Sprint 1 - Group22-MobileApp/Grupo22-Moviles GitHub Wiki

Table of Contents

1. Descriptions

Problem description

University students often have to buy academic materials for their courses, such as textbooks, lab manuals, cardboards, and other supplies. However, once the course is over, these materials are no longer needed and are often discarded or forgotten without being recycled. This leads to a waste of resources and a negative impact on the environment. Additionally, buying these materials brand-new can be very expensive, and many students do not have the financial resources to afford them. Also, a lot of students are willing to use second-hand materials provided by their peers. The existing marketplaces do not provide the required alternatives to find the specific elements for the courses or are not trustworthy enough or are still too expensive. The current alternatives, such as groups in social networks, are not organized nor trustworthy enough. By the other hand, some students are willing to trade their materials for other materials they need, and this is not possible in the current marketplaces. As well, the current marketplaces do not provide a platform for students to sell their materials in a safe and organized way in order to recover some of the money they spent on them.

Solution description

The proposed solution is a mobile application designed to facilitate the exchange of second-hand academic materials among students. The app provides a platform for students to connect with sellers within their university to buy and sell academic materials they no longer need, thereby reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and making it more accessible to students. Some of the great features of the app include the ability for sellers to create listings for their academic materials, providing details and photos, and for buyers to search for specific materials they need or browse available listings. The app also includes an in-app messaging platform for buyers and sellers to communicate, negotiate prices, and arrange meetups. Users can arrange to meet on campus or at a designated location to exchange materials in person, and once the exchange is complete, buyers confirm receipt of the materials and sellers receive payment. Both parties have the opportunity to leave feedback and reviews, contributing to the community's reputation and trustworthiness. Additionally, the app includes an optional trading option where instead of offering a product for money, the seller can ask for other materials in exchange. This feature promotes a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to exchange materials.

Revenue Model

As a non-profit organization, the revenue model for the app primarily revolves around donations, grants, and sponsorships. Donations from users, alumni, and philanthropic organizations form a significant source of funding, with a clear link provided within the app for easy access to donation opportunities. While the core functionality of the app remains free, the organization may opt not to offer premium services, ensuring equal access to all users. Data usage is approached with utmost respect for user privacy and ethics, with anonymized data collected to generate insights and improve the user experience. Transparent communication and user consent are paramount, with data potentially utilized for research purposes in collaboration with academic institutions and research organizations, all while prioritizing user privacy and data protection.

Value Proposal

The mobile application offers a comprehensive solution for university students by providing a convenient, cost-effective, and sustainable platform for buying and selling academic materials within their campus community. By centralizing the marketplace, the app eliminates the need for students to search through multiple platforms or rely on informal channels like social media groups, streamlining the process and saving valuable time. Furthermore, by facilitating the exchange of second-hand academic materials, the app enables students to save money on purchasing new materials, catering to their often limited budgets. In addition to the economic benefits, the app promotes sustainability by encouraging the reuse and recycling of academic materials, thereby reducing waste and environmental impact. The inclusion of features such as seller ratings and reviews enhances trustworthiness, ensuring a safe and reliable marketplace for transactions. Overall, the app addresses the diverse needs of students while promoting sustainability and fostering a sense of community within the university environment.

2. Problems-Alternative-Solutions(PAS) Diagram

Problem: "I need user feedback to improve the user experience of my app"
Alternatives: "I can use surveys or interviews to gather feedback from users, but these methods are expensive and difficult to create"
Solution: A feedback system that allows users to leave feedback and reviews on the app. In-app pop-ups will prompt users to leave feedback after using the app for a certain functionality.

Problem: "user have trust issues with second hand seller and buyers "
Alternatives: "They have to buy expensive material form renown sellers "
Solution: An app that has an authentication method and only allows people from the u.

Problem: "As a student I would like to have certainty that there will be enough supply of materials for their classes"
Alternatives: "Students can still buy brand-new materials from other sources and use the marketplace as a last resort"
Solution: A way to incentivize students to list their materials on the app, such as a reward system for listing materials or a lower commission fee for sellers.

Problem: "I need to encourage active participation and engagement within the app's community."
Alternatives: "I can rely on passive features and hope that users engage naturally, but this may lead to stagnation and disinterest."
Solution: Implement gamification elements such as badges, achievements, and leaderboards to incentivize and reward user engagement (this could also be useful for user to generate a sense of trust). Additionally, facilitate discussion forums, study groups, and virtual events to promote the app usage.

