MAJOR

PROJECT
PROPOSAL

TACKLING
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Colm Corcoran
COLM CORCORAN

BEFORE
I BEGINMY PROJECT LIES WITHIN THE
RESEARCH AND UX FIELDS OF THE
UMBRELLA TERM INTERACTION
DESIGN. AS MY PROJECT DEVELOPS I
EXPECT TO TOUCH ON THE NEARBY
FIELDS OF SERVICE DESIGN AND OR
PRODUCT DESIGN.
INTERACTION DESIGN

Over the last two semesters Ive learned how to conduct user
research, gain empathy, gather insights, create personas and
design with the user in mind. For the summer of 2017 I will
put to use what I have learned in doing a human centered
design project. I have really enjoyed previous projects that have
adapted this approach and they have to led me to where I am
now.

I look forward to getting out there and understanding peoples

problems and experiences and designing for them accordingly. In
doing this type of project and building on what I have learned in
the past I hope to be in a good place for starting a UX role in the
future.
COLM CORCORAN

MY
PROJECT
WHAT IS THE DIGITAL
DIVIDE?
The gap between demographics
and regions that have ACCESS
TO MODERN INFORMATION
AND COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY, AND THOSE THAT
DONT OR HAVE RESTRICTED
ACCESS. This can include the
telephone, television, personal
computers and the internet.
INTERACTION DESIGN

from Thomas Street to Tipperary

For my major project I want to understand the meaning

of the digital divide, who suffers as a result and why it is
a problem for a large number of elderly people in Ireland.

According to the CSO Single adults living alone are

among the least likely of any Irish householder group to
use the internet with just 60% of them online.
From this it is estimated that one third of these dwellers
have never used the internet.*Report carried out in 2016
COLM CORCORAN

THE
PROBLEM
41% OF 60-74 YEAR OLDS HAVE
NEVER USED THE INTERNET

THERE IS A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE

ABOUT ONLINE PUBLIC SERVICES
AND HOW THESE MIGHT BENEFIT
OLDER PEOPLE. - Centre for Ageing Research and
Development in Ireland
INTERACTION DESIGN

W h o ?
Men and women aged 65+

W h e r e ?
Rural and city dwellers

W h a t ?
A service, system or product
to help these users
COLM CORCORAN

HOW?
HUMAN
CENTERED
DESIGN
MY PROJECT WILL START
WITH THE PEOPLE IM
DESIGNING FOR AND
WILL END WITH A NEW
SOLUTION(S) TO SUIT
THEIR NEEDS

INSPIRATION
In this phase, I will learn how to better
understand people. I will observe them
and hear their hopes and desires
INTERACTION DESIGN

I will follow a process which involves having empathy for

the people Im designing for; generating ideas; building
prototypes; sharing what Ive made with the people
Im designing for; and hopefully putting my solution(s)
out there. To guide my design process I will make use
of design tools. These tools are designed for better
engagement with my target audience.

IDEATION IMPLEMENTATION
Here I will make sense of everything This stage involves figuring out how
that I have heard. I will generate ideas, to get my idea out there and how to
identify opportunities, test and refine maximize its impact
COLM CORCORAN

PROCESS
& SKILLS
IN MY DESIGN PROCESS I INTEND
TO ACTIVELY INCLUDE THE
PEOPLE I AM DESIGNING FOR

Design-Led

THIS IS ME
design-led design-led
with with
expert mindset participatory
mindset

Expert Participatory
Mindset Mindset

design-led research-led
with with
expert mindset participatory
mindset

Research-Led
INTERACTION DESIGN

Goals Skills
What i want to achieve How I intend to achieve them

Empathise Interview
Observe
Participate
Map stakeholders
Identify
Personas

Create Brainstorm
Map
Role Play
Storyboard
Wireframe
Make
Co create
User test

Communicate High fidelity

Video
Visual Design
Booklet/Document
COLM CORCORAN

RELEVANT
WORK
GETTING CITIZENS ONLINE
PROGRAMME IS, FOCUSED
ON ENCOURAGING AND
EMPOWERING CITIZENS
TO PARTICIPATE FULLY
IN IRELANDS DIGITAL
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

celebrate older people who have embraced technology and

those who support them.
INTERACTION DESIGN

Participants are non-liners who have no experience in

computer or online use and who may be apprehensive
about taking the first step to getting online and involved.

Trained tutors, learning tools with full support and back

up is provided. The training course takes place for 10
hours, covered over a five week period, with classes for 2
hours each week.

helping people get online, one cuppa at a time

COLM CORCORAN

RELEVANT
WORK
An educational project
that CONNECTS
STUDENTS AND SENIORS
over the internet.
INTERACTION DESIGN

Students want to practice English, and elderly

people want someone to talk to.

An online site where pairs converse via video chat,

discussing families, hobbies, pasts and futures. All
that is needed is a computer with a webcam and
access to the internet. The conversation is guided
with suggestions to get the ball rolling.

A conversation exercise is also an act of solidarity

and personal growth. it is AN EXCHANGE IN
WHICH EVERYONE WINS.
COLM CORCORAN

RELEVANT
WORK
LIVING LABS ARE ENVIRONMENTS,
SET UP TO CREATE NEW CONCEPTS,
SERVICES, PROCESSES AND
PRODUCTS, AND TO TEST THESE IN
PRACTICE, ALL IN COLLABORATION
WITH END USERS
INTERACTION DESIGN

The labs allow an organization to identify and label

innovative projects addressing technical, organizational and
social challenges in care.

A structured test environment enables these organizations

to test new technologies, products, services and concepts
using a group of representative individuals who are used as
testers in their own living and work settings. This is carried
out to accelerate and capture the future needs of the
innovation process.
COLM CORCORAN

ROAD
DISCOVER IDEATE

Interview Brainstorm
Observation User Journey
Immersion Storyboard
Insights Scenarios
Personas Co Create (throughout)
Focus Groups

May 22nd June 14th

INTERACTION DESIGN

MAP
PROTOTYPE TEST SUBMIT

Interaction Usability
Mockup Discussion
Visual Design Feedback
Wireframe
Refine
Co Create

July 3rd 7th Aug Mid Aug

COLM CORCORAN

INSPIRING
WORK
INTERACTION DESIGN

Combating food waste and hunger by using technology to

connect retailers with charities

A service which enables people to manage surplus

responsibly, save money on waste disposal costs and benefit
local communities

The hubs have provided the equivalent of 8.5 million meals

HOW IT WORKS
If a store has food that they cannot sell, they upload a
description of the food using a scanner or our app.

A local charity receives a notification letting them know food

is available for collection.

The charity responds accepting the food and they go and

collect it.

Charities have access to a supply of fresh food and

businesses can contribute to their community in a
meaningful way.
COLM CORCORAN

INSPIRATION
Johnny Walker
Radiologist and Physician

Founder and driver of

Global Diagnostics, an
international Teleradiology
enterprise which has
successfully disrupted
medical diagnostics around
the world.
International Medical Entrepreneur

Using design thinking to drive innovation in the health sector

Solves REAL WORLD PROBLEMS

Look. Listen. Design. Disrupt and Transform

Healthcare today.
INTERACTION DESIGN

ASPIRATION
James
Product Designer

Aims to inspire young

people to study
engineering and design
by encouraging students
to think differently and to
make mistakes.

Although I had 5,126 failures, I dont regret any of them because

I learned so much from them and it got me to the final solution.

After the idea there is plenty of time to learn the technology

I just think things should work properly

 TACKLING
THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
Colm Corcoran