UX Writing #6

Write for safety.

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

Now here is an example, where UX Writing can indeed save someone’s life by warning in advance. Love this challenge.

Let’s break down the brief —

Scenario

It’s Monday. A user has just gotten into their car to drive to work. They plug their phone into the car and start driving.

Monday — Criticality and the urgency gets amplified and Monday is the worst time to be on road in general and in a potential fire situation, more people means the damage is that much higher.

Plug their phone into the car — I assume there is a Display on which the map usually loads up and that is the interface where the warning message will pop-up.

Though there is also a possibility that since the user uses say Google Maps every day for their commute, Google finds a pattern (user starts and ends the map every day at so and so time, analyses the route which due to road closures and therefore diversions, may have more congestion than normal) and sends a warning message in time for the user to read before they are on the way.

Anyways, regardless of the interface where the user will see, the same UX Writing can be applied to both.

Challenge

How would you let the user know there’s a fire happening in a nearby town that is causing road closures? The effect on the commute is unknown, but there is a definite danger if the fire gets closer. How do you communicate this to them? When?

I found the challenge a bit confusing as its not clear whether the problem is of road closure and hence choose a different route or the problem is of fire and hence a serious danger to life. Though both are interlinked in a way, both need to be handled differently.

1. If the issue is road closure, it’s a mere inconvenience as I may end up taking a different route and/or face more traffic congestion than usual.

2. If the issue is of fire and hence potential danger, I would act in a very different way. I may not even choose to commute and would even want others (family, friends, colleagues) to know about this who may be choosing the same route as mine.

Also, there are other considerations like if a working mother is a user, she may have kids who have school in the vicinity and are on the same route (in real time). So for her, this is a REAL panic situation and probably needs to be handled differently or provide ways to handle — may be one click call to her children or call the bus driver or call her friend who alternates car-pooling their children to school and so on. Context matters and how!

For the purpose of this exercise, let’s take the 2nd one as that’s more challenging and impactful from the user’s point of view.

Assumption

1. User is 30-year-old driving to work. Unmarried.
2. A message will appear when the user connects their phone to the car and when the ignition is on.
3. A message will be displayed on the car display — probably an entertainment setup which can also be used for navigation and other stuff.

Version ONE

Warning, do not ignore.

There are reports of a fire in certain towns which are very near to your regular daily commute. For today we have changed your route to a different one which will take 10 mins more than usual. We recommend you do not change the route we have set, as it’s in the interest of your safety.

Version TWO

Important Public Announcement

We have reports from credible sources that a fire is breaking out which is in the vicinity of your daily commute route. It's highly advisable to not take your usual route and perhaps stay indoors until further updates. Request your co-operation for your own safety.

Version THREE

Fire reported! This is not a drill.

There has been news of fire breaking out 10 km from your current location. It's advisable to not venture out and stay indoors, until further updates. Your safety is our primary concern and we request your co-operation in this matter.

Version FOUR

Important Safety Information

There has been news of fire breaking out near to the route which you take for your daily commute. We are doing all we can to contain and douse the fire. Request you not to venture out and stay indoors, until further updates.

If you were the user, which version would you be most comfortable with and why?

Previous UX Writing Challenges —

UX Writing #5

UX Writing #4

UX Writing #3

UX Writing #2

UX Writing #1

Reason for doing these —

https://medium.com/@anirudhbb/deliberate-practice-ux-writing-d6395e09bab4