InteractionMagazineInteraction Design - Autumn 2011 - November 15th

IntroducingGoodFood

The outlines of the concept

This issue is edited and published by

Meiken Hansen s050031Martin Løkkegaard s072049Maja Hyveled Jakobsen s071768Michael Mansdal Larsen s082510Kamilla Grove Sørensen s072013Christopher Holm-Hansen s072023

Contents

DxI for Elderly

What is the problem?

The GoodFood concept -Validation

The users

Use context

Interacting with GoodFood

Similar concepts

GoodFood Mock-Up

What is the plan?- References

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Products specially designed for elderly is con-sidered a growing market and an area in which countless challenges and possibilities exists for creating good interaction design. The scope of this project includes conceptualiza-tion, mock-ups and testing a design aimed to help elderly in their daily life.

This phase of the project gives an outline of the concept GoodFood, supported by research and interaction tools gathered through DTU course 42072: Design for Interaction. The concept has, so far, been developed through a creative process including brainstorming and selection. The first idea generation based on a brainstorm over the four themes; Independ-ent Living, Health and Care, Occupation and Recreation, gave a number of ideas showing concentrations in Independent Living and Health and Care. Developing the ideas fur-ther, choosing the most interesting, based on assumed relevancy and evaluation of feasibil-ity, focused the project on providing elderly a help to ensure correct and varied nutrition.

DxI for Elderly

What is theproblem?

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Elderly tends to have a monotonous diet driv-en by habits. This can result in wrong nutri-tion, ultimately leading to life-style-diseases or malnutrition[DR]. As many as 55% of elderly finds it difficult simply to distinguish healthy form unhealthy food [Ældresagen]. Malnutri-tion can also be a result of not having the en-ergy to shop, reduced digestion or ability to chew.

When people age, their appetite regulation gets less sensitive. Thereby the food consump-tion does not automatically adjust to the en-ergy demand. Often this will result in weight loss. Apart from the less functioning appetite regulation, there are several other causes to a reduced appetite e.g. psychological or social reasons such as depression, social isolation, bad teeth, and affected taste and smell senses.[meraadet]

The problem of not getting the correct nutri-tion can be of special importance if a sud-den demand arises e.g. in case of high blood pressure, obesity or diabetes. Further, reduced physical ability can limit the possibilities of a varied diet.

What is the problem?

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The GoodFood concept

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The GoodFood conceptThe GoodFood concept is a cooking helper for elderly people to help them maintain a var-ied diet together with providing instructions and tips for cooking. GoodFood is realised as an application for tablets and will be accessi-ble by download through different app stores.

The application will assist the users in creat-ing weekly menus as well as drawing up shop-ping lists with the needed ingredients. The shopping list can be printed, texted or directly synchronised to a smartphone. If the mood/possibilities for shopping is not present, it is possible to order the ingredients through the application. Through user registration upon purchase, various possibilities for personalisa-tion will be available e.g. bookmarking of reci-pes and long term dietary guidance.The weekly menus are based on general nutri-tional guidelines tailored for the elderly gener-ation. If necessary, specific dietary needs (e.g. allergies and dislikes) can easily be input and considered when suggestions for the menu are presented. Nutritional information on the different meals will be visually presented and explained for the user, to make them under-stand why it is good for them and what the different proteins, vitamins, fibres etc. do. Other than putting together delicious and var-ied menus, the app will also provide cooking tips and instructions through videos, illustra-tions and audio.

It is important to note that the application will not be designed to act as a wag of the finger

to the user as this often result in unwillingness of use. Instead it is created to assist the user in obtaining a varied, nutritious and delicious diet through user inputs and user-based sug-gestions.

Due to hygienic reasons the medium for in-teraction is important. Currently add-on de-vices/docking and voice control has been considered.

ValidationThe concept outline was discussed with pos-sible users and the general feedback was posi-tive. They liked the possibility to plan meals for a whole week and be able to order ingredi-ents directly though the app. A user expressed that she really often found it hard to get inspi-ration for new menus etc. and would really like an assistant. Another positive point, was the feature about avoiding certain ingredients e.g. in relation to medicine use. One was taking anticoagulant medication, not allowing him to eat food with a high content of k-vitamin. His wife, who cooks the most, said it would be nice to get inspiration how to make new reci-pes. Especially when it comes to vegetables, because a lot of the vegetables they used to eat before has a high k-vitamin content, e.g. spinach.

Some general comments, which will be con-sidered for next phase of the project, were concerning; price for both the app and price level of week plan and hygiene.

