Reaction All Years

Project Description:

The focus of this study is to compare and contrast the benefits and pain-points of an on-campus versus online studio experience. This study aims to identify which aspects and practices of the online mode might complement the on-campus mode.

For the proposed research question, we took a qualitative approach. We sent out questionnaires and conducted semi-structured interviews to collect data from students in various design-related programs in the School of Media and Design. The data gathered from the questionnaire and interviews were analyzed by thematic coding.

Our major findings are:
1. Remote studio increases interaction with the instructor but lacks dynamics between students
2. Tools and methods used in remote learning increased the overall student performance
3. Remote environment enabled easier collaboration with team and clients
4. The outcome of remote learning depends on the program

Based on the findings and literature review, we came up with the following recommendations for a blended learning model:
1. Find the balance between technology presence and organic human interaction
2. Keep the habit of using Slack, online submission, and class recordings
3. Be aware of the instructor’s and students’ capability
4. Keep in mind that the blended model must be tailored to fit the context of each program

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Project Description:

This study had the Client Experience Branch at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Their main concern has been the increasing number of permanent residency applications being rejected as they are either incorrectly filled or are incomplete. Our research’s objective was to address these concerns by applying human-centred design principles to develop insights and recommendations that can reduce the rate of rejections for the applications and serve users with improved client services. In our case, we evaluated the temporary public policy for Out-of-Status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Our research question was: How might we improve the user experience of the application package?

The first phase of this project involved exploring the public policy through a subject matter experts (SME) focus group. The panel was conducted through an online meeting platform where IRCC officers clarified the program and internal processes. The next step consisted of a cognitive walkthrough of the forms and a heuristics analysis to evaluate the forms’ content and identify initial issues.

For the second phase of the project, our focus was to collect insights from real users and SMEs. Since the target audience was out-of-status workers, due to ethical issues, we could not contact them. Then we used an alternative plan of recruiting generic users with specific characteristics. We used the method of thematic coding to identify common themes among interviewees’ answers. With all the similar themes identified and segmented into groups of ideas, we did sensemaking activities for ideation and incorporated that information into our knowledge on design principles. Then, we analyzed the collected data and constructed recommendations from short to long-term on possible ways of optimizing the form’s user experience.

We identified technical problems related to the forms’ pdf format, issues with clarification on the forms, and the lack of error messages. Our data and interviews indicate that the form language should be kept short, simple and accessible. Both the guide and the form should have a clear structure and hierarchy.

Short Term
– Provide clear instructions in the forms
– Reducing mistakes by providing error messages
– Changing the layout of the table of content of the guide

Medium Term
– Chatbot for quick assistance
– Short-video content for a quick tutorial
– Adding section/tabs in the guide to organize the information better
– Change the preview message to properly instruct the user to open the form

Long Term
– App to gather information and fill out the form automatically
– Making forms device friendly
– Biometric/facial recognition for security purposes
– Using technology to create interactions within the guide and the forms

Based on our findings, the theory that guides this research is that a user-centred approach should be taken in all research and services phases. The literature review, SME interviews, and data collected from users indicated that it is crucial to understand the user’s needs to improve the user experience.

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Project Description:

This research project looks at the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), through which skilled foreign workers are given a pathway for permanent residency by working and settling in one of the eleven northern communities across five provinces. The research focuses on various usability issues, applicant pain points, and other challenges found during the application process. A design thinking approach was taken to better understand the mental model of applicants, IRCC and other stakeholders.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are currently facing high rejection rates amongst applicants seeking permanent residency, and so the objective of this research is to understand and solve various usability issues faced by RNIP applicants during the entire application process. The goal is to increase the success rate for applicants applying to RNIP, to IRCC officers who are processing these applications, and for other stakeholders.

Some of the methods used to collect data included in-depth interviews with two groups of Users, as well as Subject Matter Experts. We also conducted cognitive walkthroughs, usability testing, and presented findings through personas and journey mapping. In addition a set of experience principles guided the design ideation for solutions to the problems identified, and these were given for the short, medium, and long term implementation. The recommendations centered on ways to reorganize, and simplify the forms through changes to layout and content. We also discuss how emerging technologies may play a role in the future of immigration with the use of artificial intelligence, behavioural insight gathering, virtual reality experiences, and face/ voice recognition softwares.