Problem: Users have concerns about the privacy and security of their info within the alternatives apps in the market, particularly when sharing sensitive information.
Alternatives: Utilizing third-party payment gateways is an option, but users may still be hesitant to share sensitive data due to privacy and security concerns.
Solution: All of the users have to be members of the university, this means the app will authenticate those credentials the will incentivize the users to meet at the university. This is a fast and secure way of making the exchange.}

Problem: "I need to differentiate my app from existing marketplace platforms and attract users."
Alternatives: "I can focus solely on functionality and usability, but this may not be enough to stand out in a crowded market."
Solution: Emphasize the app's sustainability, environmental impact, and efficient to acquire the materials as key selling points, highlighting the benefits of reducing waste, promoting a greener lifestyle and a fast and secure way to optain the material needed.

Problem: "I need to ensure that the marketplace for the university remains relevant and useful throughout the academic year for the students."
Alternatives: "I can focus solely on textbook sales, but this may result in decreased usage during periods when textbooks are not in high demand."
Solution: Diversify the offerings of the marketplace to include a wide range of academic materials and resources that cater to different needs and interests of students throughout the academic year for the students.

Problem: Students have trouble finding a single place to find all the tools and materials with the same references they need for their classes.
Alternatives: Have a list of the largest suppliers of that type of product and visit one by one in order of probability until you find the reference.
Solution: An application whose sellers are students from the same university.

Problem: The students struggle when validating if the tools they found are the ones they actually need.
Alternatives: They attempt to contact the seller for more information, but this process could spend several days to receive a response.
Solution: An app marketplace that implement a process for uploading offers in the application, which stipulates the minimum requirements (name, brand, reference, photos, description

Problem: New students struggle to find a very specific book for a required college class
Alternatives: They are going to borrow the book from the library, but there are few copies and they sell out very quickly. Another way is to go to the city center and ask around the different libraries for that specific reference.
Solution: An application where students who have already seen the subject can sell the book after using it

Problem: students don´t have enough money to buy new materials to their class.
Alternative: they do part time jobs to earn enough money, but this takes time and lower the university performance.
Solution: an app that can offer second-hand products at low cost.

Problem: Some student have a lot of material that they don´t use.
Alternative: they throw those material away, or stored in their desk or storage, but is a waste of space.
Solution: An app/marketplace to sell these kind of materials.

3. Context Canvas

4. Personas

To visualize better prospective personas: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF8HxpEpG4/gCNYxcpk8BUxLaTy1Y03hg/edit To visualize better analytic persona: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF8HxpEpG4/gCNYxcpk8BUxLaTy1Y03hg/edit

Student-buyer persona

Student-seller persona

Professor persona

Analytics Persona

5. Empathy maps

To visualize better: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF8E7H7goc/pcCCFwjxJUlT2HiUHMy9Mg/edit?ui=eyJHIjp7fX0

Student-buyer empathy map

Student-seller empathy map

Teacher empathy map

6. Business Questions

Type 1:

How many crashes are reported per week?
How many active user we have in a month?

Type 2:

What's the opinion of the app color contrast depending of the light exposure?
What's the opinion of the app layout distribution?
What's the opinion of use of Microsoft Authentication?
How many days have passed since the user search something in the app?

Type 3:

How do students prefer to authenticate their uniandes identity on the app?
What is the least used functionality per semester?
Which core functionalities are the most used in the marketplace?
How many average clicks are there in the purchasing process?

Type 4:

What are the user's buying patterns in the exams week?
What are the careers of the users who use the app the most?

Type 5:

What are the categories users spend the most time when using the marketplace? (2/3/*)
How long does it take for users to create a listing on the app? (2/3/*)

7. VD Map

VDMAP drawio

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aWoPPaStE-3A1dFzpVYMDqGPJT3majVq/view?usp=sharing

8. FS Functional Scenarios

1

As a student of the University of Andes who is taking Biology 101, I want to be able to buy a textbook "Biology for Dummies" for my upcoming class. I would like to do this by opening the app and searching for "Biology for Dummies" in the search bar. The app displays a list of listings for the textbook, including photos, descriptions, and prices. I find a listing that meets my needs and I click on it. I would like to start a conversation with the seller and meet at a price and buy it. I want to do this in order to get the book in good condition and at an affordable price, in this way I will be able to study for the class and excel in the exam.

