Our App

The premise of our app created by myself, Paige, Elisabeth and Eleanor, is connecting new and existing university students and enhancing their online learning. The app, UNI-LINK as it is named, allows students to get in touch with other students on their course and work easily within groups and pairs online. Ideally, the app was inspired so that exchanging personal information would not be necessary, to get in touch with students on their course, making it a safe space to work and chat.

Furthermore, to make the app all inclusive, as a university online-learning experience, we decided to add access to learning materials and staff details.

McLuhan’s Tetrad

McLuhan’s Tetrad on the laws of media examines media effects on society of any technology or medium by dividing them into four categories and displaying them simultaneously. Questions that the tetrad helps us to consider are; “What does the artefact ENHANCE or intensify or make possible or accelerate?”; “What is pushed aside or OBSOLESCED by the new ‘organ’?”; “What recurrence or RETRIEVAL of earlier actions and services is brought into play simultaneously by the new form?”; and “What is the REVERSAL potential of the new form?”. (McLuhan 1988).

These are identified in the development of our app:

• UNI-LINK enhances university study (online), group work and social interaction between students on the same course.
• The app reduces the prominence of social media apps for students when it comes to their university work and contact with other students. It can reduce the use of Zoom and Skype platforms for online university work.
• UNI-LINK returns a common space for social interaction between students, where they can easily access their course and other students.
• However, the reversal of the app could see issues with more time spent on mobile phones, which could, essentially, distract the students from their university work. There may be limited interaction and activity and, therefore, becoming obsolete itself (it is reliant on the university promotion).

McLuhan, M & McLuhan, E. (1988). Laws of Media: The New Science. University of Toronto Press.

Technical features

Inside the interface of an app is a multitude of technical features, otherwise known as affordances, they are a set of instructions, in which, the object tells us how it should be used. In other words, they are naturally intuitive and the form implies the function. Within the design of the app, systemic affordances where used (labelling) to navigate the user and have the interface appear user-friendly.

An easily identifiable drop-down Menu is located at the top left corner of the interface, market with three solid lines – a common symbol for a menu on an app/website – directing the student user to click on the symbol. This introduces them to a number of helpful sections; ABOUT US, SETTINGS, SEND FEEDBACK, and HELP.

On the opposite side of the screen is a Login button, directing the student to the login homepage, which they are required to enter their university username and password. I thought it would be appropriate to have links to help students who have forgotten their password or need help logging into their account at the bottom of the login homepage. These are underlined and bold to help the student understand they are links to be clicked on.

Along the side of the main interface (once logged in), there are a number of functions that the user can explore. Functions displayed are; SEARCH, COURSE, CHAT, and MATERIALS, they are capitalised and underlined, on the interface, to prompt the user into clicking them. They are clearly labelled to what the user will be directed to:

Search

The search function allows the user to look for/find friends that are on their course. This is prompted with a search bar for the user to type in a name, locating the associated profile.

Course

The course feature directs the user to a page containing their course overview, as well as, important tutor contact information.

Chat

By clicking on chat, the user us led to a page in which they can create a new chat with dome of their course members. From there, they can form group and individual chats, as well as, view the chats they are already in. Therefore, the students can work together on projects and enhance their university and group study.

Materials

This directs the user to a page designed to provide a variety of learning platforms to use for solo or group activity. An example being, Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, to name a few. Particularly in the COVID-19 pandemic that we are in, this would be a useful device for students to work on their university assignments.

Profile

This function is clearly labelled with an individual-shaped icon, which connects the student to the profile page and encourages them to set up a profile when starting on the app. Information required would be name, age, gender, year of study and date of birth, alongside an option to add a profile picture. Other users can find their profiles when searched.

Settings

A settings icon (a cog) is located on the main homepage, as well as the initial settings function on the opening interface. The user can click this icon to adjust their profile settings and use of app; this includes, setting account privacy and security for the user.

Friends

The friends icon helps the user to view who they are friends with on the app (similar to followers/following on social media). They are able to initiate a chat with them from this icon, as well as, view their friends’ profile if need be.

Inbox

The inbox feature allows the student to sync up their university email account and, therefore, view their emails on this page. This is an easier way for the student to keep their university study/information all in one place.

A tutorial of the UNI-LINK prototype can be viewed here:

Links to my group’s blog posts:

Paige Kay: Design features, creation and its growth –

https://paiges7.home.blog/2020/11/11/uni-link/

Elisabeth Salter: Funding and data policies –

https://mediablog695284194.wordpress.com/2020/11/28/our-app-unilink-media-technologies/

Eleanor Luttrell: Market research –

https://amediastudentsdiary.home.blog/2020/12/14/prototype/