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Project Description:

Algonquin College’s Mechanical Engineering faculty has requested the design and build of a torsion tester. A torsion tester is designed and built on the basis of strength, weight, accuracy, and cost. The client will use this device as a teaching aid to provide further explanation for students in order to grasp the concepts of torsional stress and failure analysis. This machine should read out angle of twist as well as applied torque on a digital display built into the tool.
Currently, lab-grade torsion testers are cumbersome and very heavy. These tools are also commonly bolted down to ensure damage to the tool is unlikely. This is intended to be an “out of lab” example for students during their theory class. For example, the ADMET eXpert 9000 torsion tester has a volumetric footprint of 18in x 18in x 42in [1]. This would require two people to safely carry around the building and would be hard to navigate the hallways with. The students of the engineering faculty at Algonquin College would greatly benefit from a real-life example or torsional failure to aid them in visualizing the lessons.
To succeed, the torsion tester must:

1. Have an accuracy of +/- 20% of calculated values
2. Weigh no more than 30 pounds, to allow for easy transport across the college.
3. Be small enough to comfortably fit inside the arms of the carrier (dimensions: 18in x 12in x 6in)
4. Be built to be able to withstand any stresses caused during usage (bending stress, torsional shear)
5. Withstand release of energy caused during failure of the specimen being studied
6. Have a cumulative cost (parts and fabrication) of no more than $250-300, as per Algonquin College’s budget.
7. Allow a user to develop enough torque to cause failure of a specimen
8. Allow for the easy removal of a failed specimen from the jaws of the tool

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Project Description:

Project Description

Riverwood Acoustics offer premium speakers made from reclaimed river wood grown hundreds of years ago.

Riverwood Acoustics is currently hosted on Shopify and has a default theme that needs improvement. The client wants a redesigned Shopify website that is more premium and cleaner while maintaining the unique historic storyline.

Riverwood Provide users with a premium listening experience with a high-quality designed speaker. The products are designed to last a lifetime and come with a lifetime warranty.

Target Group

Address the high-end home and portable speaker market with a focus in superior sound quality and sustainable design.

Currently the website has a few problems:

Hard to navigate, and cluttered.

content is not structured.

SEO and indexing problems.

Usability and navigation problems

Performance and Load time problems

Project goals

Redesign Shopify site layout to a modern & clean version to better showcase products.

Create new landing page on Shopify store that better represents the values of Riverwood Acoustics.

Optimize the Shopify store for search engine SEO’s.

Optimize Shopify store for better performance and load time.

Optimize for better navigation and Usability.

Project Outcomes

Currently at the end of the project, Riverwood Acoustics will have a website with premium and clean interface, optimized for better usability, superior performance and load time and better Search Engine Optimization.

This would increase conversion rates and improve the user experience and interactions through the buying process.

Learning Opportunities

Working on this project has improved our work skills and interaction with the real business world.

We had opportunities to learn more about improving a website’s performance, SEO, and conversion rates. This impacts the e-commerce business immensely and gave us insight for further issues we could face after this project.

The ability to attract organic traffic and make a sale on their website.

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Project Description:

This software has the ability to detect lung cancer patterns and signs from lung tomography scans, which will significantly help doctors accelerate through the deduction process.

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Project Description:

Aventures Ahoy Adventures is an indoor playground for children between the ages of 0 to 10, and is inclusive to all children, including those with special needs.

Using this technology, our team was asked to create a medium-scale solution for children that allows them to play safely and freely within the confines of the indoor playground. The treasures, which consist of toys with readers attached to them or concealed inside them, will be secured to sections of an internal structure inside the playground, such as a slide or in a ball pit. Upon finding the treasure, the child will tap their bracelet, which contains a ‘tag’, on the toy or treasure that has a reader affixed to it, and get a point for discovering the treasure.

The purpose of the project is to make an existing system more user friendly and easier to set up and manage. Currently, there are already treasure hunt games that are conducted within the facility, but they are tracked manually on paper. Paper and pencil are messy and increases contact points.

