Style Exploration
PocketPrep provides you the resources you need to prepare for emergencies, stay up-to-date with verified information, and communicate with those you care about.
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In January, a high school friend of mine and her family lost their home and all of their belongings in the Montecito mudslides. During this emergency, 21 people died and over 150 people were injured. Upon learning of what her family endured I considered how an app could help people in emergency situations to plan, prepare for, and recover from natural disasters.
I spoke with several friends who lived within areas impacted by natural disasters, particularly throughout California. These friends also connected me with others who were affected. I wanted to understand how an emergency preparedness app could help people in these stressful times. I asked questions like:
• You’ve been the victim of a natural disaster. Share with me what would have been helpful to you during this time?
• What was the hardest part about dealing with the effects of the natural disaster? Share with me how it impacted your life.
• Did you use an app or website that helped you contribute or otherwise find out information about the disaster or communicate with others?
• What can you tell me about any services/tools you used to help provide relief or share information following the disaster?
These questions allowed me the opportunity to learn more about how disaster victims were affected before, during, and after the emergency and what tools, if any, provided relief. Using this feedback I was able to uncover common themes:
• During a natural disaster, it can be very difficult to find verifiable information from trusted sources. Often, information posted was inaccurate or completely false.
• Many people used popular social networking sites like Facebook and Facebook Groups to share information and keep in touch with others in the area.
• Many people are in need of supplies following a natural disaster but donated items are not always practical.
I noted opportunities which could help people prepare for emergencies, learn first aid and safety tips, communicate with others, report incidents, and recover following an emergency.
After the initial interviews, I surveyed the competitive landscape to see what other apps existed with a focus on emergency scenarios. I added features providing educational experiences throughout the app like first aid tutorials and emergency preparation, as well as:
• Access to local medical care listed by geographical proximity with special notation indicating those which have an emergency room
• News and alerts specific to active emergencies
• Donations to relief-oriented charities
• The ability to create a wishlist specifying the items most important to your recovery