Siro
Discovering Inclusive UX: Exploration into Accessible Note-Taking.
This project proposes a solution for users to collect and archive notes seamlessly while listening to podcasts or audiobooks.
It serves as an extension to platforms like Spotify or Audible, enhancing the note-taking process and providing an accessible experience in audio content consumption.
This project aims to leverage AI integration for seamless audio-to-text and text-to-audio experiences.
It serves as an extension to platforms like Spotify or Audible, enhancing the note-taking process and providing an accessible experience in audio content consumption.
This project aims to leverage AI integration for seamless audio-to-text and text-to-audio experiences.
Wireframes draft screens.
Background
Challenges
This project originated from my participation in an intensive course on UX research. My goal was to consolidate my approach to the UX world within a single project and challenge myself in a new setting. With this project I wanted to explore developing a more accessible and inclusive design.
While my past experience taught me to design for a broad audience, this time, I intentionally directed my efforts towards a specific target group—visually impaired individuals. I then decided to focus on my favorite medium of the moment: podcasts, audiobooks and storytelling.
1️⃣ Research
With in-depth secondary research, I delved into companies competing in the audio content space, focusing particularly on their approaches to accessible solutions. Subsequently, I conducted a detailed comparison, extracting both the strengths and weaknesses of the main players.
Through this analysis, a hypothesis emerged: the market currently addresses accessibility within individual listening platforms, but there's a notable gap in a unified solution that seamlessly spans multiple platforms.
Through this analysis, a hypothesis emerged: the market currently addresses accessibility within individual listening platforms, but there's a notable gap in a unified solution that seamlessly spans multiple platforms.
Extract from document Competitive Analysis
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Takeaway: the current market solutions for audio content accessibility are platform-specific.
My project aims to bridge this gap by developing a unified solution that spans multiple applications—potentially integrated into smartphones for universal accessibility.
My project aims to bridge this gap by developing a unified solution that spans multiple applications—potentially integrated into smartphones for universal accessibility.
2️⃣ Surveys
Through a survey I wanted to gain a better insight into the habits and needs of audio content users. Overall, the survey highlights the dominance of podcasts over audiobooks, diversity in note-taking habits, and the interesting ways people engage with audiobooks. Below some of the main results are highlighted.
- Podcasts are more popular than audiobooks. 75% of the people have listened to Podcasts in the last years, while 60% never listened to even one audiobook. 🦄 Fun fact: someone admitted to use audiobooks as sleeping pills to put their children to sleep.
- 70% of people like to play podcasts mainly because they want to multitask. 🤹♀️
- Smartphones and Spotify are the most used sources. 🤳
- Regarding note taking, there is an equal division between taking notes on a paper book and on an app external to the one used. But most people just let go, even if they wish they could take note easily.✏️
- Surprisingly, the majority of people don't mind sharing their notes online with the community, but they prefer to keep it for theirself. 💭
- 🦄 Fun fact: people really like to give a lot of extra explanations about the reason why they abandoned a podcastaudiobook. 🤭
User persona
Given the limited response from visually impaired individuals in my survey, I found myself at a crossroads. I opted for a creative solution: Personas.
In crafting these personas, the project gains depth and empathy, steering it toward a more nuanced and considerate design process.
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In crafting these personas, the project gains depth and empathy, steering it toward a more nuanced and considerate design process.
Customer journey
In the customer journey, I focused on defining clear actions and needs, with particular attention to customer feelings and mood swings. I aimed to dedicate a separate section to exploring opportunities for AI involvement, a topic that can be discussed at a later stage with the rest of the team, especially with developers.
User Flow
I separated the user flow sections in three stages: Onboarding, Taking Note, and Archiving.
During the Taking Note activity a delicate step emerged: the recognition of the chosen audio fragment. For example, when the user wants to save a specific piece of the audiobook, the application needs to identify and verify it a second time with the user in a rapid back and foward conversation. This highlights the need for decoding a defined dialogue between users and the application, emphasizing the importance of refining communication dynamics for a seamless user experience.
During the Taking Note activity a delicate step emerged: the recognition of the chosen audio fragment. For example, when the user wants to save a specific piece of the audiobook, the application needs to identify and verify it a second time with the user in a rapid back and foward conversation. This highlights the need for decoding a defined dialogue between users and the application, emphasizing the importance of refining communication dynamics for a seamless user experience.
3️⃣ Interaction
Wireframe
To ensure the accessibility of this application, I tried to provide users with a comprehensive experience, encompassing access to the microphone, speakers, and various audio sources. Additionally, automation features for sound recognition and text transcription have been integrated where necessary.
I aimed to represent and incorporate these features in the form of short text or voice conversations. This design approach not only enhances usability but also prioritizes a seamless and engaging interaction, allowing users to effortlessly communicate with the application through intuitive and efficient dialogue.
I aimed to represent and incorporate these features in the form of short text or voice conversations. This design approach not only enhances usability but also prioritizes a seamless and engaging interaction, allowing users to effortlessly communicate with the application through intuitive and efficient dialogue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this project has been a journey of meticulous research and thoughtful processes preceding production. My emphasis has been on identifying a genuine need and a void in the market, undertaking comprehensive research that mixes both quantitative and qualitative insights.
The vision was not only to innovate but also to address the needs of those who may face visual challenges.
This inspired a unique communication approach, where the interface communicates through voice messages or, if necessary, through concise text messages. By prioritizing inclusivity and user-centered design, this project strives to offer a meaningful and accessible experience for all users. The fusion of research-driven decisions and a commitment to addressing real needs lays the foundation for a project that aspires to make a positive impact in the market and beyond.
This inspired a unique communication approach, where the interface communicates through voice messages or, if necessary, through concise text messages. By prioritizing inclusivity and user-centered design, this project strives to offer a meaningful and accessible experience for all users. The fusion of research-driven decisions and a commitment to addressing real needs lays the foundation for a project that aspires to make a positive impact in the market and beyond.