Prototype Context for Evaluation

Target Audience Persona

Name: Sarah Johnson
Age: 34
Occupation: Part-time Retail Worker
Location: Orlando, Florida

Sarah is a single parent who struggles to afford basic necessities such as food, housing, healthcare, and education for her family. She wants a simple, reliable way to find community resources without spending hours searching multiple websites or making numerous phone calls.

Problem Statement

Low-income individuals and families need an easier way to find reliable community resources because current information is often scattered across multiple websites, making it difficult and time-consuming to access food, housing, healthcare, education, and employment assistance.

Value Proposition Statement

The Community Resource Hub provides one easy-to-use platform where users can quickly search for trusted community resources. By organizing food, housing, healthcare, education, and job assistance into one location, the website saves time, reduces frustration, and helps users connect with the services they need.

Prototype Features, Screens, and Functions

Home Screen: Welcome page with navigation menu and featured resources.
Food Screen: Displays food banks, meal programs, and food assistance services.
Housing Screen: Shows affordable housing programs, shelters, and rental assistance.
Healthcare Screen: Lists free clinics, healthcare providers, and medical assistance resources.
Education Screen: Provides tutoring programs, schools, scholarships, and educational support.
Jobs Screen: Displays employment opportunities, career training, and job resources.
Contact Screen: Allows users to submit questions or request additional assistance.
AI Resource Assistant: A chatbot that answers user questions and recommends resources based on their needs.
Navigation Menu: Allows users to switch between all screens without leaving the website.
Search Bar: Lets users search for resources using keywords such as food, housing, healthcare, education, or jobs.
Learn More Buttons: Display additional information about each resource, including available services and contact details.

Core Functions

showScreen() – Displays the selected section of the website.
searchResources() – Searches for community resources based on user keywords.
showDetails() – Displays detailed information about a selected resource.
sendMessage() – Allows the AI Resource Assistant to respond to user questions.
submitContactForm() – Validates and submits the user's contact request.

Persona 1

Name

Maria Lopez

Age

22 years old

Occupation

Single Parent and Part-Time Cashier

Location

Orlando, Florida

Goals & Motivations

Find food assistance and affordable housing quickly.
Provide a stable home for her child.
Save time when searching for community resources.

Frustrations & Pain Points

Information is spread across many websites.
She struggles to know which programs are legitimate.
Searching for help takes time away from work and parenting.

Quote

"I don't have time to search ten different websites just to find help for my family."

Persona 2

Name

James Carter

Age

35 years old

Occupation

Part-Time Warehouse Worker

Location

Melbourne, Florida

Goals & Motivations

Find healthcare services and better employment opportunities.
Improve his financial situation.
Access reliable community resources without confusion.

Frustrations & Pain Points

Most resource websites are difficult to navigate.
He relies on friends because online information is confusing.
He often finds outdated or incomplete information.

Quote

"I need one place that clearly tells me where I can get help."

Persona 3

Name

Aaliyah Brown

Age

19 years old

Occupation

College Student

Location

Tampa, Florida

Goals & Motivations

Find food assistance, scholarships, and job opportunities.
Become financially independent.
Learn what programs she qualifies for.

Frustrations & Pain Points

She does not know where to begin looking for help.
Eligibility requirements are often difficult to understand.
She feels discouraged by the complicated application process.

Quote

AI Focus Group Evaluation

Problem Statement Execution

User A – Maria Lopez (Single Parent)

Evaluation:

The prototype partially addresses my problem by placing food, housing, healthcare, education, and job resources in one website instead of requiring me to search multiple sources. However, I still don't know whether I qualify for each program or which resource I should use first.

Identified Issues:

No eligibility checker for assistance programs.

Resources are grouped by category but not by urgency.

The search feature does not personalize results.

Suggested Improvements:

Add a questionnaire that recommends resources based on income, family size, and location.

Label resources as Emergency, Short-Term, or Long-Term.

Display eligibility requirements before users click "Learn More."

User B – James Carter (Part-Time Worker)

Evaluation:

The website reduces the amount of searching I need to do, but I still need to compare several resources myself. The prototype organizes information well, but it doesn't save me enough time because I must read every listing.

Identified Issues:

No filtering options.

Search results are too broad.

The AI Assistant provides general guidance instead of personalized recommendations.

Suggested Improvements:

Add filters for distance, availability, and resource type.

Include sorting options such as Closest, Most Popular, or Open Today.

Allow the AI Assistant to recommend the best matching resource.

User C – Aaliyah Brown (College Student)

Evaluation:

The prototype gives me a better starting point than searching online, but I'm still unsure which programs apply to someone in my situation. The AI Assistant is helpful, but I would still need guidance during the application process.

Identified Issues:

No application guidance.

No step-by-step checklist.

Limited educational and scholarship resources.

Suggested Improvements:

Add application checklists.

Include scholarship and financial aid resources.

Create beginner-friendly guides explaining how to apply for assistance.

Persona Impact

User A

The search feature and organized categories reduce the time spent looking for help, but more personalized recommendations are needed.

User B

The navigation is straightforward, but the website would be more useful if search results could be filtered and sorted based on personal needs.

User C

The AI Assistant improves confidence by answering questions, but additional guidance throughout the application process would make the prototype more valuable.

Do the Users Disagree?

User A: Eligibility information is the most important missing feature.

User B: Search filters and faster navigation are the highest priorities.

User C: Application guidance and educational resources are the biggest gaps.

Value Proposition Alignment

Value Proposition: The Community Resource Hub provides one easy-to-use platform where users can quickly search for trusted community resources, reducing the time and frustration involved in finding assistance.

User A

The prototype supports the value proposition because it organizes resources in one place. However, it does not fully reduce frustration until users know which programs they qualify for.

User B

The website fulfills its promise of centralizing information, but the lack of advanced filtering limits its efficiency for busy users.

User C

The prototype aligns with the value proposition by making resources easier to discover, but it does not yet provide enough support after users find a resource.

Panel Discussion

User A: "The biggest barrier is uncertainty. If I don't know whether I qualify for a program, I'll still spend time researching elsewhere."

User B: "The biggest barrier is efficiency. Without filters and personalized search results, I'll still have to compare multiple resources."

User C: "The hardest part isn't finding resources—it's understanding what to do next. The website should guide users through the application process."

Common Conclusion: The panel agrees that the prototype brings resources together in one location, but it needs more personalization and guidance to fully deliver on its value proposition.

Constructive Suggestions

User A

Add an eligibility checker based on household size, income, and location.

Highlight emergency assistance programs.

Show required documents before users apply.

User B

Add advanced search filters.

Display resources on an interactive map.

Allow users to save favorite resources.

User C

Add application walkthroughs.

Include scholarship and education-specific resources.

Create a progress tracker for completed applications.

Overall Recommendations

Add personalized recommendations with an eligibility questionnaire and AI-powered resource matching.

Improve the search feature with filters, sorting options, and an interactive map.

Provide application guidance through step-by-step instructions, eligibility information, and progress tracking.

Supporting Evidence

Nielsen Norman Group: Clear navigation and efficient search reduce user frustration and improve usability.

U.S. Web Design System (USWDS): Government and community service websites should organize information clearly and support simple navigation.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2): Websites should be understandable, easy to navigate, and accessible for all users.

These recommendations are based on established usability and accessibility principles as well as the perspectives of the three simulated users.