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Top Down Software Development:part 2

June 6, 2006 on 1:11 pm | In maemo, nokia770 | No Comments

Use Cases Continued / User Characterization

The next step we will look at is user charactization. A few examples of these are:

• Student – This user will likely have a cell phone, possibly a laptop, and have to haul everything with them on foot (net weight is critical). The 770 would fit a use niche in applications where a laptop is too cumbersome to use, and a cell phone is insufficent. Examples include waiting in queues, at bus stop, between classes, or on foot on campus. Most campuses (in US) now have ubiquituous WiFi, so campus / internet connectivity can be assumed.
• Traveler – This user will have a cell phone, a laptop, possibly a blackberry, etc. Time will be spent at airports, train stations, hotels. etc. The 770 would once again fit a use niche in specific applicatations where a laptop is to cumbersome, and the cell phone is insufficient. Examples of these locations would include public transport, or in meetings where a laptop would be distracting. WiFi cannot be considered ubiquituous, so Internet access would either be through BlueTooth cellular access or not available. Once again, net travel weight is critical.
• Power User / Geeky Soccer Parent – This user would generally carry around the 770 as a pocket utility as part of their office or home life. This type of user would likely make sure that WiFi was available for general information retrieval or access to network resources when in home or work locations, but would have to be functional in many non-connected locations. This user may also use it as a family calendar.

Application Models

• Reference library – The 770 could be used as a compendium of information. This could include Wikipedia types of information, IMDB content, CIA world factbook, or Google Maps, Google itself, or more specialized content – such as NIST Special Publications (all in PDF). The ability to carry / access this depth and volume of content in your pocket, and display to this level is unmatched. This application model fits the 770 very well.
• Ebook Reader – The 770 could be used as a portable personal library. The ability to carry thousands of pages of reading content could reduce the net travel weight of the user significantly.
• Games / Simulations – The ability to entertain during dead time with no additional weight is important. However, the limited input controls and interactivity prevent many arcade and FPS games from consideration.
• Personal information store / Wiki – The 770 could be used as a personal store of information for recall, such as a Wiki or PIM type of application. Once again, it has the capability to store photos, numbers, notes, addresses, etc. It can be massively more flexible than a PIM dedicated device. I would expect that the content will primarily be entered / developed on a workstation, and then synchronized to the 770. This would allow a very rich level of content to be displayed on the 770 with minimal user input.
• Wireless Remote Control (for networked devices) – The 770 could be used as a remote control device to manage networked devices.

Connectivity Models

There are essentially 3 connectivity models that are applicable to the 770.

• Disconnected – No connectivity of any type. This would be typical of some workplace environments, airplanes, camping, or WiFi / Cellular data deadspots (yes they really do exist).
• WiFi Connected – Connectivity to local network and Internet through a WiFi access point. Generally good bandwidth.
• Cellular Paired – Connectivity to Internet through a cellular data connection. Moderate to poor bandwidth, and often metered.

Use Case Development

At this point we now have a few user classes, application classes and connectivity classes. By mixing and matching these we can come up with a story for use.

Use Case 1 – College student uses 770 to store information, schedule, class notes. Also uses it for media player and ebook reader for entertainment (downtime waster). Has continuous access to campus LAN through WiFi and acess to Internet. General purpose use is to check school email, chat, bus schedules, wikipedia, google. Will have Internet connectivity more than 90%.
Use Assessment – this is being used as a convergent internet access device by the user. A flexible PIM / Wiki capability would be useful, but should be syncable to some network resource so that it can be managed / modified (and protected) from the 770 and some network terminal. Some of the information accessed would be suitable for caching locally. This would both increase battery lifetime and local performance. Examples include bus schedules, or pertinent wikipedia articles, IMDB pages, or local maps.
Application Extrapolation – Based on this use case, the following non-standard applications would be ‘useful’:

• Web Browser with on demand caching capability, similar to Scrapbook for Firefox ( https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/427/). This would allow local caching of relatively static content for continual reference. Performance would be increased and battery life extended.
• PIM / Wiki (net syncable) – A flexible personal information store for storing the sundry details of busy campus life.

Use Case 2 – Power User uses the 770 to check webmail from multiple sources, store personal information, ebook reader, maps, web articles, etc. Will have Internet connectivity in about 25% of locations or less. Is different from student in the following ways: Less likely to use chat regularly, more likely to be offline, more likely to have a much wider variety of ‘stuff’ on the 770, since it is more of a tool / toy for the power user and more of a working utility for the student.

Use Assessment – The information accessed by the power user needs to have access to many online resources with a certain degree of static-ness, but with distinctly dynamic characteristics. Examples would include an online family calendar (eg google calendar), or web mail. The user would like to have a local (offline) copy of this information for browsing during downtime even if internet access is not available.

Application Extrapolation – Based on this use case, the following non-standard applications would be ‘useful’:

• Web browser with both on demand caching capability, similar to scrapbook, but with aggressive synchronization capability. If i site was marked for local caching and synchronization, it would aggressively attempt to synchronize when a connection became available. This would assure a minimal staleness for dynamic pages.
• IMAP mail client with local caching – this would allow the user to view / manage email even when offline.

Conclusions

Based on thes two very rudimentary use cases for the 770, i would have to conclude that the 770 would benefit from:

1. Calendar application that would sync with say… Google Calendars?
2. Flexible Caching / Synchronizing web browser.
3. Native WebClipper for offline reading. Something like a Plucker but integrated with a view and user friendly. More like the old AvantGo, but completely integrated on the 770.
4. Network Syncable PIM / Wiki. Something to store free format (or flexible format) personal information.

Wrapup for Now

These are two examples of use cases for the 770. As you can see it is relatively easy to just make up a use case story, and by following it logically through, you can define useful applications.

enjoy in moderation

ubergEEk