2

As a student who wants to sell an university book which is no longer needed anymore. Using the university marketplace app I will log into the application, and click on the button “Publish” in order to create a publication of the product I want to sell. Then I will specify the main attributes of this product: Title, Price, Description, Images. I will also especify a category and the possible degrees that could benefit front this publications. Once the publication is created, I can use the app to see the amount of impressions I’m getting, and to chat with potential buyers.

3

As a student-seller user, I want to be able to create a trade listing for a textbook so that I can exchange my used textbooks with other students. This is done by logging into the app and selecting the "Sell" option from the home screen. Then, the student chooses the "Trade" option, which opens a form for the student to fill out with details about the textbook, such as the title, author, edition, and condition. The student is also prompted to upload photos of the textbook. In addition, the student needs to specify what items they are interested in trading for. Once the form is filled out, the student submits the listing and it is added to the marketplace.

4

As a student using the app, I want to be able to donate money for the creators of the app so that I can support the development. This is done by logging into the app and selecting the "Donate" option from the home screen. Then, the student is prompted with the Nequi, Bank Account, or Arma tu Vaca options to donate money via API. The student selects the amount of money they want to donate and confirms the donation. The app will redirect the student to the selected payment method to complete the donation.

5

As an engineering student I am required to see chemistry 1. However, I don't even know what implements are necessary to be able to go to the laboratory. I have an idea of what I should buy, starting my search with a lab coat. I would like that when searching for that article or defining laboratory in the search bar. The application shows a list of related objects so I can get an idea of what I may need. I find an ad that seems important and save it as a list.

6

As a fine arts teacher, I am very concerned because many of my students do not submit their photography submissions on time or request extra time because they do not get the Xa56 rolls necessary for the course. I want to be able to ensure that all students have all the tools, and I know that many of the students last semester did not use all the tapes that come with the roll. I would like to be able to help create communication between students from previous semesters and current ones to be able to take advantage of these resources.

7

As a student-buyer using the app, I want to be able to chat so that I can get more information about the product and later get more details about the exchange of the product. This is done by searching for university material and then clicking the one I am interested in. The publication page will have a button called "Chat with the seller". After I click on the button I'm able to chat with the seller and get all the final details necessary to complete the buy.

8

As a student utilizing the university marketplace app, I desire the capability to create a wishlist feature for textbooks or other academic materials I intend to acquire in the future. Upon logging into the app, I would navigate to the "Wishlist" section and input the details of the desired item, including title, author, edition, and any specific requirements. Additionally, I would appreciate the option to set notifications, so that I am alerted when a matching item becomes available for sale or trade within the marketplace. This feature would help me find my materials for my different classes and save a lot of time in the searching process.

9

As a student at the University of Alpes who is taking English 5, I want to be able to buy the guidebook of the class. I would like to find this book for a lower price, so I open the app and look for “English 5” guidebook. The app will show me different options for this search, and I will click on it. I would like to talk with the seller to ensure that the guidebook that he has is the same that I am looking for.

10

As a student who is taking “Cálculo Vectorial” and has an exam today, I need to get in the app to buy a calculator because I forgot mine and the stores around the university have high prices. I would like to get in the app and look for a calculator. Then, when I find a calculator, I would like to talk with the seller to ask him if he is in the university or in a near place. The seller would answer me, and we will plan a place for him to give me the calculator.

11

As a student at university, studying architecture, I want to be able to search for an object or material, of which I don't know the specific name, by taking a picture of it. To achieve this goal, I want to tap on the search bar, then on the right side of the bar touch the camera icon and finally take the picture and search. Once the app load I want to see a list of similar products to choose the one that I need.

12

As a student at university that already made a purchase, I want to be able to rate the seller and the product. For this purpose, I want to go to “Profile”, then to “Purchase” and tap on the purchase I want to rate. Once there, I want to tap on the “rate” button and then choose 1 to 5 stars to rate the seller, 1 to 5 stars to rate the product and add a comment to give some more information.

