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  • Because we had made up our data, numerical values were not necessarily consistent between different graphs. Several users expressed confusion about this inconsistency. In response, we modified our data to ensure that it was realistic and consistent between graphs, allowing users to make accurate comparisons between views.
  • We allowed users to view exact numeric y-values after touching an x-value in the graph, as suggested by user 2. We also displayed a horizontal dotted line with a label showing the average for the graph. We hoped that this change would improve users' ability to compare different values in the same graph, rather than having to switch views.
  • Many users expected to be able to schedule a transaction from the "storage" view. We made this possible by adding a "sell power" button for each device in the "storage" view, comparable to the "edit settings" button for each device in the "usage" view. Clicking this button switches the user to the "grid" view and launches a new power transaction from the selected device, essentially acting as a shortcut for the "schedule transaction" button. We hoped that this change would both improve the learnability of the "grid" view and increase the internal consistency between the "usage" and "storage" views. For more information, see Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2 below.
  • We changed the wording of the "daily averages" heading to include the date from which the data was taken, hoping to address the ambiguity noted by user 3.
  • We moved the "day," "month," and "year" tabs and made them larger, so that they appeared to apply to the entire view rather than just the graph. We hoped that this change would also help disambiguate the meanings of the data given in the bottom pane. For more information, see the "Prototype Pictures" table below.
  • We noted that no users interacted with the checkboxes that change which devices are displayed in the graph. To test the visibility and usability of these checkboxes, we created an additional subtask for users to perform, as noted in Scenario Tasks, above.
  • In the "usage" view, we provided a dotted line which showed the predicted usage values for a short period after the current time. We hoped that this change would give users feedback about the results of a settings change, as user 2 had requested. For more information, see Figure 5.2.1 and 5.2.2.

After Round 2

The user feedback from round 2 gave us additional ideas about modifications we could make to future iterations of our prototype.

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Round 1

Round 2

Device tree tab selected
Usage tab selected




Figure 1.1: Daily view


Figure 1.2: Yearly view

In round 2 we added a "sell power" button to each device.




Figure 2.1: Storage view

The image above shows the storage view in round 1, before the "sell power" button was added for each device in the table.


Figure 2.2: Storage device table vs usage device table in round 2

The image above shows the device tables for "storage" (on the bottom) view and "usage" view (the top table), illustrating the similarity between the two tables. 

Transaction scheduling




Figure 3.1: Transaction scheduling 1


Figure 3.2 Transaction scheduling 2

Monthly view







Figure 4.1: Monthly view 1


Figure 4.2: Monthly view 2

Other

Round 1: setpoint and transaction scheduling

Round 2: new graph specific features added before round 2


Figure 5.1.1: Setpoint


Figure 5.1.2: Scheduling transactions


Figure 5.2.1: Power usage estimates estimate for today

The green dashed line in Figure 5.2.1 above, shows the estimated power usage for the next 6 hours (based on grid pricing and previous usage patterns).


Figure 5.2.2:  Power usage estimate for this month
The dotted line in figure 5.2.2 shows the predicted usage values for a short period after the current time.


Figure 5.2.3:


Figure 5.2.4:

The images above show the graph changes we made for round 2.