Reverse-app
Reverse OS
Simplify the way you interact with mobile apps
Individual project. This is a mobile OS designed to promote a simple lifestyle. People nowadays are glued to their screen too much, which in many ways is unnecessary.
Problem
People are addicted to Mobile apps.
“How to provide an effective way to interact with the smartphone, while retaining the necessary function in daily life. ”
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The mobile device has played an important part in all aspects of life. As people’s lives have been completely changed, it also raises a serious dependence on mobile devices. People will stare at their phone screen, whether walking on the street, having dinner with friends or visiting the museum. Indeed, in many ways, the mobile phone has brought us convenience. However, people are addicted to the smartphone, while ignoring the reality of life. Therefore, I wanted to design an app, which can potentially:
“Provide an effective way to interact with the smartphone, while retaining the essential function in daily life. ”
Target Users
Who has to deal with complex apps?
Post-Millennials
Age: 1 – 24
- Usually use the smartphone as a game machine or entertainment device.
- Addicted to the smartphone.
Millennials
Age: 24-38
- Like simple lifestyle.
- Less frequently use smart devices.
- Only use a few apps frequently
Other generations
Age: 39 – 75
- Feel difficult to use mobile apps.
- Contact acquaintances.
- Less likely to keep up with new technical devices, but have interests in using a smartphone.
User Research Insights
People are using apps in 2 major ways
Basic function of mobile phone
Necessary function of mobile phone
Product Design Research
What are pain points in apps?
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Too many steps make the operation complex and cause an increase in the cost of user-generated content, which has a negative impact on producing content in a platform.
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No correlation with each other modules let whole app too bloated. In fact the app can be split into several independent apps that are more effective, regardless of commercial consideration.
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With too many sub menu, photo app has countless toning function to meet people’s different needs, and it will naturally consume more time and confuse users.
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User interface design is too fancy, which make users confused, and do not know how to use.
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Many apps push other advertising content and are attached lots of advertising links, which reduce use efficiency of app.
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In order to increase user stickiness, many apps supply the social function. However, according to the relevant data, users rarely use these social function. Their social needs can be meet on Facebook, twitter,etc.
Product Design Research Insights
Less hierarchy makes more efficiency
Typical Flow Path
Typical app structure is a complex one that has many features and multiple paths, but only few of them are used often.
Ideal Flow Path
Ideal structure is effective, less hierarchical, and each function can be used effectively without redundancy.
Ideation
How to solve the complexity?
A sample user journey of interacting with apps
Brainstormed ideas
“Flow”
Streamlined workflows that consist of a different combination of features of different apps.
“Passive”
Passive information receiver.
“Half Conversational UI”
Conversational UI assisted by GUI.
“Tailored”
Tailor each app and separate apps based on use frequency.
Accomplish a task of hanging out with friends.
Based on the effort users need to make and the overall improvement on efficiency.
“Tailored”
IA & Low-fi
Contacts &
Contextual function
Contacts page
All the contacts are extracted from different message apps when you are texting a person, it is the same experience you will have with other message apps, such as messenger, Whatsapp, etc.
Context-aware functions
1. Context-aware Function Page
Depending on the context of your text messages, users will get a contextual app list when swiping to the right from the message page.
e.g. when planning a meal, yelp will be on the list of apps.
2. Context-tailored feature
Depending on the context of your text messages, users will get a tailored functionality of the app as well.
e.g. When entering yelp, the search research results have been generated and it will only contain features that help choose a restaurant. In addition, the app structure is also flattened.
3. Context-aware message
Depending on the context of your behavior in the function page, users will get suggested content to send when they go back to the message page.
e.g. When going back to the message page, the restaurant information will pop up. The user can send the information by hitting the tiny pop-up window.
Timeline to keep in check
Pull up the timeline page. All the daily events appear in the chronological order, including events happened in daily function and contact events. users can enter the event to check or continue the event.
Reflection and Summary
Started from the concept of providing a simple, efficient way to interact with smart phone, Reverse app form into a simple operation way of flow. Reverse app is more like an operating system than an app. Of course, it is not an appealing solution for those severe phone dependence. But for the elderly, children, and young people who want to use the phone efficiently, it offers an innovative way of interaction.