Yoonjoo Um

When I started this semester, I had a strong passion of making a good website which can help to make a better world. In the class, I had to write a social problems and expanded it to my thesis project. I really focused on the elderly people, because I thought that they are easily ignored from our society although they are part of the society. In my case, my mother is elderly. She always wants to belong with young people. She wants to know the Internet and connect with others. Because of the elderly’s feature, such as lack of memory, losing sight etc, she always have a difficulty to learn someting. So, I want to make a tutorial website for elderly. 

When I start making design and content, I focused on the design thing. But in the mild of the semester, I realized that I did wrong way. My design process was going wrong. So, I started to check and focus on the basic concept, navigation and content. But I think I am still confused about making the simple navigation. I think I have too much ideas and these are not organized. So, I need more organized navigation and contents. I think I need to have more interview with the elderly people and get some feedback. I think over the break I have to make the simply navigation, research the other’s design and get inspired and start thinking about design. 

For this final critique, it was really helpful for me. Michael’s critique reminds me to check the other’s design and the importance of the simple navigation. During the critique I realized that I still need more simple navigation. I think I have too much idea and want to show lot of things in this website. So, I think I still need to make the navigation more simplify of it. Also, I have to check the other designs which are for elderly people. Also, I should research what kind of typeface and color is good for elderly. During the winter break, I think I have to more basic and fundamental things.   

Next steps

• eliminate some parts of navigation and simplify it.
• Clear and simple navigation
• Check other designs 
• Research typeface and color for elderly 

User

 55 ~ 65 years old elderly people

People can use the Internet but use only few websites and have unclearness of internet and computer concept

Problems and Solutions

As the human life is getting longer, the current retirees can spend their time longer and healthier. But they are easily isolated from the society and people. There are many reasons why elderly people are isolated from society. However lack of the socializing is the most major issue of that. Nowadays, most of people are socialized through the cell phone or Internet. But the techniques of these devices are getting developed. Catching up these technique is not that easy for everyone although we know the Internet. Especially elderly people do not feel familiar to use the Internet and computer. Even though they have ability to use Internet but usually they can use only few Internet website. Most of elderly people answered that they want to socialize with other in the Internet when I have a survey.  There are any good programs for them to teach the Internet. Most of current Tutorial websites are really difficult to understand. Also, there are any easy textbooks for them. Thus, in this project I will create the easy and clean Internet tutorial website for them.   

Thesis statement

I am studying senior’s Internet usage because I want to make a tutorial website for them to explain basic concept of Internet and computer so that seniors are not isolated from the society and connect with others.

Content of Website

1.    About Computer

 Hardware (explain the functions)

 *Keyboard

 Key Function Explanation

- Esc

-  Caps Lock

-   Shift

-   Control

-   Space

-   Enter

-   Alt

-   Back Space

-   Number Lock

·      Typing Exercise

*  Mouse

 Click Function Explanation

-   Right Click

-   Left Click

-   Scroll    

Mouse Clicking Exercise

*  Computer Software

 Simple Concept of Software

-   Short history of the computer

-   How the computer works

 How to use the computer

-   How to save images

-   What is a folder for

-   How to find the files

-   (More)

 Basic programs

-   Text Edit

-   Music Player

-     Computer Exercise

2.    About Internet

*   History of Internet

-  The origin of Internet

-  How it was developed

*   Basic Concept of Internet

-  How the internet works

-  How people can connect in the Internet

-  What is the database

-  What is URL

*   Popular Websites Explanation

-  Facebook

-  Google

-  Email

3.    Q/A

   General Questions and Answers

   Q/A Board

In the critique, they maintained and pointed out my concept and idea. I think I have had a clear concept from the beginning of the semester. Also, I think there is no doubtful concept in the Internet tutorial website for seniors. It is clear. And I started designing the website. I think for me talking to concept is not for this time . I was expected the other’s opinions such as the user’s usage, layout of the website, more idea of the website design, etc. But we just talked about my concept. Also, they pointed out my spelling mistake, general concept etc. It was helpful, but it was already mentioned when I talked with Jess and 5x5 critique. Also, I designed the wireframe, so I wanted to hear their opinions and suggestions about the wireframe. I got some good suggestions and I knew that the other opinions about my concept. It was really happy and good to hear that. But I did not get any further suggestions, user’s usage, ideas etc.

Next steps

• design the layout 
• think how to organize the information
• research what kind of information they need 
• visually how I can solve the icons, layout

tutorial website for seniors
Jess comments

• - must proofread your text!! filled with spelling, grammar and typo errors
• - don’t use stock photos in your presentation
• - replace internet explore as icon for internet (this is a proprietary logo)
• - use latin dummy text for wireframes
• - nicely visual layouts
• - how will user test?

• - problem will change as we get older
• - retention is harder for older people
• - may have limited mobility in hands
• - don’t think this will happen to you
• - focus on: what are they going to get from this?
• - focus on: easy ways to connect, motivator
• - have focused on what works well right now?
• - using print as a bridge to web stuff?
• - idea of checklists?
• - how will reach out to geriatrics? good community to focus on
• - will you show them how to explore more?
• - very needed product, can be very effective
• - look into AARP, senior centers, etc
• - please spell check
• - try user testing with iPads
• - need to speak more clearly, especially when talking to seniors

Tutorial website for seniors.

-existing senior tutorial website is bad and difficult.

Feedback

- too much to include “How to use your computer?” 

- 2 versions? 1 for PC and 1 for MAC

- If this is for old people, why make website? why not make print tutorial?

- good to include practice /interactive feature 

- web and print version?

- videos od tutorial

- sceenflow  or quicktime latest version

- focus more specifically : maybe start in Internet and expand on that (web, print, videos..etc)