p   r   o   b   e

A B O U T   P R O B E

Probe is about digitalising surveys and feedback forms, replacing the traditional techniques of using paper-forms and pens with tablets and phones. Above that, it is about taking these exercises to a whole new level by keeping it at the bleeding edge of technology.

Nomenclature: It's analogical to what a Space-probe does. Just like we create and send a space-probe around a planet or a moon and it tells more about it, forms in Probe will tell us more about a business or a cause by going all around it.

W H O   I S   I T   F O R ?

As surveys: any individual/organisation that needs to conduct surveys for a product, cause, etc.

Disclaimer: It's not intended for mass online surveys done by a known set of individual customers/particiapnts on their own devices. Google Forms is a better fit for that. Probe will be rather used by the surveyor to capture data face-to-face with the target audience.

example: NGOs, product companies, government bodies

As feedback forms: any service that wants to collect feedback from their customers.

example: restaurants, hotels, event-managers

Lot of such services are already getting their own app developed to gather data, but this seems like too much of distributed effort. We're providing a generalised solution for all of them.

H O W    I T    W O R K S ?

Form blueprints:  At core of the concept is a CMS for forms. Form-blueprints can be created by users using different type of questions. A form will be an instance of a blueprint and can be filled by the customer and will be represented by a virtual 'page'.

Questions: The app will provide ~15 different type of questions, such as, checkbox, radio-button, Yes/No and even image and video based questions.

Groups: A user can create groups and add other users and form-blueprints into the group. This caters the situation where a group of people are conducting a survey.

Data & Analytics: Data will be stored securely in our databases and can be exported in various formats, even in json/xml. A basic analytical representation will be provided in the app itself.

User or Group             creates            Blueprint         instantiates          Forms            used for           Surveys           generates           Data & Analytics

O F F L I N E    U S A G E

Although the app will be smart enough to store a filled-form directly on server, we consider the fact that conducting surveys is a field work and network connectivity issues can be very frequent.

So forms can be filled-up offline as well. The data thus generated will be stored locally on the device.

As soon network is available again, the local data will be synced with server

No Network

Store data locally

Network Available

Sync with server

A N A L Y T I C S

Now:  Analytics being the whole point of this system, Probe will make it way easier and faster by removing data-entry / data-processing step altogether. Initially the app will provide very basic analytical reports / results.

This stored data can be exported in computer friendly formats such as json, xml or csv and can be consumed and processed by other analytical platforms as well.

Gradually: we'll introduce the concept of sponsored questions. This will let organisations push questions into forms for a particular category or subcategory with consent of the form owner, and get analytical reports.

For instance, Coca-cola pushing a question such as "Do you like coke while having lunch?" into forms for South Indian restaurants in Pune.

Additionally: we have plans to integrate Yahoo's Flurry at Form-level. This is still under feasibility study.

Future:  This platform will grow thicker on analytics. We'll involve Big Data dynamics and Machine Learning to make the collected data more organized, intelligent and predictive. This can get us numerous insights into complex topics such as human behaviour and condition.

Inspired by the way Google predicted the spread of H1N1 flu in real-time, way faster than CDC (Center for Disease Control, US) could.

We want to let the Data speak for itself.

O T H E R    B E N E F I T S

Go Green! we won't be wasting paper over surveys and feedback forms anymore.

Easier:  to create, use and organize forms. No mess of carrying and storing filled forms.

Intuitive:  It will be less of boredom for anyone filling these forms. It will be more comfortable and sophisticated to fill forms on tablets.

Centralized:  Analytical data collected around the nation/globe will be stored in one system, managed categorically, thus giving way to collective intelligence and deeper insights.

... and Justice for all:  Being a product solely developed, managed and updated by us, it will incur a minimum cost for users thus, enabling even small businesses to benefit from analytics and improve.

C O S T I N G

Pay per usage:  This will be analogous to use of real paper at a significantly lower cost. Virtual pages can be purchased to be spend "1/ form-fill".

Subscription:  Regular users can opt for monthly or quarterly subscriptions. This will be a cheaper option when usage is heavy.

Sponsored questions:  Allow sponsored questions to be included in your forms and fill-ups of those forms will be done for free. This will allow other services use our categorical distribution of users to collect analytical data about their own products / causes.

T E C H N O L O G Y    S T A C K

Backend  
Nodejs: For core engine and API for frontend apps. Considering high network I/O.

MongoDb: For data-storage. Considering humongous amount of data that will be generated.

Python: For advanced analytics-engine. Considering its compatibility with Machine Learning and AI.

Frontend  
Android: Probe will be Android-first. Considering mobility at low cost.

ReactJS: This web-app will follow the Android release. It will let users create forms easily and rapidly.

iOS: For users who already own an iPad. Will be scheduled at least priority.

Designing  
Bohemian Sketch: Considering its capability to generate designs in SVG and mind-bogglingly friendly interface. We hate Photoshop and Illustrator.

Invision: To roll out prototypes.

We're quite keen about creating beautiful apps so we take UX and UI seriously and spend a good amount of time on deciding upon them.

C U R R E N T    S T A T E    &    T A R G E T

Backend  ~50% Complete

Work on Android app will begin as soon we're done with completing and testing the backend.

Designing  ~80% Complete

Target   is to launch the app by August-end and plan, schedule and conduct promotions in order to push it into the market.

A B O U T    M E

Achin Kumar

Post-graduate from Symbiosis college, Pune.   Android/Nodejs developer since last 5 years

Over the course of my career, I've created few complex systems and applications for reputed brands such as Warner Brothers, Chevron, FoodNetwork, etc. Few of these apps having millions of downloads on PlayStore. I love writing computer programs and learn new languages and platforms quite frequently. I'm also a lot bent towards UX / UI innovation.

Currently along with couple of other developers, I'm working on few products aimed at digitalising our nation wherever possible. Probe is on the top of this list.

talk.to.achin@gmail.com