Design Direction

We have kept most of the overarching direction but have clarified and added the points below:

• Integration with sending messages, the messages to a customized contact list of friends that user inputs. Starts the conversation with something like “Hey, what are you doing next Tuesday?”
• User can set distinct preferences of how many times they want to go out each week, maybe specify the length of time and what type of activity. That way the text message could be better informed. Such as suggesting to go see a movie versus going out for coffee.
• The app could have a “check-in” feature with the user to record how burned out they felt after the interaction and to update their preferences. It could also “check-in” at the beginning of every week, in case other factors are impacting the current scheduled preferences and if the user is busy that week.
• It could have a simple mobile interface, that potentially restricts changing the user’s preferences too often to avoid backing out of interactions. Haptic notifications could remind the user to fill in the “check-in” report.
• The “check-in” report could be gathering and displayed to give the user an idea of when they feel most burnt out in the week. It could then suggest tailored strategies to alleviate the feeling.

Alexa – The introverted college student

Alexa is an introverted college student. She finds it difficult to maintain her social relationships, especially when she gets busy, but it is important to her to keep her friends in her life and not let them feel abandoned. She wants to see her friends, because she takes joy in them, but finds it exhausting to reach out and make time, or to have many social events in close proximity. Alexa realizes she has not made plans with friends for over a month, and misses them. Though she normally waits until her friends reach out to her first, she reaches out to her friend Laura, and asks how she is. Alexa says they should do something soon. When Laura suggests a day, Alexa writes the date and time down on her calendar so she can plan around it. When the day arrives, Alexa feels burned out and asks if they can do it another week instead. Alexa writes a post-it note reminder to reschedule with Laura. The next week, after seeing the post-it note every day and feeling guilty, Alexa reaches out to Laura again, and suggests they have movie night. They make plans for Friday night. Alexa stays in Monday through Thursday so she won’t be tired. When Friday arrives, Alexa goes to Laura’s to watch movies. After one movie, Alexa is tired and goes home.

Taylor – Social burnout with strangers

Taylor goes out with his friend Jason’s friends on Tuesday. While Jason’s friends are very welcoming, Taylor is uncomfortable around strangers and begins to feel very exhausted after an hour. Taylor makes an early exit after 2 hours. He tells Jason he is leaving, and Jason is hurt that he is leaving so early. Taylor has plans with his and Jason’s mutual friends on Wednesday, but he is socially exhausted from Tuesday night. He messages Jason and tells him he is feeling burned out. Jason is annoyed and tells him he has to come. Taylor feels guilty, so forces himself to go out. However, he doesn’t have fun and leaves after an hour. The next day, Taylor messages Jason and tells him he is sorry, and explains that he is burned out from meeting so many new people. He tells Jason that in the future he will leave more time around events that are tiring to him. Jason understands and promises to try not to overburden him. Taylor appreciates his friend understanding.

Erika – The extrovert who just wants to hangout

Erika wants to go out to karaoke on a Wednesday. She copies the same message to 15 of her friends, inviting them to go out. Erika receives 10 responses within the next 2 hours. 4 of her friends cite tiredness and decline. 2 of her friends express possible (non-committal) interest. The remaining 4 express definite interest. Erika stays in contact with the 4 definites to finalize a plan. Erika drives the plan, suggesting an exact time to meet and get a table that they should all arrive. Erika promises to keep the 2 maybes posted. Erika arrives at karaoke on time. 2 of the definite friends arrive shortly after. Erika lets the maybes know that they are there in case they want to join. Only one responds, and says they might be able to go later. One more of the definites arrives. After several hours, most of the group is tired and wants to leave. Erika doesn’t want to go yet, so messages several friends to see what else is going on. She goes and meets some other friends at a bar for drinks until late, and then goes home.