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The users

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The usersGoodFood is designed/intended for users aged 65 and above, but could easily be altered to fit with younger people as well. The target-ed user group are able to cook for themselves but do not necessarily need to be in shape for shopping as the application allows for online ordering of goods. The application is not spe-cially directed at singles or elderly with special dietary needs, but can be used by everybody that wants inspiration and tips for a varied and interesting diet. GoodFood, as explained in previous para-graph, is designed as a tablet application and intended for the upcoming retirees. Due to the general increase in use of tablets and smartphones it is assumed that the upcoming pensioners will know how to use touch screen products. Furthermore it is expected that many already own either a tablet or smartphone and that even more have plans on acquiring one.

To get a better understanding of the user group, personas have been made on the basis of the research (see page 17).

Persona 1• Elderly couple: Age 67 and 65• Curios on different food sources• Physically able to cook and buy ingredients• Are currently eating healthy• Like cooking and trying different tastes

Persona 2• Age: 72• People with special demands for their food (nutrition values)• Physically able to cook and buy ingredients

Persona 3• Age: 75• Special physical need. Is not able to bent to use the oven• Orders food ingredients through an e-shop

Persona 4• Age: 84• Normally uses cooking books to find recipes• Physically able to cook and buy ingredients

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Use context

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Use contextThe GoodFood application is installed on a tablet, which means it can actually be used everywhere. However it is assumed that eld-erly will use it primarily at home. The applica-tion has different characteristics that affords different use contexts. When planning the weekly menu together with creating shopping lists for what to buy or simply browsing reci-pes and information on nutritional contents of meals, it is expected that user will be sitting in their living room in a comfortable chair. In this case the regular touch screen is the tangi-ble interface.

Another dimension is when the application is used in the kitchen during the cooking session. In this case the physical interaction becomes interesting, as kitchen hygiene is an unavoid-able and important issue. In the kitchen envi-ronment, the tablet is exposed to hazardous elements as e.g. water and bacteria when the user has to interact with the tablet. But also when turning the scenario around other is-sues appear. Bearing in mind that the tablet can be used for many things e.g. gaming while on the go or in the bathroom, the problem of the tablet bringing outside bacterias into the kitchen is also necessary to keep in mind when designing the physical interaction. A solution for this has not currently been developed, however suggestions for add-on products as e.g. docks, remote controllers or covers have been considered. The final solution will be presented in the next report.

Interacting with

GoodFood

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Interacting withGoodFoodThe first time the user uses GoodFood, he/she will have to register. During the registra-tion the user has the possibility to personalize the application specifically to their wishes and potential dietary needs. The type of informa-tion which could be asked to supply by the user could be:

• General personal information e.g. sex, age, height and weight• Allergies or intolerance towards certain foods or ingredients• Likes and dislikes of e.g. food and spices• Known favourite recipes • Medical history or current illnesses• Use of medication• Experience in the kitchen• Etc.

The supplied information is evaluated and used by GoodFood to support the user with inspiring suggestions and tips to create and cook a nutritious and varied menu every week.

There are two primary activities connected with the everyday use of GoodFood. The first is the activity of planning the menu together with putting together the shopping list and the second is active help in the cooking of the daily meals.

First the user has to plan the menu. Through the information given to GoodFood by the user and past menus, a new menu for the next

seven days will be put together and sug-gested for the users approval. The user can then make changes to some of the meals if this is of interest or simply accept the menu. When the menu is accepted, a list of ingredients and goods to purchase is cre-ated. The user now has the choice to order the goods online, synchronize the shopping list with their smartphone or simply print it. If some of the goods are already in the users stock, these can easily be deleted from the list. It will also be able for GoodFood to suggest meals based on ingredients already available in the house.

The second activity is cooking. GoodFood can help the user with the cooking by guid-ing them through a recipe using videos, audio and graphic illustrations. If the user does not need guidance simple tips on how to prepare different ingredients as e.g. fish or chicken. During the cooking session the user will be able to get information about the ingredients in the meal and how these benefit him/her.

Similarconcepts

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Similar conceptsThere already exists some concepts similar to GoodFood, however not the same. A good example of one of these concepts is called Epicurious which is a website for food lov-ers where recipes can be found, you can make shopping lists and get advice on how to cook. Furthermore the recipes are divided into cat-egories as such “Quick and easy”. [Epi]

Another concept is the danish alternative to Epicurious a webpage www.opskrifter.dk. which contains a collection of recipes with some additional functions such as “empty the refrigerator” which allows the user to type in the ingredients of the refrigerator whereupon the system suggests relevant recipes. [opskrift-er.dk]

On back page of the door-to-door distributed free weekly newspaper Søndagsavisen there is recipes for 7 days - the upcoming week. This gives inspiration to the readers of the newspa-per for meal planning. The recipes often use some of the same ingredients as the recipes for the other days, which give the reader the opportunity to ‘share’ the ingredients among several days. In this way the less food and in-gredients are thrown away, and the user have saved money [Søndag].

