The joint project of Ellibs and the LAB University of Applied Sciences highlighted the accessibility of digital services, the potential of artificial intelligence, and user experience.

When Account Manager Pirjo Kangas and CEO Juha Tarvainen from Ellibs sat down with Lecturer Jenni Hautamäki and Principal Lecturer in Visual Communication Harri Heikkilä from the Institute of Design and Fine Arts of LAB to discuss the project direction, they considered the possible stages. An important goal was to collaborate with the technical development team at Ellibs.

According to Sanni Jääskeläinen, who studies User Experience and User Interface Design at LAB, the goal was achieved with flying colours:

“Our commissioner Ellibs was actively involved in the project. This is something we haven’t been able to do before.”

Jenni Hautamäki agrees: the expectations were met.

“We also wanted to offer enough challenge to the students who have mastered the basics,” she says.

Exploring and making comparisons

At the start of the project, the students explored the current version of the Ellibs app and compared it to other similar applications. They also familiarised themselves with topical research in the field.

“Then, we got to brainstorm and hold a separate presentation event for Ellibs,” Jääskeläinen recounts.

“The brainstorm sessions allowed us to unleash our creativity,” says Piia Lukkaroinen, who also studies User Experience and User Interface Design.

For example, the student groups explored the possibility of adding reading or listening goals in the app, which would help prepare for exams and create a reading plan.

“The course is a mandatory part of the third-year studies in User Experience and User Interface Design”, Hautamäki says.

The UI/UX Coding Studio was used as the learning environment for the course.

The students turned the ideas into prototypes and tested them in LAB’s student community.

“Based on the data from user testing, we developed the prototypes further,” Jääskeläinen says.

AI and accessibility attracted interest

“In the future, AI could be used to create a summary of a book you have read or listened to in the app, and the user could download it in PDF format, for example,” she envisages.

According to Ms Lukkaroinen and Ms Jääskeläinen, there are also other ways to benefit from AI in the e-book app. For instance, it could create a pop quiz based on the selected material, and students could use it to test how much they have learned.

All student groups participating in the joint project highlighted accessibility during the brainstorming sessions. This means that everyone has equal opportunities to use digital products, devices and services.

“A subtitling feature that matches the narration would benefit those with learning, concentration or reading difficulties,” Lukkaroinen points out.

Learning new things and work skills

Ms Jääskeläinen did not have much prior experience with e- or audiobooks. During the project, she learned that audio and text files are completely separate from each other, and that they may not cooperate smoothly or at all.

Both students were grateful for the time reserved for the project; there was no hurry or panic at any stage.

“In some student groups, we find ourselves pulling all-nighters. Now, there was so much time that, instead of coding, we all got a good night’s sleep before the customer presentation!” Jääskeläinen says with a laugh.

She hopes this would be the case also in working life – at least for the most part.

“It’s nice to have a real customer project in your portfolio and not just typical school assignments,” Lukkaroinen notes.

Pleasant collaboration on all sides

Ellibs was also pleased with the joint project.

“We received many fresh ideas from the students, who brought new perspectives to the application development,” Pirjo Kangas relates. “Next, we’ll go through the ideas and perhaps take some for further development.”

In a future update, the Ellibs application may very well be given a feature whose prototype took shape in the hands of the students at the LAB University of Applied Sciences.