Mobile Product Design for Treetracker

Skills Used

• Leadership

• IA Design

• Sketch

• Rapid Prototyping

Treetracker users work in areas without consistent internet connectivity making login verification impossible. They frequently share one device between 20+ people, many of whom are illiterate and have never used a mobile device. Considering these challenges, I created a “session” process delineating a Device Owner from Basic Users and the tracking they each do. Essentially a local login. This protects planters from exploitation and exposes user data that would otherwise be inaccessible. Distinguishing two types of users also simplifies what information needs to be communicated to whom, resulting in a better experience for the Basic User. Session information is uploaded all at once when the device moves into range of cell service. I created flows and wireframes of these processes centered around a dashboard rather than a map, which was displaying little useful information.

I am currently mentoring volunteers in creating iconography based on recognizable items in the users’ immediate environment and chose street signs in Tanzania (where the majority of our illiterate users live) as a starting point. Research shows that people with little or no experience of handheld technology understand and retain direction better with 3 dimensional buttons and iconography so we are moving toward that as well.