Assignment M2

CS6750: Assignment M2
Anna He
annahe@gatech.edu
Abstract— This series of M assignments seeks to investigate and

redesign an aspect of Strava: an exercise tracking and social media
app. In particular, the investigation will deep dive and discuss
the interface while the user is engaged in a physical activity i.e.,
running or cycling. The goal of this project is to use findings from
the investigation to improve the efficiency and ease of accessing
Strava metrics during an activity.
1 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 1: PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION
The predetermined goal of the ride was to bike 3 miles by doing six half-mile
laps around my neighborhood. This took 20 minutes, during which I recorded
comments I made out loud while using Strava before, during, and after the ride.
1.1 Results
The full long-form transcript can be found in Appendix 7.1. Some highlights are
included below.
First, I open Strava. It takes me to a page and I’m a little distracted by the other posts on
here but pretty good. I press the record button and hit start.
Okay after first lap, I want to see total mileage. I need to unlock my phone. I’ve been
biking for just under three minutes and it’s been half a mile. I’m not going real fast at an
average pace of [incoherent].
If I press this button, I can show you the map. I can zoom in and out. And I can watch
[myself on] the road.
Alright. I stop it by pressing the finish button. I type a description. It processes and then
it shows up on my feed, perfect. If I’m interested in more stats I can tap in and see max
speed, elevation, I’m trending faster cool. Elapsed time is the same as moving time so I
was moving the whole time.
1
1.2 Main Takeaways
Unfortunately, this Needfinding approach gleaned limited useful information or

data. One cause is that the goal of the ride was too simple. Instead of only trying
to meet a distance goal, I ought to have also set an elevation goal or a goal to
break a PR. Because of the limited scope, I was unable to collect useful infor-
mation about the full context of the task or the user’s needs during the task.
There was some data collected about the sub tasks (unlocking phone to see cur-
rent stats, clicking button to see map) but there could have been more detail for
these sub tasks. For instance, when explaining that there is a button to show the
map, it would be better to also comment on where onscreen that button is lo-
cated, as well as how easily accessible it is to press.
1.3 Bias control
One bias I had identified was recall bias which was avoided because I spoke out
loud while executing the participant observation and recorded my comments.
The process of recording somewhat distracting especially since the context and
environment was unnatural. I found myself opening Strava more often for the
sake of participant observation instead of needing to check a metric or the map.
In the future, I would instead record myself during my commute or another ride
where the context is more familiar.
2 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 2: SURVEYS
2.1 Results
The tables below display the raw data most relevant to the main takeaways from
this Needfinding activity. A full dataset can be found in Appendix 7.2.
Table 1: When did you begin using Strava?
< 1 year 1-3 years 3-5 years 5-10 years >10 years
Count 2 23 8 5 1
2
Table 2: How frequently DURING your activity do you check Strava? (1-5)
Mean Median Mode
Overall 2.69 2.5 2
Runners only 3.80 4.0 3, 4
Cyclists only 3.69 1.5 1
Table 3: How frequently AFTER your activity do you check Strava? (1-5)
Mean Median Mode
Overall 3.69 4 3, 5
Runners only 3.60 4 4
Cyclists only 3.75 4 4
Table 4: Choose your top 3 most important metrics when you are using Strava?
Time Mile- Pace Eleva- Heart Personal Kudos Cal- Power

Elapsed age tion Rate Records ories
Count 16 23 21 4 12 1 2 1 3
Table 5: What are your goals/motivation for monitoring Strava? (Choose multiple)
Health Tracking Wellbeing Curiosity Training Route Socializing

Setting
Count 24 8 17 9 8 16
2.2 Main Takeaways
There are some different behaviors and usages between runners and cyclists. For
instance, when asked how frequently during an activity the user checks Strava,
users who were only runners had a mean response of 3.8 and a median of 4. For
users who were cyclists only, the mean dropped to 2.25 and the median to 1.5.
3
During an activity, cyclists are less likely to open Strava, perhaps because it is
more dangerous to unlock their phone compared to while running.
However, there are also many similarities between runners and cyclists. There
was no significant difference between these parties in identifying their top goals
(health tracking, curiosity, and socializing) for using Strava.
Majority or responders have been using Strava for the last five years. I am inter-
ested in whether the COVID-19 pandemic caused an influx of new Strava users
who were interested in participating in outdoor activities during lockdown.
2.3 Bias control
The first bias to avoid was social desirability bias. I did ask a mixture of subjec-
tive questions and objective data questions which helped mitigate this bias.
I was also concerned about non-probability sampling by sending the survey to

