A HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE USER EXPERIENCE OF SOFTWARE UPDATES

Software updates are critical to the security of software systems and devices. Yet users often do not install them in a timely manner, leaving their devices open to security exploits. This research explored a re-design of automatic software updates on desktop and mobile devices to improve the uptake of updates through three studies. First using interviews, we studied users’ updating patterns and behaviors on desktop machines in a formative study. Second, we distilled these findings into the design of a low-fi prototype for desktops, and evaluated its efficacy for automating updates by means of a think-aloud study. Third, we investigated individual differences in update automation on Android devices using a large scale survey, and interviews. In this thesis, I present the findings of all three studies and provide evidence for how automatic updates can be better appropriated to fit users on both desktops and mobile devices. Additionally, I provide user interface design suggestions for software updates and outline recommendations for future work to improve the user experience of software updates.

An Ecological Analysis of the Potential for Moss-Based Green Roof Design

Green roofs are a maturing application of best management practices for controlling urban stormwater runoff. The majority of green roofs are planted with drought resistant, higher plant species, such as the genus Sedum. However, other plant varieties, such as mosses, may be equally applicable. Residential roofs and natural terrestrial communities were sampled in both Maryland and Tennessee to determine moss community structure and species water composition. This served as a natural analog for potential green roof moss communities. During sampling, 21 species of moss were identified throughout the 37 total sites. The average percent moss cover and water composition across all roof sites was 40.7% and 38.6%, respectively and across all natural sites, 76.7% and 47.7%, respectively. Additional maximum water holding capacity procedures were completed on sedum and 19 of the 21 sampled moss species to assess their individual potential for stormwater absorption. Sedum species on average held 166% of their biomass in water, while moss species held 732%. The results of this study are used as a basis to propose moss species that will improve green roof performance.

Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance: Design Implications of an Urban Case Demonstration in Baltimore, Maryland

This research-design thesis explores the implementation of Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC) as a retrofit of an existing impervious drainage system in a small catchment in the degraded Jones Falls watershed in Baltimore City. An introduction to RSC is provided, placing its development within a theoretical context of novel ecosystems, biomimicry and Nassauer and Opdam’s (2008) model of landscape innovation. The case site is in Baltimore’s Hampden neighborhood on City-owned land adjacent to rowhomes, open space and an access point to a popular wooded trail along a local stream. The design proposal employs RSC to retrofit an ill-performing stormwater system, simultaneously providing a range of ecological, social and economic services; water quantity, water quality and economic performance of the proposed RSC are quantified. While the proposed design is site-specific the model is adaptable for retrofitting other small-scale impervious drainage systems, providing a strategic tool in addressing Baltimore City’s stormwater challenges.