Tapestry takes the form of a social media app, it is a website and an app which can be downloaded onto devices. Tapestry refers to your social media page, you can share links, create a notice, post text and photos which are aimed to be shared with your family. You can invite family members to the site and join existing family accounts with a code which then brings you into their family sites. The aim is not to share posts with the public but restrict your tapestry to other family members in order to keep each other up to date with activities and events.
There is a section also named photos suggesting that sharing photos is a big part of this app, you are able to see photos which have been shared by family members and like photos.
There is a messaging section where you are able to private message family members therefore keeping connected with private matters as well as shared posts.
Another section is the Weather, this sector will tell the user the weather in their area and the forecast for the next 5 days.
The help section allows the user to read a guide on how to set up and use Tapestry, the guide is set out very simply with examples and screenshots to help. The guide explains each section of Tapestry to help the user function the app with ease and gain the most out of the app. I like this section of the app as a simple guide can ensure the user understands and benefits from the app. If the user still has queries about the app and its functionality there is a section which you can contact a Tapestry team member through an email service with any further questions.
Further to the tiled home page there is a menu section to the left which includes some more features. A feature I found interesting is the Where Am I? Section, this is an integration of Google Maps, the marker indicates your current location. There is a button which allows you to send an SOS message to all family members which will then notify them you are lost. I like this element however I think could be further improved with an option to navigate you home and give directions to help.
Another section they include is a Medication Reminder, you are able to input reminders for specific times and days with the name of the medication and the dosage, this will then remind the user what medication to take and when. To further improve this section it could be a good idea to enable the user to be able to tick off medication they have taken to ensure they know and can show family members they have taken medications on time.
The layout of the app is very bold and simple. The text and icons are large and everything is very simply laid out in front of you. It is easy to navigate and easy to find help with any queries.
So what are they missing?
The app is very constricted to keeping up to date with families and not concerned with keeping up to date with distant or old friends as the app could easily create a family account to constrict posts to one section of people and an account of friends where you can also keep up to date with another section of people.
The app is solely concerned with elderly family members remaining safe and up to date however this could lead to further loneliness, family members may feel that they provide sufficient contact with other family members via the app that it could lead to less visitation and even over the phone contact. I would integrate a Skype component to ensure contact is still reached over the internet, this could also be available in the Where am I? function as a simple notification to tell family members may not be seen straight away and may further worry the user.
The functions of the app come across quite patronising, the app is aimed at the elderly and therefore assumes that old people can easily get lost and be forgetful, we do not want to undermine the users and I feel as though the tone of the app is belittling to the user. Although the functions may come in handy for some I feel as though they could have approached the sections in a more delicate way rather than blatantly stating ‘Where am I?’ ‘Send SOS’.
The app is not aesthetically pleasing with block colours and simple layout, I feel as though the app could look more appealing with the use of images to show how a profile would look and entice customers to use the app.
What could further be integrated on the app along the lines of the reminder function could be a calendar with reminders, users and family members are then able to create events such as visiting times, dinner reservations, doctors’ appointments etc. on a group or individual calendar. This could not only remind users of daily activities but encourage events to look forward to e.g. 3 days until dinner with Jen at The Kings Head. This could also then integrate the maps element and show directions to the meeting place in case they get lost on their way.
What is good about the app is that it refines social media to relevant images and posts that would interest Grandparents to information about their family. It keeps distant families up to date and is an easy way for them to see and keep images of their family. It integrates a few functions which could be useful for the elderly therefore giving numerous functions to a social media app.