my cycling group. Fortunately, many of the respondents use Strava for both run-
ning and cycling. Overall, I would say this risk has also been mitigated.
3 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 3: INTERVIEWS
Six individual interviews were conducted with five cyclists and one runner.
3.1 Results
Full long-form transcripts of all interviews can be found in Appendix 7.3. Some
highlightable quotes relevant to the main takeaways are shown below.
My watch also tracks my activities, so I don’t really need Strava to do that. And now
that I don’t have Strava premium, I use my watch more for tracking activities and stuff
like that. [My watch] posts to Garmin and once my phone connects it will automatically
load to Strava too. Next time I open my phone and my Garmin app is open, it will copy
automatically [my data] from my watch, and it will copy to Strava.
I just look at what my bike computer has on at the time. [If] I’m looking strictly at per-
formance metrics I use Garmin. But for like the route planning or seeing how fast my
rides [are] over multiple rides if I do the same area, that’s where I really use Strava.
4
So ultimately for me, it depends on distance like how much I’m running. If it’s less than
a mile, then I don’t track it. I will still run. But if it was like less than a mile then I won’t
track it, regardless of if I’m running an errand or just running.
[I] Mainly [use Strava] to see other rides and pick out routes. See other routes that people
are using. Just kind of mimicking where others are going. I use it like a social media [to
look at other people’s rides]
3.2 Main Takeaways
The main takeaway from conducting these interviews was some insight the six
Ws: Who what where when why and how.
The who and what were consistent with the survey findings; most users are in
their 20s and 30s. All users used Strava outdoors. One user also used it indoors.
I better understood the motivations and contexts (where, when, why) of upload-
ing an activity as well as when users don’t record an activity. For instance, one
user mentioned not recording runs less than one mile, while another user ex-
plained they use Strava for route inspiration and does not upload any activity.
There was better understanding of subtasks to upload an activity onto Strava

(the How). Rather than starting the activity on the Strava mobile app, cyclists
often rely on wearables and bike computer/GPS devices mounted on their bike
to record the data. Later, the data is uploaded to Strava to identify trends across
rides and to share the ride with others.
This introduces more subtasks but is perhaps preferred because of the conven-
ience, accuracy, battery lifetime, and additional points of data that specialized
devices can offer. More needfinding is necessary to better understand what fac-
tors make these devices appealing.
3.3 Bias Control
The first risk was social desirability bias. This risk was not avoided. I did not find
a partner to conduct interviews on my behalf. Upon reviewing some of these
interviews, I also noticed some instances where I may have asked leading ques-
tions while trying to provide examples responses.
5
Another risk that was non-probability sampling. The interview participants are
overwhelmingly cyclists with a single runner being interviewed. The runner mit-
igates the sampling a bit, but it is overall still unbalanced.
4 DATA INVENTORY
4.1 Who are the users? What are their ages, genders, and expertise?
Survey respondents were overwhelmingly in the 18-29 age group followed by

the 30-39 age group. Most users have been using Strava for 1-3 years with some
users having used it for 3-5 years. Gender data was not collected in the survey.
One interview participant was a woman; the rest were men.
4.2 What are the users? What is the environment?
Based on all three Needfinding activities, users are engaged in both indoor and
outdoor environments. Some users exclusively engage in the task outdoors, but
no respondents exclusively engage indoors.
4.3 What is the context of the task? What else competes for users' attention?
The context is some running or cycling activity, either indoors or outdoors.

Through interviews and participant observation, there is minimal difficulty to
check Strava during the ride, but more Needfinding is necessary to determine
exactly what else is competing for users’ attention.
4.4 What are their goals? What are they trying to accomplish?
Based on the survey data, the top three goals and motivations for using Strava
are Health Tracking, Curiosity, and Socializing. More data is needed to better
understand how metrics recorded by Strava is used to accomplish these goals.
For instance, given the that the top three most important metrics were recorded
to be Mileage, Pace, and Time Elapsed, it is fair to hypothesize that users are
interested in becoming faster in their given activity. However, further Needfind-
ing is needed to support this.
4.5 What are the physical objects? What information do they need? What
collaborators do they need?
Right now, the objects are a mobile phone, a wearable activity tracking device, a
computer/GPS, or a combination of the three. Cyclists also need a bicycle.
6
Overall, the users need information and data about their activity. This may be
performance data or social data (e.g. Kudos from others). For some users, they
are also interested in route data. Additional Needfinding is necessary to deter-
mine if there are additional needs (eg collaborators) that have not been captured.
4.6 What are their tasks? What are they doing physically, cognitively, socially?
Based on participant observation, the physical task was to complete, record and
uploaded a running or cycling activity to their Strava account. Based on the in-
terviews, for some users the physical tasks are to turn on a GPS or wearable de-
vice and the user does not interact with Strava until after the activity is uploaded.
Based on the survey data, most goals are to track health. This presumes that there
is some cognitive work to process the activity performance and judge whether
the user is meeting their goals. However, more Needfinding is necessary to ex-
plore what these cognitive tasks are. Similarly, no social tasks were identified but
more Needfinding is necessary to confirm that it does not exist.
4.7 What are the subtasks? How are they accomplished?
In my participant observation, I observed subtasks such as unlocking my phone

