Updating the Lo-Fi Prototype
After taking into consideration peer review and the information we collected through additional interviews and grocery store visits in Detroit, our team reviewed our system in its Lo-Fi stage and proposed a new and upgraded grocery store information system.
 Lo-Fi, as presented previously
|
In our Lo-Fi prototype, our system attempted to capture the entire process behind the growing, packaging, processing, distribution, and retailing of local produce. Our main goal was to provide a tracking system for local produce that will be used by local producers, retailers, and consumers. The system would consist of an incentive-based, rewards system that will educate consumers, promote local produce, and encourage consumption and demand for locally grown food. Ultimately, we simplified our system - in terms of its scope and coverage of the entire process - and found a happy medium upon which we would deeply investigate.
Hi-Fi Prototype - A New Focus
 Example setup of our system at a grocery store / supermarket
|
One of the primary issues we wanted to address in our revisions to our system is feasibility and practicality. Was it practical to come up with a system that addressed all the known issues and served as a tool for all the stakeholders? How could we create a system that had a lasting impact on the most relevant stakeholders, while we held little or no power to change government policy or consumer behavior and preferences?
In order to gauge whether any system in a grocery store would be effective, we again went to conduct interviews with grocery store managers and surveyed and observed Detroit shoppers. We purposely chose to go in the first week of the month - where a large amount of EBT/WIC recipients would shop with their new allocations. While doing so, we continuously asked ourselves the following questions:
• Why Supermarkets?
• Why should we require / utilize a check-in?
• What existing resources does this system / interface use?
• How much local food is in Supermarkets?
• How does this work with existing practice?
• How are people getting educated?
• How are people who don't buy local food going to start buying more?
• Why are we dealing with fresh food and healthy food and not just local sustainable food?
Re-visioned System: MIFresh
After talking to store managers and observing and interviewing multiple shoppers, we decided to really focus on building a system to support grocery store shoppers. Instead of re-visioning the distribution and farming processes, we really wanted to create a system that would have an immediate impact on the most needy stakeholders - consumers, in our case.
Michigan Fresh ("MIFresh") is a pre-and-post-shopping intervention system consisting of a wall-mounted large display and multiple kiosk terminals. Designed to be a persistent reminder and convenient resource to shoppers, MIFresh will be placed in the shared entrance/exit space in grocery stores. The public display provides local food awareness, education and important instructions to promote customer interaction with the individual kiosks, which further promote the purchase of local produce by utilizing familiar shopping features such as coupons and rewards programs. Upon checkout, MIFresh reinforces its message by presenting customers with recipes and information on the savings associated to their purchase of local produce.
 Click on Hi-Fi to view an interactive version of our system!Click on Hi-Fi to view big display! |
Prototype Features
Big Screen Display To capture the attention of incoming shoppers, the MIFresh large screen display will show simple animations and short videos. Farmer profiles, information on deals, and real-time store figures (e.g. animation showing number of Michigan apples sold that week) seek to draw attention to the kiosk and enhance awareness of local food.
Individual Kiosks Consumers can interact with the kiosk to print out coupons for local food. By swiping one's EBT, debit, or grocery membership card users can access special features and deals, allowing them to participate in an on-going program that rewards them for purchasing and consuming local produce.
Produce Pairs: MIFresh "quick coupons" feature a popular or common produce paired with another less purchased or less familiar one. Nutritional information, cooking recipes, and cost savings will encourage consumers to try new local produce.
Theme Packs: MIFresh theme packs offer combined cost savings for consumers who buy local produce used to prepare a themed dinner (e.g. Thanksgiving dinner or Mexican fiesta).
Personalized Shopping List: The shopping list feature is an all-in-one recommendation and budgeting system. Shoppers designate an amount of money they wish to spend on local produce and MIFresh populates their shopping list with recommendations based on previous purchases, allowing consumers to create a personalized shopping list while saving money on local produce.
MIFresh Points/Rewards System: Shoppers accumulate MIFresh points when they purchase local produce. Accessing their MIFresh account at the individual kiosks, consumers can manage their points and redeem benefits including gas vouchers, grocery store credit, and exclusive coupons.
Check-out Coupons for selected discount packs are printed at the kiosks and scanned upon check-out. In addition, recipes, promotional information, and updates on accumulated MIFresh points are printed on the back of receipts.