User-Centered Design and Development of a Gamified Hybrid Mobile Application

195 Pages·2017·7.68 MB·English

by  Brede Ruben Nilsen

User-Centered Design and
Development of a Gamified Hybrid
Mobile Application

With the Goal of Encouraging eCar Owners
to Share Charging Points

Ronja Rogerdatter Knudtsen and Ida Herigstad Lothe

Master Thesis
Informatics: Design, Use and Interaction
60 credits

Department of Informatics
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

UNIVERSITY OF OSLO

May / 2017
II
User-Centered Design and Development of
a Gamified Hybrid Mobile Appliation
With the Goal of Encouraging eCar Owners to Share Charging Points

Ronja Rogerdatter Knudtsen and Ida Herigstad Lothe

Master Thesis
Informatics: Design, Use and Interaction
60 credits

Department of Informatics
The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

UNIVERSITY OF OSLO
May / 2017
III
IV
© Ronja Rogerdatter Knudtsen and Ida Herigstad Lothe
2017
User-Centered Design and Development of a Gamified Hybrid Mobile Appliation
With the Goal of Encouraging Sharing of Charging Points for eCar Ownsers
Ronja Rogerdatter Knudtsen and Ida Herigstad Lothe
http://www.duo.uio.no/
Print: University Print Centre, University of Oslo

V
VI
Abstract
Electric automobiles (eCars) are considered less harmful to the environment than
conventional, fossil-fueled vehicles. Due to economic incentives provided by the Norwegian
government, eCars have enjoyed great success in Norway. Because of this, the number of
eCars now outnumbers the number of publicly available charging points. This charging point
shortage is further exacerbated by eCar drivers that occupy charging points without needing
electricity.
The premise of this thesis has been to research how a mobile application can be designed and
developed so as to encourage eCar drivers to move their cars so that other, more needy eCar
drivers get access to charging points. In addition, our research has uncovered a list of user
requirements that, among other things, reveal user needs that are not currently being met by
current technology aimed at eCar owners.
The research has been done through a user-centered design process, and the problem area has
been investigated by triangulating three research methods, namely an online survey, twelve
interviews with eCar drivers in which prototypes have been utilized as a means for evaluating
design ideas and functionalities, and a document analysis of an online forum for eCar
enthusiasts. The design and development processes have been concurrent and continually
guided by user feedback. Throughout the design process, concepts from Self-Determination
Theory, Persuasive Technology, and Gamification have been used in order to explore how the
app can facilitate the sharing of charging points between eCar drivers.
The findings suggested that some eCar drivers are motivated to move their eCars to let other
eCar drivers charge, but lack a simple means to tell them when other eCar owners need
charging. Furthermore, the results suggest that points, badges, and leaderboards, which are
frequently used in gamified systems, are insufficient as motivators on their own. Rather than
implementing points, badges, and leaderboards in the belief that this will change user
behaviour, a thorough understanding of the users is necessary in order to design technology
that is perceived as informative rather than controlling, and that supports the users’ needs for
competence, relatedness, and autonomy.

VII
VIII
Acknowledgements (Ronja)
Firstly I want to thank my supervisor Gisle Hannemyr. Both for offering me the opportunity
to work for you during the summer, for giving me a good job reference and for honest help
and guidance throughout the work on this thesis.
I also want to thank Ida Lothe for great companionship and collaboration, without you the
final thesis would have a number of spelling mistakes, the theory work would not be nearly as
thorough and most of all, the last years would have been much more boring.
I also want to thank my other friends in the “squad” (Mathias Olaussen Rove, Marit Kilde
Mjelva, Helene Isaksen, and Mari Iversen) for all their positive energy, stupid jokes, our fun
taco evenings and the best five years of school.
I want to thank my mother and father for encouraging me to pursue my own interests and
dreams. You didn’t dissapoint me, even when other kids wanted to go out and play, and I
wanted to stay inside with my computer. Without you I would not be alive, and with other
parents I would most likely not have finished this thesis, or applied to a bachelor in
Informatics.
I want to thank my wonderful boyfriend for supporting me when everything seemed
impossible. For feeding me chocolate and tucking me in like a baby when everything seemed
dark, for applauding me when I succeeded and for always believing in me.

IX
X