and adjusting between map view and stat view. Since I have a phone mount on
my bike handlebars, I do not need to retrieve my phone from somewhere else,
but I do require the physical object of a phone mount.
Upon interviewing other users, I learnt some other subtasks for checking data
during the ride included retrieving their phone from their pocket before unlock-
ing it, swinging their arm to see the face of their wearable device, and looking
down to see their bike computer or GPS.
5 DEFINING REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Functionality
The final interface must be able to record GPS coordinate data as well as
timestamps. That data is required to upload to Strava. From this data, insights
such as max speed, personal records (PRs), milage and other data points should
be extrapolated and comparable across other past rides. Success for this require-
ment is being able to see similar data across cycling or running activities.
7
5.2 Usability
Since unlocking the phone can be a big barrier, one requirement is being able to
convey information on the lock screen without the need to unlock the mobile
device entirely. Success for this requirement would be designing a widget for the
lock screen with customizable metrics that the user expects to see at a glance.
6 CONTINUED NEEDFINDING
6.1 Questions in continued Needfinding
• Why would a user opt to use GPS/wearable in lieu of the Strava app? Is it
because of Strava app design, accessibility, data accuracy, hardware limita-
tion, or another factor?
• What else competes for the user’s attention during the activity? How distract-
ing is the Strava device? How often does the user check it?
• How is the collected data used? How does the user know whether they are
progressing towards their goal or not?
• If biking/running outdoors, what other factors determine whether a user will
bike/run? When is it become too hot, cold, windy, wet, dark, or dangerous
(e.g. lightning)? Are there particular times of day the user prefers to run/bike?
6.2 How to address
To address these new questions surveys and interviews can also be sent and con-
ducted again with the intention to collect the answer.
For the last question, I can observe several times each day whether I am willing
to ride my bike or run outdoors that day and record the weather conditions at
the time of my observation (participant observation). I can also collect publicly
available Strava data logs and try to cross reference that with public historical
weather data to try and understand under what conditions users are no longer
willing to participate in an outdoor activity.
7 APPENDICES: NEEDFINDING RAW DATA
7.1 Needfinding method 1: Participant Observation
Transcript of recording
8
[00:00] Hello, all right. This is the participant observation. I am on my bike out-
side. I will be starting Strava. The plan is to bike three miles of laps and we how
it is. First I open Strava. It takes me to a page and I’m a little distracted by the
other posts on here but pretty good. I press the record button and hit start.
[03:39] Okay after first lap, I want to see total mileage. I need to unlock my phone.
I’ve been biking for just under three minutes and it’s been half a mile. I’m not
going real fast at an average pace of [incoherent].
[13:24] I’ve opened Strava and I’m at 2.52 [miles]. I think I [incoherent]. If I press
this button, I can show you the map. I can zoom in and out. And I can watch the
road.
[16:17] So yeah, it’s been three miles.
[16:45] Alright. I stop it by pressing the finish button. I type a discription Um, I
update the bike I used and save it.
[17:15] It processes and then it shows up on my feed, perfect. If I’m interested in

