User Study
Introduction to User Study
Goals of user study
Gather the design requirements for our mobile application NOMpanion, based on user's requirements and expectations.
Aims of user study
1.
Understand user requirements and preference for lifestyle mobile applications
4.
Understand user's mental model on deciding on what to eat
7.
Discover what motivates them to engage in cooking their own healthy meals
2.
Discover other problems and pain points faced by potential users about decision making on food
5.
Understand what are some of the dietary habits that user's might possess
8.
Understand what are some of the application that might help them now
3.
Discover additional features that might be useful to potential users using our application
6.
Understand user's thought process, requirements and pain points in meal preparation.
7.
Discover what kind of assistance will be useful in helping them cook their own meal
Target User Groups
Young Adults
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Young working individuals/parents with young children
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Tech Savvy to be able to utilize lifestyle applications
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Seeking variety that appeals to younger audiences
Special Diets
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People with special dietary needs
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FItness enthusiast that monitor their nutrition intake closely to achieve a body goal
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Vegans or other people with allergy/medical conditions that restricts their diet
Environmental
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Potential user group of environmentalist
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Into sustainable food sources and food choices
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Seeks to reduce food wastage through their food choices, yet eating healthy
Objectives of specific user group
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Understand how meal plans differ from the target user groups
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Understand how each target user group differ in their needs to help them plan their meal preparation
Study Plan
Questionnaire
An online survey form using google surveys to get an idea of the perception of healthy eating and lifestyle application through an online questionnaire
Recruitment Process
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Google forms will be sent out to relevant online chat groups (Health and fitness clubs of residential college NUS) and also people of within our social circle that fit the potential user groups (Young parents, vegans, environmentalist)
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30 responses to be collected and user identified through questions
Interview
Interviewing users from potential user groups to get an understanding of how they feel about healthy eating and the implementation of the application in general.
Recruitment Process
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2 Respondents from 2 of the potential user groups to be selected for the representation of different views.
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Users to be recruited via word of mouth within the project members word of mouth
Results and Data
Quantitative Data
This pie chart shows the age distribution of the 35 survey respondents. Notable are 2 young parents with children of age below 14
More than half of our respondents consider themselves as individuals that are into calories tracking and dieting
However, only 5 out of 35 of our respondents track their diet and calories data.
The majority of our respondents responded that they care enough of significantly (6 and above) about their diet.
80% responded with a score of 6 and above for how much they care
This histogram shows the different factors that affect the user's decision when planning for a meal.
The top 3 factors are
- Nutrition
- Convenience
- Taste
- Aesthetics is much less important
More than 80% of the survey respondents commented that they cook at least once a week.
With more than 45% of the respondents cooking more than 4 times a week
Qualitative analysis
Cooking Vs Eating Out (User's Perception)
Cooking at Home
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Cheaper and healthier than eating outside
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They have more control over the ingredients
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They can adjust and cook accordingly to their own taste and preferences
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They have more control over the portions of food prepared
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They can engage in meal preparation
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For people with special dietary requirements, cooking is easier for them as they do not have to worry about what ingredients is being added at eateries outside
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Take pride and enjoy in cooking as an art form
Eating Out
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Convenient and time-efficient as they do not have to prepare beforehand and clean up their meals
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Social reasons, as many feel that they could engage in more interactions with peers and families outside
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Believe that food taste better outside as they are not confident of their own cooking skills
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They are lazy to cook or purchase groceries
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Inability to decide what to cook
Healthy eating (User's perspective)
Balance Diet
Consist of healthy proportions of carbohydrates, meats and vegetables
Calories Control
Eating the correct of amount of calories a day based on user's body profile
Clean Foods
Natural/organic food sources that does contain preserved food
Low Fat and Sugars
Eating food that does not contain excess fats or sugar content
Plant Based Diets
Some individual prefer plant based diet which can be healthier to the environment also
Perceptions of Lifestyle mobile application
The majority of the respondents use some form of lifestyle mobile application to help them improve their quality of life through different aspects of conveniences that the lifestyle application can provide. Examples of lifestyle application can include Apple Health, Calories Tracker, and Fitness Pals which helps to track calories and activity.
Over 60% of the respondents also agree that if a lifestyle application related to healthy meal planning is to be created, they will be willing to use it to help them with their lifestyle goals/eating habits.
Reasons why users will adopt our applications
Based on the survey and interview, we gather some reasons why they might want to use our application. We work to improve on these points to help achieve user satisfaction.
Options
Novel recipes ideas to increase the variety of food available with the inclusion of healthy options and customizations
Waste Reduction
Reduce food waste by recommending recipes using ingredients they already possess instead of buying them again
Change
Help users make a change in their lifestyle and eating habits to help them achieve a better and healthier lifestyle
Convenience
Provide convenience in finding a suitable recipe based on their preference, requirements, and restrictions.
Application Features users requested
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Quick and easy to prepare
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Video and guides
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Comparison of nutrition values and price
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Cater to dietary requirements
Recipe Recommendation
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Changing the portion of food to cook in the recipes provided.
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Changing the ingredients used within the recipe provided
Customizations
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Sharing of tips and tricks between users
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Sharing of established recipes that are good
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Reviews and rating of each recipe
Social media platform
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Earn rewards for successfully achieving their lifestyle goals
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Reward users with discount/cash vouchers to be used at supermarkets and eateries
Incentive System
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Allow users to shop online or order online for self-pickup of groceries
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Comparison with eating outside
Groceries shopping
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Overview and breakdown of nutrition intake
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Recommendation of intake and also reminder if intake is in excess of deficit
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Goal Setting