Discover Lithuania
The goal of our project was to develop a Java-based desktop app that highlights a culture different from the United States. After careful consideration, our team chose to focus on Lithuanian culture. The decision was driven by a combination of personal connections and a sincere interest of the country's rich heritage. My partner has family members of Lithuanian descent, which fueled his passion for this project. Likewise, my own interest in Lithuanian culture was sparked by the experiences I shared with my childhood friend from Lithuania, prompting me to explore further into their traditions and customs.
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Our initial idea was to create an app for a Choose Your Own Adventure experience set in Lithuania during Russian and German occupations. Users would be assigned random occupations and explore daily life from various perspectives. The app would provide guides for sightseeing, cuisine, art, train schedules, and culture. Our focus was on seamless randomization, interactive buttons, and a dynamic user experience. The goal was to create an educational app to learn about Lithuanian culture in its historical context.
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After discussions with professors and conducting our first round of user testing, we made a shift in our concept. It became clear that providing unique value, meeting user needs, and differentiating from competitors are essential factors. Instead of random assignments, the app should serve as the primary source of accurate and up-to-date information on places to visit and things to do in Lithuania. We received feedback suggesting a medieval theme focused on castles, with a strong emphasis on functionality for users on the go. To enhance the user experience, we identified the need to improve location detection, button clarity, and language support. Taking all these aspects into account, we decided to design an app called "Discover Lithuania" specifically catering to Lithuanians and seniors who wish to explore the visual and historic properties of the country's castles.
Final Project Description
To enhance cultural relevance and inclusivity, our app incorporates language selection upon launch. A pop-up with a drop-down menu enables users to choose between English and Lithuanian.
After selecting a language, the homepage is displayed, featuring two drop-down menus: "What would you like to explore" and "Who are you traveling with." These menus will be implemented in future iterations with expanded travel options beyond castles. The homepage also includes an updatable label prompting users to click the "Map" button. Clicking the button reveals a map of Lithuania with red buttons under each city. Upon clicking a red button, the label updates to display the city name. Users can change their selection by clicking "Map" again. Pressing "Search" without selecting a location triggers a 3-second error message, reminding users to choose a city from the map. Successful completion of these steps clears the window and presents image buttons of the top six closest castles based on the selected city. Clicking on an image button will erase and repaint the screen, providing a historical description of the castle on the left side and details on nearby attractions, restaurants, transportation options, and a "More Information" button on the right side. Clicking "More Info About [castle name]" opens a pop-up window with specific details for that castle. Users can navigate between all of the castles using the "Go Back" button on the banner. Incorporating user feedback, we improved the design to ensure a cohesive and user-friendly experience for both Lithuanian and senior users.
English
Lithuanian
Final Project Demo