more stats I can tap in and see max speed, elevation, I’m trending faster cool.
Elapsed time is the same as moving time so I was moving the whole time.
[17:45] I can see it on the feed and see activities of my other friends. I’ve caught
up with my followers so that’s it.
7.2 Needfinding method 2: Surveys
7.2.1 Q1: Which Activity do you use Strava for?
1. No response
2. No response
3. No response
4. No response
5. No response
6. No response
7. No response
8. No response
9. Running
10. Both but most cycling
11. Cycling
9
12. Both about the same amount
13. Running
14. Running
15. Running
17. Running
21. Cycling
23. Cycling
26. Both but mostly running
29. Cycling
7.2.2 Select your age
1. 18 - 29
2. 18 - 29
3. 30 - 39
4. 18 - 29
5. 30 - 39
6. 18 - 29
7. 30 - 39
8. 30 - 39
9. 18 - 29
10. 18 - 29
11. 18 - 29
12. 18 - 29
13. 18 - 29
14. 30 - 39
15. 18 - 29
16. 18 - 29
10
17. 18 - 29
18. 18 - 29
19. 18 - 29
20. 18 - 29
21. 50 - 64
22. 18 - 29
23. 18 - 29
24. 18 - 29
25. 18 - 29
26. 18 - 29
27. 18 - 29
28. 18 - 29
29. 40 – 49
7.2.3 How Long have you been using Strava?
1. 1-3 years
2. 5-10 years
3. <1 year
4. <1 year
5. 1-3 years
6. 3-5 years
7. 3-5 years
8. >10 years
9. 3-5 years
10. 3-5 years
11. 1-3 years
12. 1-3 years
13. 1-3 years
14. 3-5 years
15. 1-3 years
16. 3-5 years
17. <1 year
18. 1-3 years
19. 3-5 years
20. 1-3 years
21. 3-5 years
11
22. 1-3 years
23. 5-10 years
24. 1-3 years
25. 5-10 years
26. 1-3 years
27. 1-3 years
28. 5-10 years
29. 5-10 years
7.2.4 What device(s) do you use to track your activity?
1. Strava mobile app

2. Strava mobile app;Watch or wearable
5. Watch or wearable
6. Strava mobile app;Bike computer;Watch or wearable
10. Bike computer
19. Bike computer;Watch or wearable
12
28. Strava mobile app;Bike computer
7.2.5 How often do you record activity on Strava?
1. Once a week
2. Once every two weeks
3. 2-4 times a week
4. Once a month
5. 5-7 time a week
6. 5-7 time a week
7. 5-7 time a week
8. 5-7 time a week
9. More than 7 times a week
12. 5-7 time a week
13. Once a week
14. Once a week
16. 2-4 times a week
18. Once a week
20. Once a month
22. 5-7 time a week
23. 5-7 time a week
24. 5-7 time a week
25. 5-7 time a week
28. Once a week
29. 5-7 time a week
7.2.6 What are your goals/motivations behind monitoring your Strava?
1. Health tracking;Well-being
13
2. Health tracking;Curiosity
3. Health tracking;Training for event
4. Health tracking;Curiosity;Training for event;Well-being
5. Health tracking;Training for event
7. Health tracking;Curiosity;Well-being
8. Health tracking;Well-being
9. Socializing;Training for event
10. Health tracking;Route Setting;Curiosity
11. Health tracking;Socializing
12. Health tracking;Route Setting;Socializing;Curiosity
13. Health tracking;Route Setting;Curiosity;Well-being
14. Health tracking;Socializing;Curiosity
16. Health tracking;Route Setting;Socializing;Well-being
17. Health tracking;Route Setting;Curiosity;Training for event;Well-being
18. Health tracking;Route Setting;Socializing;Training for event
19. Route Setting;Socializing;Curiosity;Training for event
20. Socializing
22. Health tracking;Route Setting;Socializing
24. Health tracking;Socializing
25. Health tracking;Socializing;Curiosity;Training for event;Well-being
26. Socializing
28. Socializing;Curiosity
29. Health tracking;Route Setting;Socializing;Curiosity;Training for event
7.2.7 Choose your top three most important metrics when using Strava
1. Time Elapsed;Mileage;Pace
2. Time Elapsed;Mileage;Pace;Elevation;Heart Rate;Number of new PRs
3. Mileage;Pace
4. Time Elapsed;Pace;Heart Rate
5. Mileage;Pace;Heart Rate
6. Mileage;Pace;Power
14
7. Mileage;Pace;Power
8. Mileage;Elevation;Heart Rate;Power
12. Time Elapsed;Pace;Heart Rate
13. Time Elapsed;Pace;Step Rate
14. Time Elapsed;Pace;Step Rate
16. Time Elapsed;Mileage;Number of Kudos
17. Mileage;Pace;Splits
19. Time Elapsed;Mileage;Elevation
22. Mileage;Heart Rate;Calories Burned
23. Time Elapsed;Heart Rate;Power
24. Mileage;Pace;Elevation
26. Mileage;Heart Rate;Number of Kudos
29. Time Elapsed;Mileage;Power
7.2.8 Do you normally use Strava Outdoors or Indoors?
1. No Response
2. While running and cycling
3. running
4. running near neighborhood or park
5. No Response
6. Both indoors and outdoors
7. Both indoors and outdoors
8. Outdoors
9. Outdoors
10. Outdoors
11. Outdoors
15
12. Both outdoors and indoors
14. Outdoors;Indoors
15. Outdoors
18. Outdoors
20. Outdoors
22. Outdoors
27. Outdoors
28. Outdoors
7.2.9 What data, if any, do you wish Strava displayed during the run or ride?
1. Not sure, don't really need anything

