Designed two interactive, responsive web pages for both PC and mobile formats that address the growing need for critical news analysis
Overview
Title: Unbias: AI Web Tool
Team: Elizabeth Morgan
Role: UX/UI Designer
Timeline: April 2024 – May 2024Background
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to discern credible information online is paramount. The rise of artificial intelligence and the anonymity afforded by the internet have created fertile ground for the spread of misinformation and biased reporting. Traditional news outlets, once considered bastions of factual reporting, now compete with a proliferation of online sources with varying degrees of credibility. This creates a significant challenge for citizens seeking accurate, unbiased information to make informed decisions.
The difficulty in differentiating fact from opinion, particularly within news articles, can have serious consequences. Misinformation can fuel social division, erode trust in institutions, and even influence critical social and political issues.
Why is this important?
- Empowering Informed Citizens: A critical citizenry is essential for a healthy democracy. By equipping users with tools to analyze the factual basis and potential biases within news articles, we empower them to make informed decisions about the information they consume.
- Combating Misinformation: The spread of misinformation can have a detrimental impact on society. By providing tools to identify and separate fact from opinion, we can help mitigate the effects of misinformation and promote a more informed public discourse.
The Problem
How might we empower users to become more critical consumers of news by designing an interactive tool that separates facts from opinions and analyzes the potential agenda behind news articles?
User Journey and Color Scheme
Color Scheme
- Color Palette: We’ve opted for a blue and white palette, utilizing a range of light and dark blues. This combination offers several benefits:
- Enhanced Readability and Accessibility: The high contrast between white text and the blue background ensures a clear and comfortable reading experience for users with varying visual abilities.
- Professional and Trustworthy Aesthetic: The color blue is often associated with feelings of stability, trust, and calmness. This aligns perfectly with the app’s goal of building user trust and projecting a professional image.
Psychology of Color: Blue evokes feelings of trust and calmness, further reinforcing the app’s goal of user confidence.
The Design
Page 1: Input & Tool Selection
- Headline: Unbias: Analyze any news URL. See facts separated from opinions, and uncover potential bias.
- URL Input Field: Users can easily paste or type the URL of a news article.
- Interactive Tool Selection:
- Three prominent buttons: “Fact Verification,” “Bias Checker,” and “Source Credibility” (Easy to understand labels)
- Brief description text below each button explaining its function (Optional, for additional clarity)
Page 2: Interactive Analysis Results
Top Navigation Bar: Displays the three analysis tools again. Clicking each one filters the displayed content below. (Provides user control and clear information hierarchy)
Visualization Consistency: All three tools use the same visual style for presenting results. (Ensures a cohesive user experience)
Fact Verification:
- Pie Chart: Shows percentages of facts and opinions in the article. (Clear and concise overview)
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- Color-coded Text: Highlights factual and opinionated text within the entire article. (Provides context and detail)
Bias Checker:
- Visualization: A spectrum or gauge could represent potential bias (left = liberal, right = conservative, center = neutral). (Provides a visual representation of potential bias)
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- Supporting Text: Explains the identified bias and potential sources of influence. (Explains the rationale behind the analysis)
Source Credibility:
- Trustworthiness Score: A score or rating system indicating the source’s overall credibility. (Provides a quick assessment)
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- Source Information: Details about the source’s background, ownership, and reputation. (Offers users the ability to learn more)
Design Considerations:
Intuitive Interface: Ensure the interface is clear, uncluttered, and easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile devices.
Visual Hierarchy: Use color, size, and placement to prioritize information and guide the user’s attention.
Accessibility: Ensure the design is accessible to users with visual impairments through color contrast and alternative text descriptions
Responsiveness: The layout should adapt fluidly across different screen sizes for optimal user experience.
Future Roadmap
The explosion of online news sources has made me, like many others, increasingly skeptical of the information I consume. Distinguishing fact from opinion and identifying potential bias can be a real challenge. This is why I’m excited about the prospect of developing a tool that empowers users to critically analyze news articles.
By conducting user testing and A/B testing, I hope to not only refine the design of this news analysis tool but also validate the overall need for such a resource. This will help determine if a user-friendly critical thinking tool can truly empower people to become more discerning consumers of online information.