GR1 - Task analysis

User analysis

Our application is targeted mainly at high school and college students.  Instances when our application would be used are birthdays, holidays, congratulatory events, etc. 

User Characteristics:

• Age: 17-25 year old high school and college students
• Gender: Male and Female
• Language: Focus is on English, but possibility of expanding to other major languages
• Education: High school and College educated
• Physical Limitations: None.
• Computer experience: Sufficient.  Enough to surf the web and interact with different applications.
• Motivation & Attitude: Students want convenience and efficiency.  They can all work on a single card without being strapped to the fact they have to work on it at the same time, in the same place.  Our program allows flexibility, and with students having busy schedules, they will more likely get drawn to this type of affordability of not having to plan on meeting with other people to sign the card.  Students can also include others who many not normally be able to sign a physical card without having to be in the same location.

After interviewing with three different individuals within the student domain class, here are three persona that illustrate an average user:

• Jenny, a 16 year old high school sophomore who is heavily involved with sports and other extracurricular activities.  She enjoys surfing the web and creating artistic projects in Photoshop.  She likes to give birthday cards to her best friend, and would also like to include some of her other friends as well in making the card. 
• Bill, a 21 year old international college student from China, who regularly web cams with his friends and family back home.  His 15 year old brother's birthday is coming up, and he would like to send him a card that includes messages from his parents and friends, both in the U.S. and China.
• Tim, a 18 year old high school senior who is a traditionalist and must hand write letters and cards to his family and friends.  He enjoys tennis and basketball, and when special occasions comes up, he is there to congratulate his buddies with flowers and cards.  When he plans surprise parties, he wants all his guests to be able to sign the card he made, even though they are very busy with school and work.  At the end of the day, he won't be satisfied with something that isn't personalized and made from the heart.

Task Analysis

Register an Account

Prerequisites: User has a valid email address.

1. Input username, email address, and full name.

Login to Create a Card

Prerequisites: User has an account.

1. Input username and password into login screen.
2. Create Card for a recipient
3. Customizing theme/background picture of the card

Invite People to Card

Prerequisites: User has created a card, and has a list of people's email addresses he wants to invite.

1. Copy URL link and send to friends through user's email client
2. Manage group list and edit (CRUD) privileges

Edit Card

Prerequisites: User has read/edit privileges to card

1. Input and style personal messages through CRUD
2. Attach additional media including:
   1. Video
   2. Pictures
   3. Links
   4. Audio

Send Card to Recipient

Prerequisites: User(s) have created and finalized card. Must have email address of recipient.

1. Email the provided URL link
2. Print out physical copy

Domain analysis

Of the real people/things, there are card signers, receivers, and owners. Owners are signers, because they sign cards too. Card signers may or may not have an account, similar to a Doodle poll where participants may simply only have a link to participate, but not necessarily an account. Participants without an account can only add a message, but to edit or remove their message, they must have an account.

Participants, with or without accounts will, have a participation link to to sign the card.

Accounts have a username, an email address, and a password. Accounts may create and administer their own e-cards, or create, edit, or remove (their own) messages on e-cards they have access to. An account has a list of e-cards they own (spear-heading) and a list of e-cards they are participating in.

E-cards have receiver links to send to the card's receiver, who will view the card. E-cards have a participation link, and messages that participants create and edit. Messages will contain any number of multimedia objects such as text, graphics, audio, and video.