To fulfill our goal, we aim to store the information that is read and send it to a database. Information can take up a lot of space and storing it in a single place can be risky. If you lose the computer, you lose the data. How we circumvent that issue, as well as the issue of running out of space with all the space information takes up, is to use the Cloud. The Cloud allows you to securely store your data on servers online, rather than on your computer. It allows for uninterrupted streams of information to flow across spans of the internet and maintain your data, while allowing you ease of access.

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Project Description:

Keely: I am working with Impact Hub Ottawa to develop a marketing plan, creating two user personas and journey maps. I have also worked with Project In-Kind, participating in a meet-up and joining their student ambassador team.
Aiden: I am working to enhance their current scheduling system to reduce errors and automate bookings. I have also greatly reduced the amount of manual work required to keep their system up to date.
Cecilia: I am working on designing logos that communicate the message of each brand. along with assisting in rebranding for future projects.
Ameera: I am working with the City for All Women Initiative, to develop a light-rebrand campaign and a complete website re-design and layout. I also created a social media launch campaign to increase engagement and awareness.
Michaela: I am currently working with CICan Impact to build a website called Humans of Impact. Inspired by the Humans of New York initiative, their goal is to present compelling digital stories told by students about Social Enterprises in their local communities. The ImpAct initiative aims to support colleges and institutes in achieving their shared vision of a Better Future for Peoples and Communities.
Jordan: I am working with Rideau-Rockcliffe, Ottawa Good Food Collective, and Social Harvest with creating a website to help them efficiently operate a non-profit online grocery store on the Shopify platform.

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Project Description:

Moisture accumulation issues often arise in finished basements within the Ottawa area. We have compared the heat and moisture transfer of a traditional finished basement wall, a styrorail insulation wall with a vapour barrier and a styrorail insulation wall without a vapour barrier. Through WUFI simulations, we can observe the moisture and heat transfer through each of the wall assemblies and determine any areas where moisture accumulation may occur, leading to possible mould growth. We also considered a warm year and a cold year in Ottawa, to determine if our climate may have an impact on the performance of the wall systems. We did not observe any notable changes in performance between a cold and warm year.

We compared the WUFI results with an ASHRAE standard for moisture transfer through various materials to determine that WUFI was producing an accurate representation of a traditional below grade finished wall assembly. With this information we were able to simulate the Styrorail wall with and without a vapour barrier accurately.

By analyzing the WUFI simulations and through the use of R, we can determine if any one wall will perform better in regards to moisture accumulation and heat transfer. Through the use of R, we can see that there is a relationship between the vapour resistance and the moisture within the wall assembly. We have determined that the Styrorail wall with a vapour barrier will perform better in regards to vapour resistance and moisture accumulation.

While a vapour barrier may not be required with the installation of Styrorail products in all municipalities, we recommend including a dedicated vapour barrier.

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Project Description:

For the hardware side, the project builds on an Internet of Things (IoT) system of sensors that will monitor several targeted plant growth parameters in real-time. For our project’s specific case, we will be using sensors to monitor the soil and temperature, the soil moisture and the humidity of the microgreen crops. Each of these sensors will be wired and programmed to send data to a microcontroller that will transmit data to a computer. Using this architecture, the project will be scalable. Depending on the size of the farm, a new microcontroller can be added with its own set of sensors and communicate with the computer. This makes it so the project can be implemented potentially on all scales of farms. After the computer receives the data it will in turn share its acquired data with Cayenne; an IoT platform. By doing this, anybody with access to the Cayenne account, can access the sensor information. Making it easy for someone to login into Cayenne from a computer or a phone to access the information from any location. Making it very convenient for a user, instead of having to go to the farm and checking themselves.

For the website, the client wanted a website that they could use to market the company and display all of their products. To do this, we used two pages for the website, a home page that displays some background information about the company and what kind of products they can buy, and a products page that shows the individual items and their descriptions. To design the look of the webpages, we used a software called NicePage that allowed us to drag and drop html objects into a page and export them to html without the hassle of writing any complex css or javascript ourselves. Once we had the pages designed, we imported them to an IDE to edit the text and images on the page, and to add some final touches. We used a flask which is python based micro-framework, which is a basic MVC format for the website. Originally, we were planning on using AWS(Amazon Web Services) to host the website, but since the website doesn’t need much storage or much REST end-points, we decided to use Netlify instead. Netlify is a free service with a Git-based workflow and serverless platform to host sites.

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