Push To Talk Application replicating Two-Way Radio Communications for Public Safety Users
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Project Overview
A Push-to-talk (PTT) application is designed for Public safety ( frontline workers) enabling instant and secure communication across devices and networks. The application uses Radio channels for secured communications. Each Public Safety agency has its dedicated channels through which they communicate. Point to note: Radio channels is the only form of talk communication in this application, since all the calls are recorded in the backend management web application which is used by other members on case for further investigations. Initially this application was only for the special devices but later an Android/IOS versions were also created. And why this application was required on the first place, because traditional walkie-talkie is not always reliable in today's world of complexity, also traditional walkie-talkie lacks flexibility and integration with modern digital workflows. So this application is bridging the gap of what a traditional walkie-talkies cannot accomplish . So let's deep dive on the problems and solutions.
How long I worked on this product line?
For the first 3 months after joining the company, later I was moved to more complex product lines.
Few Terminologies used in this project so you don't get confused.
1. Push to talk : PPT, 2. Radio Mode: when power is ON, 3. UNIT/GROUP : Teams of public safety members. 4. 1:1 call : when only two members are talking , this can be team members or two people who are different Teams, 5. Group calls: This means team members of the UNIT , 6. Incident: crime situation.
Why I chose this project?
This project started as my Design Assignment Task, I was asked to create a Push-To-talk (PTT) Radio system application, keeping PTT as the main feature I was asked to explore other creative ideas to solve communications problems of the users. Upon joining the company, I had the chance to work on a related product that featured both an application and a backend teams management dashboard, where I had to redesign the application and the dashboard. The design task given in my interview involved creating an application that emulates two-way communications from scratch. I chose this project to highlight my design thinking, skills, and my contributions to the company. Respecting the confidentiality to the company, the UI/Components in this presentations are different but the design thinking process is same. I have only selected features and functionality that I presented in my design assignment task which are 70% same as my real project at work.
My Initial Challenges
My initial challenge was to under the two way radio communication since I never used a PTT device before, how a push to talk feature works and the radio channels are set for the users and how they communicate through teh channels using PTT. So for that reason. So for my reference, I tried to study the features of the Motorola T800 device and listed down all the features of the device.
What I understood?
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Device has a Radio Mode ON/OFF.
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Key Function/Feature: In order to speak , user holds the PTT button and when the user is communicating, other participants in the call cant speak the same time, they have to wait for the first speaker to release the button ignorer for the channel to be free for other speakers.
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The device has 15 radio channels for users to communicate.
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Scan/Monitor to set up the Channels.
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There is an emergency button to alerts others.
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Location sharing button and channel sharing button features.
Next Question is Who are the Users?
Public Safety & Government Users
Commercial & EnterpriseUsers
***For this case study, I have chosen the Public Safety Users***
Empathise : Now that we know our Users, lets understand our Users, (Journey-Centric)
Since we have decided the Target Users for this project will be Public Safety Users ( Police Officers). The next step is to understand day to day life of our users at work, what are the challenges and problems they face, what goals are they trying to accomplish, what are their frustrations and pain points. And how can we help them with their problems
What's our Users day to day journey looks like at work ?
Challenges they face
In all these challenges, what users need is
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A real-time, reliable push-to-talk (PTT) communication with minimal friction.
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Other options where users can have secured communications rather than just talk through radio mode, because in come case if no officer is available they can drop messages or other request thorough messages.
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Emergency alert when they need help from more officers, alerting backend team so they can get a backup.
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In certain environment, when radio channels are unavailable they can still stay connected with their team.
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Being able to view the nearby officers so that they can seek help, call them or share locations for immediate help.
Target Users Goals
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Communicate with other officers from incident spot.
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Keep giving and receiving updates on the Incident case from the scene location to other officers & seniors.
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Request for help from other officers.
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Able to share locations for quick reach of help.
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So What's The Problem...
