App 4Walk

Overview

Designed for owners of reactive dogs to help them manage their walk successfully.

My Role

User Research & Analysis, Personas, Wireframes, Usability Testing, UI Design, Prototype

Personal Problem

As the owner of a reactive dog, it was imperative for me to strengthen and communicate more correctly with Leo

Survey

What difficulties did you face during the adoption process?

A website/app was not able to offer a solution to the most frequent problems faced by dog owners

64%

Behavioral problems that began after a few weeks

25%

Anxiety, Regret, And inability

12%

No connection was made

08 - Conclusion

In the survey, I learned that owners of reactive dogs face similar challenges. In most cases, the problems result from trips that don't meet the dog's needs

Were there any difficulties you felt the website/app didn't address?

During the adoption process, I was interested in finding out what challenges dog owners face and what the most common issues are

15%

Food/vaccine information

15%

daily routine and trip needs

55%

Barking problems

Is this your first time owning a dog?

I conducted a survey to learn about the challenges reactive dog owners face on trips, and how it affects them and their dogs. A survey was completed by 135 dog owners

70%

30%

Yes

I conducted a survey to learn about the challenges reactive dog owners face on trips, and how it affects them and their dogs. A survey was completed by 135 dog owners

01 - The Solution

Mobile app for navigating dogs walk

The application can assist reactive dog owners in navigating trips. In a way, dogs can enjoy quiet and varied streets and cope more easily with stimuli. With artificial intelligence, users can navigate quiet streets by:

Data is collected, and the application recommends quiet routes despite rush-hour
Estimation of noise in real-time

Context

02 - Background

This project was part of a Netcraft Academic study. After adopting a reactive dog I faced the challenge of finding ways to prevent Leo from barking and lashing out at everything. This included puppies, children, bicycles, and more

03 - Challenge

Reactive dog owners find it difficult to properly communicate with their dogs on routine walks. Following outbursts that tend to be expressed through barking.

A dog's behavior problem may lead to health and mental problems in the long run. Moreover, it will cause owners to experience fear, anxiety, and frustration whenever they take their dogs out.

As well as reducing the dog's and owner's quality of life

04 - Problem

Introspection was the key to finding out where I was wrong and improving my communication with him for future trips and for the rest of our lives together

05 - Research

What exactly is a reactive dog?

A reactive dog reacts to daily situations in a very extreme way compared to a non-reactive dog. In other words, it can be expressed as:

After the stimulus has left, he can become anxious, scared, and afraid to move forward

Leash pulls strongly

Barking

What are the needs of a reactive dog?

Slowly and correctly expose him to stressful situations by walking on quiet streets

Gain confidence by smelling a variety of smells in a residential area

Walking on quiet and calm streets

Reactive dogs are affected by two main factors

reactive dogs may have a stressful environment on the streets

Active Stimulation

Dogs
Cats
Motorcycles

Noise pollution

Buses
Cars
Other Animals

Interviews

"The problem is matching groups and volunteers. A problem because you have to adjust to seniority and schedule limitations"

06- User interviews

Two owners of reactive dogs and Dog trainer has also treated dozens of reactive dogs

Fear

Dogs are sensitive to human emotions, especially those of their owners. Before the trip, the owner thinks a lot about situations, which overwhelms them and causes fear

Anxiety

Dog owners experience anxiety during trips if a dog shows up or a stimulus causes the dog to bark, so the dog feels stressed

Behavioral problems

Dog owners experience anxiety during trips if a dog shows up or a stimulus causes the dog to bark, so the dog feels stressed

Avoidance

The interviewees all agreed that they were stressed before and during the trip. During busy hours, they avoid walking so as not to deal with barking and outbursts, which ruin the trip for the owner and dog

07 - Conclusion

The interviews made me realize that basic training does not necessarily help, due to a lack of proper communication and an inability to understand the dog's essential needs

Interviews

"The problem is matching groups and volunteers. A problem because you have to adjust to seniority and schedule limitations"

06- User interviews

Two owners of reactive dogs and Dog trainer has also treated dozens of reactive dogs

Fear

Dogs are sensitive to human emotions, especially those of their owners. Before the trip, the owner thinks a lot about situations, which overwhelms them and causes fear

Anxiety

Dog owners experience anxiety during trips if a dog shows up or a stimulus causes the dog to bark, so the dog feels stressed

Behavioral problems

Dog owners experience anxiety during trips if a dog shows up or a stimulus causes the dog to bark, so the dog feels stressed

Avoidance

07 - Conclusion

The interviews made me realize that basic training does not necessarily help, due to a lack of proper communication and an inability to understand the dog's essential needs

Survey

I conducted a survey to learn about the challenges reactive dog owners face on trips, and how it affects them and their dogs. A survey was completed by 135 dog owners

Is this your first time owning a dog?

In my research, I wanted to find out if previous dog owners have the same problems as first-time dog owners

70%

30%

Yes

What difficulties did you face during the adoption process?

A website/app was not able to offer a solution to the most frequent problems faced by dog owners

64%

Behavioral problems that began after a few weeks

25%

Anxiety, Regret, And inability

12%

No connection was made

Were there any difficulties you felt the website/app didn't address?

During the adoption process, I was interested in finding out what challenges dog owners face and what the most common issues are

15%

Food/vaccine information

15%

daily routine and trip needs

55%

Barking problems

08 - Conclusion

In the survey, I learned that owners of reactive dogs face similar challenges. In most cases, the problems result from trips that don't meet the dog's needs

UX Flow

09 - User Flow

My goal was to make the flow as simple and easy to use as possible. I also wanted to provide the user with a safe feeling when using the application in stressful situations

10 - Wireframes

As I drew the screens, I wanted the user to receive information from the moment they enter the application. For me, this step was crucial in order to achieve the minimum of steps and short processes while also taking into account the situation in which the dog and owner are at the time

11 - Prototype

I made the prototype as part of my studies to present to Stakeholders at the college

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User Interface

12 - UI Design

As part of the research process for the inspirations, it was imperative that the application was accessible

13 - Feature

Main Screen

A map shows your exact location on the main screen of the app

Button: "Start Trip" Bottom Navigation Menu:
Profile: Update dog details (address, photo, veterinarian)
Dog Body Language: Pictures depicting stress, fear, nervousness, etc.
Settings

Set Time Trip

Pre-navigation options: Choose from 4 options
Time range options: 3 different ranges available
Free walk: No time limit, app navigates to quiet and suitable streets for owner and dog.

Navigation screen

Route timing and length information

Button - return home, in cases where you want to stop the trip and return directly home

Users can select from three options through a menu that opens by swiping upwards

Updating the map
Call the vet in an emergency
Foods that dogs cannot eat
'Go Home' navigate home
End walk the close the app

Usability Testing

14 - A/B Testing

In order to test an unconventional component, I conducted usability tests. Noise meters are designed to show the owner how the dog feels at any given moment

Due to the fact that it is an unique component. A user must be clear about what it represents and not dwell on it too much in real-time

By the end of the usability testing learned that concept B, is more intuitive for the user

15 - Conclusion

After I developed the "noise meter" feature, I realized it was not relevant to this stage of the project and therefore left it out of the design.

Next Step

A section of the app that teaches users the canine language
Monitoring energy expenditure during the day and recommending additional activities
Plan your daily trips based on weather forecasts, and use advanced map views to indicate which paths are safe for your dogs

Next Project

Besvil Tomorrow

A SaaS system for quick and efficient scheduling of volunteers for trips

User Research & Analysis, Personas, Wireframes, UI, Prototype

View Case Study

Matan Saar

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Matan Saar

Resume