Study Space Finder | CPSC 544 Course Project

The Study Space Finder app was designed to address the challenges students face when searching for study spaces on campus. By integrating real-time occupancy information, detailed space data, and user reviews into a cohesive mobile experience, the app aimed to save time and enhance productivity for university students.

Key Features

• Real-Time Occupancy: Live data on space availability for efficient decision-making.
• Comprehensive Space Listings: Includes both formal and informal spaces with filters for proximity, amenities, and preferences like quiet areas or food access.
• User Reviews: Students can rate and review spaces they have visited.
• Physical Button: To indicate the occupancy of the seat.

Process

• Research and Ideation:
  • Conducted qualitative interviews and observations with UBC students to identify study space preferences and frustrations
  • Defined 2 primary personas: a busy graduate student looking for efficient and quick solutions, and an undergraduate seeking to explore new study spaces for inspiration
  • Analyzed user needs to establish functional and non-functional system requirements
• Prototyping:
  • Iterative prototyping (low- to medium-fidelity) focused on user needs
  • Low-fidelity prototyping done Wizard-of-oz style (using paper models)
  • Medium fidelity prototype created in Figma, connected to a Google Sheet as database.
  • An ESP8266 board was used to poll the status of a button and update the status of a test seat in the database.
• User Testing:
  • Conducted usability tests with participants representing typical users.
  • Results showed the app was intuitive and functional, reducing time spent searching for spaces and offering a cohesive user experience.
• Outcome:
  • The Study Space Finder app received positive feedback for its intuitive design and learnability, comprehensive integration of real-time data and user preferences, and potential to save time and improve study routines.