive alerts when air quality deteriorates, allowing them to make immediate decisions about outdoor activities.
Research Synthesis
I compiled all user data and insights into an affinity map for AirAware, which helped me identify two primary concerns highlighted by users:
1. Primary: Health Impacts from Multiple Environmental Factors - Users reported health issues stemming from a range of environmental conditions, not just air quality, pointing to a need for integrated health advice that considers multiple environmental factors.
2. Secondary: Lack of Environmental Health Resources - Users noted a scarcity of accessible resources that comprehensively address how various environmental factors affect health, emphasizing the need for more informative content within the app.
Define
User Personas
The Opportunities
How might we provide urban residents with real-time, accessible, and transparent pollution data to help them make informed decisions about their daily activities and health?
How might we integrate health recommendations into our app that are personalized based on the user’s health conditions and local air quality data?