OffRoads A persuasive website to promote fuel conservation “Make the Switch and Make a Difference”

OffRoads

A persuasive website to promote fuel conservation

www.projectoffroads.com

“Make the Switch and Make a Difference”

Presentation Outline

Introduction Low-Fidelity PrototypeResults of Usability Testing Demonstration of Calculator & BlogMobile Device Future Improvements

Purpose

OffRoads strives to convince users to conserve fuel by changing their daily work commute from driving their own car to using public transportation

How Will This Be Accomplished?

Show users annual global & personal effects of switching to mass transit

Carbon dioxide emissions reductionForeign oil dependence reductionTime savingsCost savingsHealth benefits

Persuasive Roles of Technology

1. Tool – simplify a behaviorExample: Calculate savings

2. Medium – show effectsExample: Info bites proving results

3. Social Actor – provide support Example: converse with others

who have made the switch via blog/forum

Low-Fidelity Prototype

Usability TestingIdea is great, but more things can be added with the websiteWe could do more rounds of testing with better prototypesGetting people interested seems to be main concernUse of phone aspect

DemonstrationWebsite - www.projectoffroads.comCalculator PortionBlog Portion

What else can be added?Getting the website known

Mobile DeviceOffRoads Calculator Designed for WAP enabled phones and PDAs200 million cell phone users in the USDesigned to reach more usersShort demo using a cell phone simulator

Mobile DeviceDesigned to run on multiple phone typesNeeds to be hosted by a WAP enabled serverActual calculating functions need to be implementedTesting on more phone brands

Lessons Learned

Motivating users is a problemAttracting users to it may be difficultMobile implementation harder than anticipatedGetting name out there will be a challenge

FutureContinue development of calculatorDo usability testing with revised designIntegrate look of blog and calculator better