Online Media Storage
(1)The folder structure imitates systems users already know, maximizing usability.
(2)With the color picker, users can easily customize the desktop's background color.
Our Role
- Usability Strategy
- Interface Design
- Graphical Modules
- Backend Development
- Proprietary Software Programming
The Objective
In a web-based file library, content can get cluttered after just a few uploads. The goal of Project STOR was to vastly simplify content management by presenting a user's online files in a tailored graphical interface. The system would support a range of file types and sizes, including pictures, music and video, and enable the user to freely sort them using a variety of parameters.
The Challenge
The original call for Project STOR was as a social network utility feature. Thus the interface would have to be highly intuitive to suit thousands of diverse users. Confidence in the system would be equally important, to put users at ease about uploading digital files. Ideally, the interface would behave like the desktop of a computer OS, ensuring maximum user comfort and fluency. By using existing frameworks users would not be required to download and install software. As an accessory to a much larger system, the tool would have to be timely and cost effective, scalable for the developer.
The Solution
In the Development Lab our team assessed many different ideas and solutions for Project STOR—both open source and proprietary. A proprietary solution was ultimately chosen for its development speed and cost effectiveness. It shaved off months of development and thousands of dollars from the project.
Results
Jove1 and its software successors facilitated all of the following front-end design capabilities. These end-user benefits were unprecedented online. Media content published, shared and managed via Project STOR grew 500% in the first month's Beta test without any active marketing whatsoever; all results were viral.
- No download/install necessary; the desktop runs from all major browsers in Windows, Mac and Linux
- No technical or software skills are required for content management
- Easy upload system welcomed backup of any file type: photos, videos, music and documents
- Users can access and play their media files from anywhere simply by logging in
- File sharing settings enable media file sharing with friends
- Custom controls give users power over privacy parameters, limiting what others can view
- Users can run applications right from the desktop, facilitating future application development
