Introduction
Background
In today’s fast-paced world of work and education, achieving goals require not just will but a well-considered plan. This was the motive behind the creation of Outline, a task management app designed to help students plan projects and build habits with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As a student, I’ve often felt overwhelmed by the demands of school, work, and extracurricular activities, constantly struggling to find enough time for everything. Outline was born out of this frustration, offering a solution that provides a clear and actionable roadmap for success.
One of the app’s standout features is its ability to integrate seamlessly with a user’s Google Calendar, merging new schedules with existing ones. This ensures a holistic approach to time management, empowering students to balance their goals while staying on top of their busy lives.
Challenges
Complex User Needs:
Balancing the simplicity required for daily habit tracking with the depth needed for project planning.
Varied User Personas:
Catering to users with different goals, such as learning a skill, improving health, or managing a creative project.
Prototype Limitations:
The app exists as a Figma prototype, limiting direct user interaction data and requiring creative methods to gather feedback.
Tools
Next JS , Open AI API & Pinecone
Role
Software Developer
Timeline
August - September 2024
Define
Persona:
Meet Alex, a busy college student passionate about learning new skills like playing the guitar and starting creative projects.
Goals: Build consistent habits and complete personal projects.
Challenges: Managing time effectively while balancing school, hobbies, and social life.
User Journey:
Current State: Struggles to track tasks with scattered tools.
Future State: Uses the app to plan, track, and stay motivated.
Key Features:
Habit Builder: Set and track recurring habits.
Project Planner: Break projects into tasks and deadlines.
Custom Task Creator: Add tasks outside predefined categories.
AI Suggestions: Smart scheduling based on availability and goals.
Next Steps
What's Next
The next phase of this project is to transition the prototype into a functional app. I will be using React Native to create the app and Firebase for storing data. I am working with my close friends Abdul and Kofi to make that a reality. Abdul , a computer science and data major, will handle the use of data base to contain user information and measuring the apps performance. Kofi , a computer science and accounting major, will be responsible for the back end usage and functionality. I will be in charge of the front end development and the integration of AI using the Open-AI APIs. I am already familiar with the use of react in the creation of apps so this would not too difficult.
Furthermore, I will be expanding user testing to a larger group. In the research conducted, I only tested this prototype with a few college students who were close friends. Being able to test this app with other students from other colleges will provide more feedback necessary for the development of Outline. For instance allowing students from Europe to test the app would be different students from Africa. This will allow for the creation of an app that satisfies all students no matter where they come from.
Finally, I am looking forward to adding accommodation settings as times goes on. I would want to add setting s that allows people to create task plans without even opening the app. For instance, a person can just create a task plan by just having a conversation with Siri about the plan and what to do. I think it would be a great addition to the app to help others especially people with disability.
Key Lessons
In all, this project has taught me a lot of lessons. From waking up early to create prototypes to sleeping late into the night so the ideas do not slip way. The following are the key takeaways from the Outline project.
First and foremost, every good product balances simplicity with functionality. The end users want to be able to interact with a tool that is both powerful and intuitive. This was very evident in the creation of the initial prototype. Users prefer an app that is easy to navigate. For instance the add task label made it easier for users to know where to add to the initial list.
Also, this project thought me the power of feedback. The early tests of the app were able to provide a lot of valuable insights that shaped the app's design. For instance the changing of the back and next buttons to different colors was a suggestion from one of the early users. This was a small but significant change that improved usability.
Finally, the Outline project was build on iterative design. This project was successful because of the regular revisions made. This ensured the app aligned with the user needs and expectations.
Final UI
Home: Overview of habits, projects, and tasks.
Add Task Flow: Intuitive steps for creating habits, projects, or custom tasks.
Tracking Page: Progress visualization for habits and project milestones.
AI Insights: Suggestions for optimizing time and maintaining consistency.
See Prototype