Ear2Ear

Prototype link (Please submit a link to a playable prototype, not a link to your design file)

Describe your project

Ear2Ear is a mobile disaster help app that primarily displays areas affected by natural disasters and establishes an online forum for support. The evacuation areas, disaster risk levels, and nearest help centers and relief stations are all displayed. Individuals can post support through aid, fundraisers, and donations, fostering a sense of community. The feeling during disasters is unique for each individual. Thus, we want individuals to share the connections felt when experiencing natural disasters together, so they don’t feel alone.

Describe your research process and findings. If you conducted any surveys or interviews, please include the survey form and/or interview questions here. If you conducted secondary research by pulling from online sources, please include a link to your sources.

For our user research, we decided to create a user survey and conduct competitive analyses. Through our 50 responses received from the user survey, we pulled out some key findings:

The amount of respondents affected by natural disasters is roughly 50/50.
In terms of experiencing misinformation, most responses mentioned that social media is a major source of misinformation, while the news is generally reliable but can be overemphasized.
67% of respondents found the right resources for disaster relief.
80% of respondents know someone who has been affected by a natural disaster.
Most respondents feel disaster dangers are somewhat a concern on a daily basis.
Most respondents are not too educated on disaster relief.
During disasters, most respondents use the news or the Internet, call 911, have emergency kits prepared, or call their families as resources.
During disasters, the first response of most respondents would be to call 911 or reach out to families and friends.
Most respondents see the news about natural disasters monthly, if not, weekly.
Most respondents are somewhat informed about disasters in their area.
Most respondents believe it’s very critical to know that others are experiencing the same disaster as them.
All respondents are on board with our app idea!
74% of respondents find our app to be useful when no disasters are happening.
Roughly 50% are comfortable with an AI tracking their location and weather conditions to assess risk levels.

Through our four competitive analyses of Disaster Alert, American Red Cross, FEMA, and Life360, we studied the unique value propositions, app advantages and disadvantages, similarities, differences, learnings, and opportunities. Among all four apps, they all had features related to live updates of disaster news, preventative measures to take, etc. Nonetheless, there was a weak or no community aspect.

Using these findings, we effectively designed our app with a global and local focus for connecting with others facing the same or similar disasters along with news support, volunteer opportunities, donations, and much more.

Describe your most important design decisions. What research findings and/or user testing results led you to make these decisions?

Emphasis on Social Connections

Research finding → Most respondents believe it’s very critical to know that others are experiencing the same disaster as them.
Design decision → Incorporating local and global social pages that allow users to connect with others nearby, share experiences through posts, and offer/receive assistance (through Go Fund Mes & nearby housing).

Increasing Accessibility to Resources

Research finding → 67% of respondents found the right resources for disaster relief, but a good amount haven’t.
Design decision → Created a section on the home page for nearby resources, which involves shelters and donation centers. The top 3 nearest resources are displayed initially with the address, number, hours, and distance away, but the user can search for other resources.

Useful with no Active Disasters

Research finding → 74% of respondents find our app to be useful when no disasters are happening.
Design decision → Expanded the app by creating a section on the home page for disaster preparation tools, such as a go-bag packing list, CPR training, practice disaster plan, and AI-generated risk assessments based on the weather.

Misinformation v.s. Trustworthy Information

Research finding → In terms of experiencing misinformation, most responses mentioned that social media is a major source of misinformation, while the news is generally reliable but can be overemphasized.
Design decision → Integrated trustworthy news sources about nearby disasters and AI-generated summaries of the disaster(s).