9. QS Quality Scenarios

1

Scenario Name	Listing app perfomance
Quality attributes	Performance when listing an object
App status and context	The application is actively running and a user is logged in
Changes in the context	The user wants to list an object
System reaction	The app should create the object and make it public in less than 5 second

2

Scenario Name	Spike of User Growth at the beginning of the semester
Quality attributes	Scalability
App status and context	The app is experiencing a surge in new users and listing objects.
Changes in the context	User registration and event listing activity increase significantly.
System reaction	The system should automatically scale its resources to handle increased user load, ensuring that event creation remains responsive and data integrity is maintained

3

Scenario Name	Low photo resolution
Quality attributes	Usability, image quality
App status and context	The student is creating a listing for a textbook and is prompted to upload photos of the textbook. The student takes a photo of the textbook with their phone and uploads it to the app.
Changes in the context	The student's phone has a low resolution camera and the photo of the textbook is blurry and difficult to see.
System reaction	The app prompts the student to retake the photo with a higher resolution camera or to upload a photo from their phone's gallery that is of higher quality.

4

Scenario Name	Slow internet connection when creating a listing (sell)
Quality attributes	Performance, eventual connectivity
App status and context	The student is creating a listing for a textbook and is prompted to fill out a form with details about the textbook, such as the title, author, edition, condition, and price. The student is also prompted to upload photos of the textbook.
Changes in the context	The student has a slow internet connection and the app is taking a long time to load the form and upload the photos.
System reaction	After a certain amount of time, the app prompts the student with a message that says "It seems like you have a slow internet connection. Try again later or connect to a faster network."

5

Scenario Name	Limited Memory
Quality attributes	Performance
App status and context	The user's device is running multiple memory-intensive apps concurrently.
Changes in the context	The user starts the creation of a publication.
System reaction	The app should monitor memory usage and prioritize memory-efficient operations, preventing crashes or slowdowns.

6

Scenario Name	User Data Privacy
Quality attributes	Privacy and Security
App status and context	The application collects and stores user data for authentication, publications, and chats between sellers and buyers.
Changes in the context	A user is concerned about the privacy of their personal information, publication history, or chats history.
System reaction	To assure users of their data's protection and confidentiality the application should implement strong data encryption and clear privacy policies.

7

Scenario Name	Reviews and Ratings Management
Quality Attributes	Reliability, Usability
App Status and Context	The user has purchased a product and wants to leave a review and rating to share their experience with other users.
Changes in the Context	After writing the review, the user decides to modify it before submitting it.
System Reaction	The application allows the user to edit the review and rating before submitting them, maintaining the

8

Scenario Name	Multiple Device Support
Quality Attributes	Portability, Compatibility
App Status and Context	The user uses the app on their mobile phone to search for products and then switches to their tablet to complete a purchase.
Changes in the Context	The user notices differences in the interface layout or functionality between the two devices.
System Reaction	The app automatically adapts to the device in use, optimizing interface layout and functionality to ensure a consistent and fluid user experience across all supported devices. Additionally, the app provides seamless synchronization of data and preferences between devices for a seamless experience.

9

Scenario Name	Unexpected systems shutdown during a payment process
Quality Attributes	Reliability, availability
App Status and Context	The mobile app is making the connection with the remote server to sends the payment information
Changes in the Context	A sudden power outage or system crash occurs while the user is actively paying the item bought through the marketplace.
System Reaction	The app automatically saves the payment information periodically, ensuring minimal data loss. Upon system reboot, the app detects the unsaved changes and offer to recover the payment information, allowing the user to resume the payment process form de last saved point.

10

Scenario Name	Security breach in the university marketplace app
Quality Attributes	Security, condifentiality
App Status and Context	The mobile app is waiting for the log in of a user
Changes in the Context	An unauthorized user attempts to access the app with incorrect credentials, indicating a potential security breach
System Reaction	The app detects the suspicious activity, temporarily locks the account, and sends a security alert to the user. It prompts the user to reset their password and may employ additional authentication methos to verify their identity before restoring access to the marketplace app

11

Scenario Name	Change application language
Quality Attributes	Internationalization
App Status and Context	The app language setting depends on the phone’s one.
Changes in the Context	The user changes the language of the phone.
System Reaction	The layout and buttons respond properly to the change of the language, resizing and adapting the layout. Thus, the UI/UX will not be affected.

12

Scenario Name	Camera permission
Quality Attributes	Security, privacy
App Status and Context	The app has some features that need the use of the camera.
Changes in the Context	The user tries to use a feature the uses the camera, such as the search by image or upload some pictures to sell a product.
System Reaction	The application prompts the user to allow access to the camera to use the features that require it.

10. Ethics Video

Ethics Video Group 22 Sprint 1

Video too big to upload to github