2. N/A
3. all
4. latest trends based on your activities
5. Nothing comes to mind
6. Current speed
7. Suggested nutritional data - ie: # of water breaks or carb intake for x
amount of miles or intensity
8. Power meter graphic in the map
9. No Response
10. Snapshot of route so far on a map
11. Current speed, average speed, mileage, time elapsed
12. No Response
13. distance and time
14. No Response
15. No Response
16
16. a little map or gps component, progress bar for goal or to next mile-
age/time milestone
17. The previous split time or a list of all the split times
18. At times I wish I could see max speed and elevation gain. But that’s
mostly if I’m doing a hilly ride. Show the current song title and artist
would be nice
19. No Response
20. pace, mileage traveled, time elapsed
21. Weather
22. No Response
23. No Response
24. Elevation
25. No Response
26. No Response
27. No Response
28. No Response
29. No Response
7.2.10 How frequently DURING your activity do you check Strava for
information?
1. 2
2. 2
3. 3
4. 3
5. 1
6. 1
7. 5
8. 3
9. 3
10. 2
11. 5
12. 2
13. 4
14. 5
15. 3
16. 2
17
17. 4
18. 4
19. 1
20. 4
21. 2
22. 1
23. 1
24. 2
25. 1
26. 1
27. 4
28. 2
29. 1
7.2.11 How frequently AFTER your activity do you check Strava for information?
1. 1
2. 3
3. 5
4. 3
5. 4
6. 3
7. 3
8. 3
9. 4
10. 2
11. 2
12. 5
13. 3
14. 5
15. 2
16. 4
17. 4
18. 3
19. 5
20. 3
21. 4
18
22. 5
23. 5
24. 5
25. 5
26. 5
27. 3
28. 4
29. 4
7.2.12 Compare the information you check during and after the activity and
select which applies
1. No Response
2. No Response
3. No Response
4. No Response
5. No Response
6. No Response
7. No Response
8. No Response
9. The information I check after the activity is also available during the ac-
tivity (eg distance)
10. The information I check after the activity is unavailable during the activ-
ity (eg new PRs) BUT I wish it was
11. The information I check after the activity is different in nature than the
activity I check during the activity (eg New Kudos)
ity (eg new PRs) AND I prefer it that way
16. I only check Strava during or after the activity but not both
19
7.2.13 How much do you agree that Strava has an effective user interface?
1. 4
2. 4
3. 4
4. 3
5. 3
6. 4
7. 4
8. 4
9. 4
10. 4
11. 4
12. 5
13. 4
14. 5
15. 4
16. 4
20
17. 4
18. 4
19. 5
20. 4
21. 3
22. 4
23. 4
24. 5
25. 4
26. 4
27. 5
28. 5
29. 3
7.3 Needfinding method 3: Interviews
7.3.1 Interview 1: Nick
Interviewer: How old are you?
Interviewee: I am 32.
Interviewer: Do you use Strava?
Interviewee: No, I use a different app called Runkeeper to track and record data.
And like, Strava does the same thing I guess but then there’s like the pro version
and ahh I don’t wanna [pay]
Interviewer: So do you use RunKeeper even while biking or do you use it mostly
for running?
Interviewee: Yea you can use—they have like a cycle. You can select cycling, hik-
ing, different things walking.
Interviewer: Okay, so that means your main motivation is just to keep track of
miles?
Interviewee: Yea and even then, I forget half the time to set it. But like, I don’t
know like Strava Pro, I know, like, people like set specific directions in the Strava,
I don’t know if that’s the pro version where they do that.
21
Interviewer: I’ve never heard of Strava for navigation. I’ve mostly heard of
BikeGPS or another one Ride with something and you put it on a bike computer.
Interviewee: I probably do need to get some sort of bike GPS ‘cause when I just
have the thing going on my phone it drains the battery
Interviewer: Ohh, yea yea that’s tough
Interviewee: I’ve been playing around with looking at directions before hand and
then remembering all the turns.
Interviewer: How long have you been biking?
Interviewee: Since I was like four or five? I just kinda do it to exercise I don’t
know.
7.3.2 Interview 2: Josh
Interviewer: Do you use Strava?
Interviewee: No, I usually just use Google Maps.
Interviewer: Does that mean you’re not interested in collecting how far you go
or like how fast or whatever?
Interviewee: I used to have like a little speedometer sort of thing that was on here
and there’s like a magnet on my wheel. So, I would know how far I was going.
Interviewer: Is that connected to your like mobile phone?
Interviewee: No, it’s just like a little device that goes here and then this thing
detects the magnet. But I mean, it’s really old so the little PDA thing is not work-
ing right anymore but it’s kind of cool.
Interviewer: So how long have you been biking?
Interviewee: Like about a year or so. Something like that. I’ve been pretty into it.
I live in Arlington and that was like one of my main motivations for moving there
was like being able to ride my bike around. So it’s been really nice. I’ve been
enjoying it.
7.3.3 Interview 3: Will
22
Interviewer: How do you feel about Strava?
Interviewee: I feel like my interaction with Strava is better than my interaction

