New Timey
DMS371 | Project Pack | Spring 2014
Introduction
- Whether it happens once a week or multiple times throughout a day, unexpected events inevitably arise
- This often causes shifts and delays in schedule, affecting or cutting into our remaining planned activities
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If we're driving or otherwise unable to use our phones, how do we communicate or notify the other party of this change?
Statement of Purpose
New Timey is a mobile- and web-based service that facilitates smooth meet-ups and gatherings by syncing your GPS with your calendar.
Relevance
In this increasingly digital-focused and fast-paced world, storing our information in one place (e.g. on our phone or on the web) has become significantly easier and more widespread.
This service harnesses the statistic that, as of February 2014, 90% of Americans use a cellphone, and 87% of American adults use the World Wide Web. (Pew Internet Research Project)
In this increasingly digital-focused and fast-paced world, storing our information in one place (e.g. on our phone or on the web) has become significantly easier and more widespread.
This service harnesses the statistic that, as of February 2014, 90% of Americans use a cellphone, and 87% of American adults use the World Wide Web. (Pew Internet Research Project)
Scope
This service may be used by individuals who use their phone or Google calendar to mark their scheduled events.
Additional settings:
1) Permission to use phone's location enabled
2) Permission to access contacts and calendar enabled
Integration methods
Google Maps APIFor calculating travel time and suggesting timeframe to leave
Phone Calendar and Contacts
For storing events and pulling out contact information to notify the other party
Service Specifics
1) Arrival Time Recommendation
If enabled, this feature would calculate the amount of travel time to the user's final destination and would suggest a time frame of when to leave in order to arrive at the specified time.
2) Arrival Notification
For upcoming events logged in your calendar, the service will calculate the amount of travel time from your current location (either your phone or laptop's location) to the destination. Within 15 minutes (or a user-selected time) of the event, New Timey can then notify the other party of any delays, should they arise, with either an SMS or an email.
Team Drafting
This team includes Sade and Andrew, and for this project we've compiled project brainstorming and feedback on a Google Doc. This allows us to communicate across multiple continents.
This team includes Sade and Andrew, and for this project we've compiled project brainstorming and feedback on a Google Doc. This allows us to communicate across multiple continents.
Market competitors
A classmate suggested looking into "Glympse," a similar tool.
However, Glympse is not as extensive as New Timey.
1) Glympse's primary purpose is to show the other party your location on a map and estimate your arrival time.
New Timey does not indicate the user's location to the other party. However, it provides notification of any delays (should they arise) to the other party. Otherwise, the service is silent.
2) Glympse does not sync with the user's calendar, and it only allows the user to share his/her location with certain recipients.
New Timey syncs with your calendar and, with your permission, automatically notifies the other party; there is no load on you unless otherwise specified.
Features per user feedback
- Ability to mark "Important" events or individuals of "Favorite" status
- Insert calendar events by sending an SMS to New Timey
- Flexibility in Notification settings:
- Send / Not Send ... if event is weekly or repeated
- Send / Not Send ... if person.status == "Favorite Status"
- Send / Not Send ... if user is within X mile(s) of destination
Ultimately...
The goal is appropriate, respectful, timely communication
... made possible with a convenient, digitized middle man.
Team: Michaela, Andrew, Sade