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Although tradition radio communication is the safety and secured way to communicate in Public Safety industry, it is not enough with our modern complex cases that require faster respond. The traditional walkie-talkies has an emergency alert but the location sharing happened only with unit. Users wanted the option to seek help from nearby officers who are not part of their unit. They wanted to be able see the nearest officers and send a request for help. This way provides a faster respond. So they wanted options of modern communications too on the device. Because in tradition walkie-talkie, only way to ask help from other units is by emergency knob , which alerts the backend team which then check for nearby officers and alerts them and then they approach to the location. Also thorough messaging, they can share files, images and other informations required to take faster action on spot or stay connected with their seniors on case.
What problem I am trying to solve here ?
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Improve the user experience for frontline workers with an intuitive and accessible interface.
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Design a seamless push to talk (PTT) flow supporting other critical communications feature required during the communication process.
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Providing other communications ways for users to stay connected when no radio channels available.
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Streamline navigation and reduce friction in critical workflows, such as group communication and emergency alerts.
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Ensure cross-device compatibility for smooth communication between mobile and radio users.
Ideation and Brainstroming...
Let's create a Scenario of an incident where our users will need out product.
For this case, lets assume Officer Mark was called by 911 regarding a robbery in an area where he was patrolling. Now he is not aware if the robbers are still in the house, whether any one is injured, any hostages, do they have any weapon. So he wants to requests backup from another group of officers in nearby area.
Brainstorming users needs and ideation on what must have and should have in the application.
Key Features
Push-to-talk (PTT) Radio Communication
Secured Push to talk communication which helps to collaborate and stay connected with other individual frontline members or team groups .
Emergency Help
Initiate an emergency with highest priority when needed, to ask for more support from the backend team
Media and Files sharing
Share media and file of the incident/crime to other teammates involved in the mission
Real time Availability
Real time tracking of the officers to keep them safe. Switch off/on button helps to show if the officer is on duty or off duty.
Maps and Location sharing
Location finding and sharing with other group members or even nearby officers who are not part of the task specially in need of help.
User Flow
Focusing on the day to day challenges and the goals of our Target Users. Let's see the steps a user will take to complete a task with our application. simplifying the flow (e.g., one-tap emergency button), we reduce response time and improve usability.
Information Architecture
For on-prem device
Design
Typography
For these design I looked for a typography closest to the Motorola font in their website,
which is Content.
Color Pallete
For Designs
For Text
Icongraphy
Buttons
Other Components
Status
Radio Channels
Bottom Navigation
Considering the quick respond requirements in Critical Communications and certain age groups of our users, the design is kept minimalist as per
our research on users wants and users needs.
Home Screen
Power on/off gives the access to radio channels. When users are off duty, they can keep it in OFF state. This ON/OFF state also helps with real time tracking of users, one that are on duty can be
tracked in the backend management systems. However if OFF mode, users still get to read the messages section if connected to wifi/internet.
Group Team channel will be the default
channel whenever they open the application users can also scroll this here and select any channel or with scrolling they can avoid a busy channel .
In the on Prem Device, default channel is already
set by the Team head. but if a user installs it on phone, then they need to scroll to their Group/Teams channel.
Push to talk , Hold the button to talk and release to make the channel free for others to speak, it will be grey/inactive state when someone is talking
Users can invite other officers/group members. They will receive an sms/notification which will show them the Channel number to join. It also shows in messages under the name of the person who invited.
User can share files, location, of the incident with the participants in the call who can be from their group or other groups.
This is an emergency call option where users click here to open an emergency slide option that will send S0S signal. I positioned it here because i wanted users to see it immediately when they open app and take quick action in emergency , however it will be a slide option to give users a control.
Light Mode
Dark Mode
Push-to-talk feature (PTT) functionality
File & Location Sharing with call particpants
Push-to-Talk Interaction
Scroll to set channel, find free channels for talking to non-unit individuals.
Push to talk, release the button to set the channel for other people on call to speak.
Share location with call participants who are not from your unit on the go
Maps, Location Sharing and Tracking
Impact...
