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https://lighting-bolt.uqcloud.net
https://github.com/deco3500-2019/Lightning-bolt/wiki/Prototype-3
The problem space we decided to tackle was depression - a widespread and debilitating condition, with 15% of Australians expected to experience it in their lifetimes. Given the role of mental illness in suicide and the fact that - as recently as 2017 - suicide has counted for a third of all teenage deaths, it represents a serious problem in the modern world.
We chose to focus on social media as our vector of approach; 72% of Australians use it regularly, and it has potential for aggravating mental illness by eroding self-esteem, encouraging isolation, and as a vector for abuse. As most social media traffic is through smartphones, it stands to reason that a potential solution would also need to support smartphones for maximum effect.
Our solution takes the form of a mobile app, which centers around a journal, allowing users to let their feelings out by expressing their thoughts and daily moods. It's suited mainly for users at risk of developing depression from social media; a cost-effective intervention for users who are not quite sure whether they need professional help or not. In the event that the user does end up needing professional help, the solution will facilitate communication between users and therapists.
The initial prototype centered around connecting users and therapists; users would be able to take a diagnostic test, and then be referred to professional help directly. The system would then facilitate communication directly, over the internet. Journal entries could be shared with therapists by the users, assisting the therapist in their work.
A series of interviews was conducted to evaluate the low-fidelity prototype; the subjects were proxy users, as actual therapists and depression patients could not be found (or accessed). From the results, two potential development routes were devised:
- Create a tool in cooperation with clinics, for facilitating communication between therapists and patients.
- Create a tool for users, designed to assist self-adjustment with minimal input from therapists.
The second was selected, and expanded with a number of suggestions made by interviewees; challenges to improve user retention, multiple diary entry types, ability to share journal entries with other users, and an anonymous forum for users to share their experiences with others.
From the second round of user testing, the high-fidelity prototype incorporated a 'mood over time' graph, and some changes to the arrangement of the site. The forum was not implemented due to time constraints, but all other features were implemented.
Further development of the application will feature a way to share journal entries to close friends and groups - by expressing their thoughts and feelings to each other, this will help to make them feel more comfortable with expressing themselves in public, leading to improved self-esteem. Additionally, the support service pages will be extended with a GPS system, to locate nearby facilities.
A feature which was suggested in the interviews, but never implemented, was theme options. Currently, the solution is quite sterile-looking, which isn't conducive to keeping users calm - adding more tasteful theming and allowing users to have some control over it would assist with this.