There exist many more alternatives, all hav-ing more or less similar functionality. Howev-er, GoodFood is the first concept to accom-modate the special needs and demands from elderly, taking into account; Nutrition values

based on age, physical limitations, allergies, re-strictions due to medication etc.

GoodFoodMock-Up

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GoodFoodBETA

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Prepare ProfileAge - Weight - Hight

Allergy

Dislikes

Physical Limitations

Medication

GoodFood Mock-UpThe following gives an outline and sneak peek for what GoodFood could look like. Not all of the application is covered, only some of the most essential features. Each picture shall be seen as an example of an interface present-ed to the user.

Initially a profile is created in GoodFood, ena-bling the program to adapt a menu to the us-ers specific needs.

Pushing the bottons should allow the user to enter his/hers personal information

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Home

Home

COOKSHOPPING WEEK MENU

When the personal information is entered the user will be guided to the Home menu. The Home menu will from now on, be the first thing the user will be presented when Good-Food is turned on.

#2 Pushing the shopping botton directs the user to a shopping list generated from the specially planned menu.

#1 By selecting the Cook option, the user will be presented with recipes and cooking guidance.

#3 If the user goes to the Week Menu, it will be pos-sible to see and adjust the suggested menu.

3 options

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ADJUST TO CONTENT OF YOUR FRIDGE!

Chicken meatballs

Chicken

Brocculi Soup

Pot Roasted Pork

Plaice

Cod

Beef

Week Menu

Cha

nge

orde

r

GO TO SHOPPING LIST!HOME!

Week MenuIf option #3 is selected the user will be di-rected to the Week Menu. The menu overview provides information and several possibilities for adjustments.

Go to list

It will be possible to adjust the menu to the content of e.g. the users fridge.

By pressing the arrows, the user will be able to find and replace the dish with an alternatives

Pressing the “Go to list” will guide to user to the shopping list based on the menu.

The menu is presented according to the week days and optimized to fit the users profile.

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Adjustments

Chicken meatballs

Chicken

Brocculi Soup

Pot Roasted Pork

Plaice

Cod

Beef

Week Menu

Cha

nge

orde

r

ADJUST TO CONTENT OF YOUR FRIDGE!

ALTERNATIVES!

HOME!

Go to list

When clicking the arrows, al-ternatives appear. The selec-tion of dishes are still aimed specific at the users needs.

If the presented menu is not fitting the us-ers wishes or the user simply wants to see if something more interesting exists, GoodFood makes sure he/she can get alternatives by pushing the arrows.

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Shopping List

Chicken meatballs

Chicken

Brocculi Soup

Pot Roasted Pork

Plaice

Cod

Beef

Week Menu

Cha

nge

orde

r

ADJUST TO CONTENT OF YOUR FRIDGE!

ALTERNATIVES!

HOME!

Shopping List

When the menu is adjusted the user is able to get a complete shopping list. The list can eaily be corrected if e.g. the user already has some of the ingredients.

This was a outline of some of the functions GoodFood is expected to have and how it potentially will help elderly in planning meals based on nutrition level and special demands.

The list will be present-ed in a simple and easy understandable way

When the list is finished it can be turned into a simple form allowing it to be printed, emailed or sent to a phone. If the user uses a smart phone GoodFood should syn-cronize the list automatically.

What is the plan?

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What is the plan?This issue concludes the outline of the GoodFood project with research, user inves-tigations as well as product, activity, context and technology (PACT) considerations.

In the next issue of Interaction Magazine, a thorough walkthrough of how the interac-tion with the new GoodFood application is designed, as well as thoughts behind the decisions will be clarified. The seven steps of action will also be used to give a description of what exactly the user has to do.

There will be an in-depth description and explanation of the graphical user interface as well as presentation of the add-on device/remote if this is decided to include in the ap-plication.

The prototype shown in this issue displays the initial thoughts on what the actual ap-plication is going to look like. For next time, a comprehensive functional prototype will be tested on users and presented to give a better understanding of the thoughts on the interaction and usability of the application. It is likely that the layout, GUI and user op-tions wil undergo a major overhaul, to better match the exact wishes for the application.

Stay tuned for next issue, it will be super exciting!

References

[Ældresagen] - Ældresagen www.aeldresagen.dk/Medlemmer/raadgivning/sundhed/kost_og_ern%C3%A6ring/Sider/D)

[DR] - www.dr.dk/DR1/lægen

[opskrifter.dk] - www.opskrifter.dk

[Epi] - Epicurious www.epicurious.com/

[Søndag] - Søndagsavisen www.sondagsavisen.dk/

[Meraadet] - meraadet.dk

[opskrifter.dk] - www.opskrifter.dk