Questionnaires

Week 5

This week, my focus was on collecting feedback from friends to refine the features of my app. The core idea has always been to help individuals manage their fears and triggers through immersive virtual environments, but as I asked around, I received invaluable feedback that gave me fresh ideas on how the app could be improved. Through personal stories and thoughtful suggestions, I gained insights into how to make the app more tailored to user needs. Here’s a summary of what I learned from the responses to my questionnaire.

I reached out to four people who shared their experiences with trauma, and the feedback I received led me to rethink some key elements of the app.

New Features Based on Feedback

The stories and suggestions from these four personas have helped shape the future of the app. Here are the new features I plan to incorporate based on their feedback:

1. Customizable Difficulty Levels

From Kj’s suggestion of starting with smaller audiences tYoru’s idea of light traffic simulations, it’s clear that users need to be able to control the intensity of their exposure. This feature would allow users to gradually face their triggers in a safe, manageable way, making the app more adaptable to their specific needs.

2. Progress Tracking and Achievements

The concept of a progress bar or an achievement system resonated with multiple personas, including Kj and Skye. Having a way to track progress visually would encourage users to stay engaged and give them a sense of accomplishment as they overcome their fears or anxieties.

3. Calming Guidance

Yoru and Neon both mentioned the value of calming techniques, such as voice guides or background music, to make the exposure process less daunting. Adding relaxation tools before and after sessions would help ease the user into the experience and allow them to wind down afterward, making the overall therapy less overwhelming.

4. Social Simulation

Skye’s experience with social anxiety highlighted the need for a feature that offers controlled social interaction environments. This could include low-pressure virtual scenarios where users can practice meeting new people or engaging in small talk, helping them build confidence over time.

5. Reminders and Calendar Feature

A key takeaway from all the feedback is that therapy only works if it’s practiced consistently. To ensure users engage with the app regularly, I’m adding a reminder or calendar feature that will prompt users to schedule and stick to their therapy sessions. Regular exposure will be essential for progress, and this feature will help users stay on track with their healing

This week’s feedback has been incredibly helpful in refining the app’s features. The suggestions for customizable difficulty levels, progress tracking, and calming tools, in particular, will make the app more effective and user-centered. By addressing specific triggers like public speaking, driving anxiety, social interactions, and fear of heights, the app will provide a tailored approach to therapy that suits each individual’s needs.

The next step is to begin incorporating these new features into the app, followed by more user testing to ensure everything works as expected. Overall, this week has been productive, and I’m excited about the direction the app is taking. By listening to real-life experiences, I can better design a tool that will genuinely help users manage and overcome their trauma, ultimately improving their quality of life.

What?

This week, I focused on gathering feedback from friends to refine my app's features. The main idea of the app is to help people overcome their fears and triggers using Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure Therapy. I created a questionnaire to understand how different individuals experienced trauma and how their feedback could improve the app. Based on their responses, I learned about various triggers, coping methods, and suggestions for the app, such as customizable difficulty levels, calming tools, progress tracking, and the need for a reminder system to ensure consistent use of therapy. These insights came from a range of experiences, from social anxiety and public speaking fears to driving anxiety and a fear of heights.

So What?

The feedback was eye-opening because it revealed areas that I hadn’t initially considered, such as the importance of gradual exposure levels and the integration of calming techniques before and after sessions. The progress tracking and reminder system emerged as key features that could motivate users to stay engaged with the therapy. This feedback has shown me how diverse the needs of potential users are, and that the app must be flexible and customizable to be effective for different kinds of trauma. Understanding these personal stories helped me align the app more closely with real-world user needs, making it more than just a generic tool but one that adapts to individual experiences.

Now What?

Moving forward, I plan to implement the suggested features, such as customizable difficulty levels, a reminder system, and calming tools. These additions will make the app more user-centered and improve its effectiveness in helping individuals manage their trauma. I'll also continue gathering feedback, both from users and mental health professionals, to refine the app further. The next phase will involve building and testing these features to ensure they function as expected and provide real value to users. By integrating these improvements, the app will better support consistent use, which is crucial for the therapy’s success.