with like traditional social media. I don’t like doom scroll on Strava.
Interviewer: So, would you say your motivation for using Strava is a combination
of mostly social media or also to track your activity?
Interviewee: I guess it’s kinda both. But my watch also tracks my activities, so I
don’t really need Strava to do that. And now that I don’t have Strava premium, I
use my watch more for tracking activities and stuff like that.
Interviewer: Does it upload to Strava? Or is it just on your watch somewhere

else?
Interviewee: Yea it posts to Garmin and once my phone connects it will automat-
ically load to Strava too.
Interviewer: So from your phone to Garmin and then to Strava.
Interviewee: yea so like, I finished this activity. Next time I open my phone and
my Garmin app is open, it will copy automatically from my watch, and it will
copy to Strava.
Interviewer: Okay cool. So does that mean you’re looking at Strava mostly for
social media and less for the metrics because your watch has the metrics.
Interviewee: yea.
Interviewer: And what sort of metrics do you think you look at the most?
Interviewee: Hmm I like looking at my cumulative distances and stuff. I’m most
concerned about how I perform on a given day. I like to do week to week [com-
parisons] and if I’m feeling sick one week how that affects my performance.
Interviewer: Okay so would you say the main metric is mileage?
Interviewee: Yes.
23
Interviewer: Okay. And in terms of looking at your watch like what sort of met-
rics are you interested in during a ride. Or it sounds like you’re not that inter-
ested during a ride?
Interviewee: Yea, I don’t really follow the metrics during the ride. Maybe just like
distance. If I’m looking at my watch for specific reason it’s usually navigation.
But I don’t usually look at my watch that often. It’s more so that I can see the
information later.
Interviewer: Do you find it very distracting or difficult to look at your watch

