So after all the hype, the wait is over. My final interfaces for Dinner Date are up. There's still some glitches here and there, but the main concept is expressed. This may be my last post.

So lets face it there's lonely people out there, and sometimes those lonely people get tired of going up to the maître d' and saying table for one. NO MORE! Finally an app that allows people to go on lunch and dinner dates with other lonelies. Whether its a business date for networking, a romantic date to meet someone special or just a platonic meeting at your favorite downtown restaurant, the Dinner Date app is here for you!

Table for 1 app (for lonely people who need someone to share lunch/dinner with)

An elitist app (similar to the I am Rich application) either useless and funny or intricate based on what the wealthy need/want

iLottery-an app that creates a pot based off the profit of each purchased app 

iRSVP- an app that makes it easier for you to rsvp to events/shows/clubs

As much as I would love to continue working on the RA app, I think I have gone as far as I can design wise. I'm sure there are still several kinks in the interfaces, but I doubt it would take more than a week or two to repair. Instead I would prefer to explore new concepts. I have so many ideas I don't know where to start. Below are just a few of my favorite ideas, but I guess its up to the class to determine which one's would be the most promising. 

iPHONE APP IDEAS

• Celebrity Spotting Device
• Last Night's Party
• Something French
• A game (Graphic)
• Table for 1-find others who will share lunch with you
• Language app enter word get 5 different translations
• Ugg boots counter
• Dream journal
• Story Book
• A High income app[rich kids] (elitist mentality) find other rich kids near you (options to add them on facebook)
• VIP App (get on the list to your favorite club/bar/show)
• Friend App (who you hang out with, who you want to hang out with)
• Intern App 
• Drug Dealer iPhone App
• A really expensive useless app
• An app lottery (one time use app) (for every app that is bought a percentage of the profit goes to an account that by the purchase of a certain number of apps will award one app owner the lottery)

So my first prototypes on photoshop were pretty much an exploration of the features I worked on in the paper ones. After critique I realized most of my issues were with making the data more clear by way of customizing the interfaces to match the Apple standard. I looked at adding ways to filter information and eliminating extensive navigation through the application by simplifying features. Originally it was suggested that I add a documenting feature in which RAs would be able to make instant incident reports, but I felt as though this would distract from the true function of the app which was for immediate emergencies. I figured also that most of the information would be input by a website that connected directly with the phone. This way the resident databases as well as RA databases and lists could be refreshed every year. Unfortunately due to time restraints I wasn't really able to explore the details of how this would happen. Regardless the finished piece was a simple 9 file look at what this app was all about. The moment of truth had come and I looked forward to presenting to not only my class, but to the New School's Housing Office as well. Wish me luck!

From the paper prototypes I decided to expand on them and create digital prototypes. These digital prototypes expanded on the concepts I explored initial and added to these. Through the exploration of these features by tests which were conducted with various RAs I tried to customize it to what they found successful and what still posed difficulty on a user level. Certain features like documentation were added to record specific events using voice/video/text. I tried to make the interface as easy to read as possible with as few distractions as possible considering this app was to have a more professional/serious tone. The color palette was limited to grey/blue/black and white. I have many more tests to document in addition to responses from future critiques to perfect the interfaces and finalize the project. My impetus remains the same: to create an easy to use database for Resident Advisors to use in case of emergencies. I would love to present my idea to the Housing Office at the university seeing as how there is still no precedent to this concept I feel they could be very receptive. 

For my paper prototypes I wanted to catch the main idea. Keep them neat and organized with only the most vital information. However during actual practice/simulations I realized I didn't make enough variations and I forgot a lot of important features. Some of the most interesting feedback I received was:

• to add text messaging options
• eliminate the standard icons on the first screen
• have a home/back button on every screen
• change the order priority (emergency #s first)
• make the home button much clearer
• elaborate on terms (RAs RHD etc)
• include poison control in emergency numbers
• make it clearer that the numbers were emergency #s
• make the option to call the resident you're looking for clearer
• change the term "emergency" info to "medical" info
  

For my iPhone application, I was looking at something that was relevant and necessary for users. Something that would have several features and people could access and get exactly what they wanted at one time. I thought about the seasons and how with the cold weather comes colds and the flu and people need to know what they have. My initial idea was to create an App called iDoc which would not only diagnose your sickness with the symptoms you input, but give you a variety of medications, nearby hospitals and clinics as well as alternative/home remedies and medicine. When I presented a fellow classmate mentioned that it would be a great application for RAs (Resident Advisors). I realized that then that what makes iPhone apps so successful is that they do one thing and they do it well, so I decided to narrow it down to just that. I decided that as an RA myself, it would be great to have a tool that was custom made to hold emergency information. I decided to make an RA application that had a directory of all the residents in the building with their medical information, a list of all the other RA's numbers, and emergency numbers (911, police dept, fire dept etc). 

So the game went pretty well. There was still as sense of disorganization. I probably should have played the referee. People started to catch on to the speed and the simplicity soon enough and the pace of the game. I think If I had given more instructions and used up my entire time, the game would have been a lot more successful.