Background
WildIsrael is a non-profit organization that runs a public participation database for wildlife sightings.
This database adds to scientific knowledge, informs conservation planning, and promotes public engagement with nature.
The Problem
Users could report wildlife sightings by filling out webforms or by writing about them in natural language. Each of these approaches has its own disadvantages.
WildIsrael sought to:
(1) reduce admin workload, and
(2) improve contributors' engagement and sense of community.
The Solution
After conducting competitive analysis and user interviews, I designed a bespoke WhatsApp chatbot for wildlife sightings.
- The chatbot yields data that is easier for admins to work with, compared to reports given in natural language. This reduces the admin workload.
- The chatbot makes for a more conversational experience for contributors, compared to filling out forms.
- Additionally, wildlife sightings can be posted to a community discussion channel (which contributes to engagement), or kept for the admins’ eyes only (which some users prefer for several reasons).
Research and Design Process
This presentation (in Hebrew) explains the research and design process:
ux-chatbot-presentation.pdf1977.9KB
Prototype
The prototype only works with the following input:
- Species: Hedgehog
- Where did you see it: Haifa
- When did you see the animal: Now
- In what condition was the animal: 1 (Alive)
- Enter 1 again (to confirm)
Client Testimonial
"It has been a privilege to work with Aviv as a UX expert on our public participation GIS dedicated to wildlife sightings. He performed a thorough examination of our project and provided excellent results: a creatively designed chatbot that is easy to use and is tailored to our association's needs. The value of his work extends well beyond the final product: Aviv helped us develop a better understanding of our contributors, which will be of great help in future projects." — Eyal Vanunu, Founder of WildIsrael (December 2020)