while biking?
Interviewee: Like if I’m on my bike right now? Nope, I don’t think so.
Interviewer: And what about when you’re running?
Interviewee: When I was running more I would use my watch more for like nav-
igation, like on trails. If I don’t really know where I’m going and there are routes
you can go. I guess when I ‘m running I’ll look at my pace more or I’ll look at my
heart rate specifically.
Interviewer: How long have you been biking or running?
Interviewee: Yea I mean, I’ve like ridden bikes periodically since I was a wee lad.
I kind of stopped biking in college and started running more. Because I didn’t
have my bike in college. But I started biking a lot more around here.
Interviewer: Okay. And how long have you had Strava?
Interviewee: I think I’ve technically had it since like 2014 or 16 or something. But
I basically I just had like two random runs from when I was a middle schooler.
And then I started using it when I moved here.
7.3.4 Interview 4: Sincere
Interviewer: So how long have you been biking?
Interviewee: So, I’ve been biking for two months now.
Interviewer: And have you also only been using Strava for two months?
Interviewee: I’ve been using Strava for maybe like a month and a half.
24
Interviewer: What motivates you to use Strava?
Interviewee: So I actually bought some Strava clothes online. So then when I went
with the 626 bike club, someone asked me about Strava and like I didn’t even
know what Strava was. But then they was like “It’s a biking app” and and I was
like “oh I’ll try and download it” so I downloaded it and then I was able to check
it out for like reference.
Interviewer: Now do you use it to see metrics or just to keep a record?
Interviwee: Mainly to see other rides and pick other routes. See other routes that
people are using. Just kind of mimicking where others are going.
Interviewer: so does that mean you don’t actually record your rides that often,
you mostly look at other people’s rides.
Interviewee: Mhmm, so I use it like a social media. Yeah.
Interviewer: And you said you have another app. So are you recording more
metrics on the other app?
Interviewee: Yes, every time.
Interviewer: So what sort of metrics are you interested in?
Interviewee: Um, average speed, distance and if I can get like a peak speed.
Interviewer: Okay, and do you normally look at that after your ride? Or do you
also look at that during your ride.
Interviewee: More after
Interviewer: Do you think it’s too difficult to try and look at that during the ride?
Interviewee: Mhmm. It can be. It’s not like extremely difficult but yea it can break
my stride. That’s why I’m really looking to get a smart watch. Or a bike com-
puter.
Interviewer: Right now, you’re not recording data on a watch or computer right?
Interviewee: It’s just on the phone yea.
Interviewer: My last question is do you only record outdoors or do you also rec-
ord indoors?
25
Interviewee: Only outdoors.
Interviewer: Okay, thank you.
7.3.5 Interview 5: Sam
Interviewer: First, how long have you been biking and how long have you used
Strava?
Interviewee: Let’s see, I’ve been biking like the way I’m biking now may like four
years. And I’ve been using Strava probably like six. Because I used it more for
running before that. So I used it for performance.
Interviewer: And how old are you?
Interviewer: Do you think you used it differently when you run versus when
you’re biking in terms of different metrics you’re looking at or how often you
check it?
Interviewee: Yeah I think biking because it’s really good for routes and I check it
more for the route planning and then for the calories burned. I mean I can get
the same thing from Garmin but then it’s easier on Strava. And then the PR set-
tings make me want to try a little harder. Like racing against myself.
Interviewer: Haha yeah, I like looking at the PRs too. Okay it sounds like you
have a lot of Garmin stuff. For instance, do you look at the Garmin stuff for met-
rics for instance during a ride versus Strava would be more like after a ride?
Interviewee: Oh I mean I just look at what my bike computer has on at the time.
But things don’t show up because Strava doesn’t… like now that we’re stopped
on this ride, getting food stop data, it doesn’t have like a pause where Garmin
will. And so I’m looking strictly like those performance metrics I use Garmin.
But for like the route planning or seeing how fast like tracking my rides over
multiple rides if I do the same area, that’s where I really use Strava.
Interviewer: Cool. Then compared to cycling since you don’t use it as much for
route planning per se, is it you check it during a run for pace or is it also after
your run?
26
Interviewee: I usually don’t check Strava until post race. I don’t use it for like live
tracking, I use it just for post-race analysis and how I track [incoherent].
Interviewer: Would that also be on your Garmin then?
Interviewee: It’s on my Garmin yea. It’s just more accessible and like I can look
at the broad data on Strava and if I want to dig into detail I’ll go to Garmin. To
like look at the specific data.
Interviewer: Okay. I’m kind of interested during the activity is it mostly how are
accessing [data] is it on your bike computer or your watch?
Interviewee: On my bike computer. Usually I use the bike computer.
Interviewer: Do you use Strava both indoors and outdoors? Or mostly just out-
doors for the route planning.
Interviewee: Mostly outdoors but like I’ll still track an indoor ride and I’ll use
that for the calories and power during overall metrics.
Interviewer: Thank you.
7.3.6 Interview 6: Alyssa
Interviewer: How long have you been Strava?
Interviewee: I started when I moved to Virginia and then after I met you. Maybe
like a year and a half? Or Two years?
Interviewer: Oh, and then how long have you been, I think for you it’s mostly
running right? How long have you been running?
Interviewee: I’ve been running for a while. I used to use a it’s called a fitness app.
Yea. So I used to use that. And I’ve been running like maybe like this maybe
starting junior year of college.
Interviewer: So it’s been like three or four years maybe?
Interviewee: Yea.
27
Interviewer: Okay so you mentioned like the other app you use. Is it also similar
to Strava or what is it for if it’s not similar?
Interviewee: I mean it’s similar to Strava but Strava is better.
Interviewer: Do you mostly use Strava, where do you usually use Strava?
Interviewee: Mostly outdoors
Interviewer: And then how do you decide whether or not to use Strava? Like is
it like “oh I’m going on a dedicated run I’ll use Strava” or do you ever be like “oh
I’m just going to run to my dentist, let me start Strava?” Like, do you use use it
for running or errands or for other things beyond just running
Interviewee: So ultimately for me, it depends on distance like how much I’m
running. If it’s less than a mile, then I don’t track it.
Interviewer: But will you still run? Or will you just walk?
Interviewee: I will still run. But if it was like less than a mile then I won’t track
it, regardless of if I’m running an errand or just running. So there has been times
where I would like run to an errand.
Interviewer: So do you start your Strava and then realize it’s less than a mile and
then just don’t [upload it]? Or do you like use Google Maps to determine how
far it is.
Interviewee: Like, I know how far it is. Okay
Interviewer: Okay, so why do you use Strava? What are your goals and motiva-
tions behind using Strava.
Interviewee: To track my mile time. And also like my splits basically. And like if
I’m faster the first mile, slower the second, and then faster again, or just always
slower.
Interviewer: And then do you track it just on your phone or do you also use like
a watch or something.
Interviewee: I only use my phone.
Interviewer: So when you’re running do you ever check it while you’re running
to be like “oh this map…” how often do you do that?
28
Interviewee: It depends on how tired I am that day and how much I want my
run to be done. It’s like I like don’t want to run and want to be done with it, I’ll
check maybe like every thirty seconds.
Interviewer: Do you find it easy to check your Strava on the phone? Well first
what [metrics] are you looking at the most? It sounds like you’re looking mostly
at time or is it also distance and pace
Interviewee: Time
Interviewer: And how easy to do you think it is to look at it while you’re running
because you have to, like, unlock your phone at least.
Interviewee: Yea but once I do, all the data is just like right there. Yea easy. Alt-
hough sometimes in the past I will have to click through it. Like a button? So
then it will show some information and on the other screen it will show my route
basically.
Interviewer: And do you every find it distracting that you have to check? Like
you’ve never accidentally run into something or missed a turn because you’re
checking Strava?
Interviewee: No. But I am slower, I do find myself slowing down a little and then
checking.
Interviewer: Are you just recording your Strava for fun? Would you race if you
got fast enough?
Interviewee: I think I would only do a race if like other friends are like really,
really into it and they’re like come on and I’ll join.
Interviewer: Alright, that was all my questions. Thank you so much.
29

