Contextual screenshots

Supporting peopes' initial intentions by rethinking the screenshot function as a contextual interface.

Context Side project
Time early 2017 - 1 week
Tools Sketch · Principle

The Approach

Supporting intentions by predicting actions based on screenshot content and past behavior

Intelligent screenshots provide recommendations for further action by anticipating the user's next interaction based on the screenshot content and the user's previous activity.

The Challenge

Different intentions, same outcome

People take screenshots to remember a song, an event, to gather inspiration, or just to simply send them to friends. Intentions vary, but screenshots always end up in the same place, the photo folder.

Change suggestions

Add events

Save routes

Share with friends

Save to a specific folder

Add songs to playlists

The Process

The design process was very human-centred and iterative with a crucial role in creating quick prototypes and testing them.

Some screenshots I collected during my time living in Shanghai.

User Journey

Learning about peoples' reasons taking screenshots

There were hundreds of screenshots people sent me, which I sorted according to the purpose for which they were taken. In order to get a better understanding of specific use cases, I talked to 2 people in more detail about the screenshots they sent me.

Small workshop with Laura and Mo to learn about why and how many screenshots they take.

Observation

Gaining insights by focusing not only on software components

Seeing where the person's hand is when taking screenshots was very insightful for the further process.

Iteration and Validation

Testing lo-fi prototypes to gather insights

Following the user research, I created various prototypes to find out which interaction was the most user-friendly.

Contextual screenshots in progress.

Prototyp example I

Prototyp example II

Prototyp example III

User Flow

Smart screenshots enable people to fulfil their intended action without leaving their current flow

With this contextual approach, the user does not have to leave the current flow when taking screenshots, and is able to continue with their current doing.

What I have learned

• Balancing constraints and freedom in order to avoid losing focus or limiting the creative process too much.

• Being confident in how to continue with the process.

• Getting comfortable with being solely responsible for a project.