10/23/16 @ 5:00PM BY PHILLIP PARK

 

Objective: The purpose of this interview with Sarah Tan is to learn more about creating an extension for Chrome. I also wanted to gain insight about the developing side of the project. As well as any tips as a user on what she would like to see in our project.            

First I needed to know more about extensions. I learned that an extension is a small software program that enhances the browser. Creating a good chrome extension is pretty difficult to create due to the amount of backend web knowledge. But, to create one it’s free. Chrome shows a tutorial on how to create an extension but requires a lot of knowledge about web developing. Sarah explains how many people love user statistics but there aren’t a lot of applications or extensions that allow you to know about it.            

 

Next I needed to know more about the developing side of our project. For our chrome extension to be created, it will take about three or four people.  It will take one or two developers, one data analyst, and one designer. A developer to code the backend, the data analyst to gather data about how long a person is on a website, and a designer to design the user interface and icon. One thing I couldn’t figure out was how to get this data. Sarah informed me that you track the data on how long you are on a website, you take someone else’s API. After taking the API, you will then set a timer. Then you store the data in a cloud and make sure that the time adds up to their total time being on the website.          

 

I would also need to know as a user, what they would expect for this extension. A big thing would be the user interface. A good data visualization of the statistics that is gathered is a very important aspect of this project. Something that is similar to the google home screen where it is simple and easy to navigate through is ideal as well as having a white or grey background with the data being colored coordinated. Having some options for the user to tweak should be implemented and a time conversion for the data. Simple is the way to approach the design aspect of this project.            

 

Finally, I wanted to know what some challenges she can foresee within our project are. People enjoy user statistics because it gives the user a heads up on what kind of activities they value the most. But, knowing this statistics about yourself probably won’t change most people’s habit unless it is on something incredibly unproductive. People typically enjoy the way they browse the web and won’t change it. Another problem would be how to count the time when people leave their tabs open for days without using it. Also getting the right time setting for possible people who leave their tabs open. But besides that, Sarah told me everything else will be fairly simple.          

 

 The interview with Sarah Tan has helped me tremendously. She helped me spot all the flaws that I couldn’t imagine happening. I learned that this extension will help people who are unproductive which is majority of people in this world. The self-awareness of how long you are on an unproductive website can change the way they look at things. But for those rare beings that spend their time productively, it won’t really change anything.