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CS6750: Assignment M2

Abstract— This series of M assignments seeks to investigate and

1 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 1: PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

Unfortunately, this Needfinding approach gleaned limited useful information or

1.3 Bias control

2 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 2: SURVEYS

Mean Median Mode

Overall 2.69 2.5 2

Runners only 3.80 4.0 3, 4

Cyclists only 3.69 1.5 1

Mean Median Mode

Runners only 3.60 4 4

Cyclists only 3.75 4 4

Time Mile- Pace Eleva- Heart Personal Kudos Cal- Power

Health Tracking Wellbeing Curiosity Training Route Socializing

2.2 Main Takeaways

2.3 Bias control

I was also concerned about non-probability sampling by sending the survey to

3 NEEDFINDING EXECUTION 3: INTERVIEWS

3.2 Main Takeaways

There was better understanding of subtasks to upload an activity onto Strava

3.3 Bias Control

Survey respondents were overwhelmingly in the 18-29 age group followed by

4.2 What are the users? What is the environment?

The context is some running or cycling activity, either indoors or outdoors.

4.7 What are the subtasks? How are they accomplished?

In my participant observation, I observed subtasks such as unlocking my phone

6.1 Questions in continued Needfinding

6.2 How to address

7 APPENDICES: NEEDFINDING RAW DATA

7.1 Needfinding method 1: Participant Observation

[16:17] So yeah, it’s been three miles.

[17:15] It processes and then it shows up on my feed, perfect. If I’m interested in

7.2 Needfinding method 2: Surveys

7.2.1 Q1: Which Activity do you use Strava for?

1. Strava mobile app

1. Not sure, don't really need anything

7.3.1 Interview 1: Nick

Interviewer: How old are you?

Interviewer: Do you use Strava?

Interviewer: Ohh, yea yea that’s tough

Interviewer: How long have you been biking?

7.3.2 Interview 2: Josh

Interviewer: Do you use Strava?

Interviewee: No, I usually just use Google Maps.

Interviewer: Is that connected to your like mobile phone?

Interviewer: So how long have you been biking?

7.3.3 Interview 3: Will

Interviewer: How old are you?

Interviewer: How do you feel about Strava?

Interviewee: I feel like my interaction with Strava is better than my interaction

Interviewer: Does it upload to Strava? Or is it just on your watch somewhere

Interviewer: So from your phone to Garmin and then to Strava.

Interviewer: Okay so would you say the main metric is mileage?

Interviewer: Do you find it very distracting or difficult to look at your watch

Interviewer: And what about when you’re running?

Interviewer: How long have you been biking or running?

Interviewer: Okay. And how long have you had Strava?

7.3.4 Interview 4: Sincere

Interviewer: So how long have you been biking?

Interviewee: So, I’ve been biking for two months now.

Interviewer: Now do you use it to see metrics or just to keep a record?

Interviewee: Mhmm, so I use it like a social media. Yeah.

Interviewee: Yes, every time.