Christopher Spinelli

Problem

The digital divide is still with us and getting wider. How might we narrow it?

• Technology, in particular social media, has drastically transformed the daily lives of many people—but not all.

• The digital divide denies many groups, such as older adults, meaningful access to these essential tools.

• This lack of access weakens our society economically, politically, and culturally.

Solution

Use social media to narrow the digital divide.

Social Act is a tool that helps people better understand social media—and technology—as they build and expand the conversational digital networks that shape their lives.

High Fidelity Wireframes

Design Progression

SLOW SOCIAL TO SOCIAL ACT

My original prototype was called Slow Social. After doing user testing, I decided to change the name and color scheme. A number of testers thought the name Slow Social had negative connotations that could discourage customers from downloading the app. They also felt older users might find the light pink of the initial color scheme unappealing and garish. They recommended a more sophisticated and restrained palette.

SKETCH > LOW-FI WIREFRAME > HI-FI WIREFRAME

These images show the progression from rough sketch to high fidelity wireframe for two screens: sign in/register and apps directory.

Sign In/Register

Apps Directory

Early Sketches

UI Design: Moodboard

UI Design: Logo

User Research

USER INTERVIEWS: FOUR FRAMING QUESTIONS

I interviewed a number of adults, ranging in age from late 20s to early 70s. There were four framing questions that guided me as I wrote the interview script.

1. How do you make sense of your social media behavior?

2. What frustrates you with a culture increasingly defined by social media applications?

3. What blocks you from becoming a confident social media user in a world where technology has infiltrated daily life?

4. Does the fear of being labeled a tech illiterate hold you back from enjoying life in the digital world?

USER INTERVIEWS: FOUR INSIGHTS

I gleaned four important insights from the user interviews.

1. Many interviewees are ambivalent about the way social networks increasingly define our lives.

2. Less active users, who are often older, find privacy and security concerns a barrier to use.

3. More active consumers users worry their behavior is too cavalier.

4. Most consumers rarely reflect on the way they use social media—they’re surprised how much they take it for granted.

USER PERSONAS

Based on the information learned from the user interviews, I created two fictional personas who represent possible Social Act customers.

Information Architecture

User Flows

USER FLOW 01: Registered User Signs In and Posts to Facebook

USER FLOW 02: Registered User Signs In, Learns About, and Adds Pinterest

USER FLOW 03: New User Registers and Adds Facebook