Google Docs: Thoughts

Overcoming the Blank Page

The feeling of staring at a blank white page is haunting for students and writers alike. Like any text-editor, Google Docs suffers from this paralyzing experience.

The Foundation

All Your Ideas In One Place

Researching a variety of different students and writers exposed that, often times, Google Docs users have strong ideas, but a fear of 'messing up' keeps them at bay.

VIDEO Moving around the Thinking Mode board.

The Problem

A Complicated Workflow

The current workflow consists of infinite chrome tabs, and un-organized lists of references and ideas.

IMG An example of the current workflow using 100s of tabs and inconsistent and un-organized notes.

The Solution

An Integrated Feature

Thoughts integrates directly into Google Docs, acting as a distinct mode just like Suggesting, Commenting, or Editing.

VID The classic toolbar, while retaining the same iconography style and system, adapts to the new functionality of Thinking mode.

The Solution

Intuitive Interactions

Thoughts can be dragged and dropped around the main board. They can also be given category/colour tags. On the thought itself, are several cues for creating connections, copying data, or editing the content itself.

VID How the interactions on the thoughts themselves function, from dragging, to viewing features.

The Solution

Creating Connections

Connections can be made between Thoughts, linking shared content. At the same time, Thoughts can be directly linked to elements of your document.

VID Creating connections between thoughts based on shared content

Selecting phrases from your document helps you relay content with your ideas. References are placed where they need to be, and figures all have a space to live.

VID Creating a connection from your thoughts to your document.
VID Small coloured indicators are added to the docuemnt to show where thoughts have been linked to for added viewability.

Reflection

Developing Features is Based in Thought

Feature design only truly works if there is a clear need from the user base for something new. Combining both Figma prototypes and After Effects motion design allows me to showcase the true functionality and tangibility of interactions without coding.

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