Martha Elizabeth.

Application Installation for Devices

Introduction 
Promethean World offers cutting-edge interactive displays (IFPDs) that are utilized across classrooms, corporate meeting rooms, and educational institutions globally. IT Admins are responsible for managing the firmware on these devices to ensure their smooth operation. Firmware updates are essential for delivering the latest features and applications to users, especially in K-12 and higher education settings where teachers rely on these tools daily. However, updating applications on hundreds of devices individually is impractical for IT teams, particularly in large school districts. Promethean needed a solution that would allow for seamless application installations and updates on ActivPanel 9 devices, whether the applications were pre-installed or post-installed by IT Admins.

 

The Problem
Currently, no solution exists for IT Admins to efficiently manage and update applications on multiple devices. Admins need a way to monitor both pre-installed and post-installed applications, set configurations, update firmware and applications automatically or manually, and troubleshoot issues that arise. Without these capabilities, IT Admins are forced to visit each device in person, which is time-consuming and costly for larger districts with hundreds of panels.

Additionally, Promethean recognized the need to empower app teams to update their software independently, reducing the frequency of firmware updates and allowing new features to be delivered without waiting for a full firmware release. This project aimed to address both IT Admins' operational needs and Promethean’s goal to increase adoption of its software solutions while reducing operational costs for users.

 

Project Objectives  
- Increase Promethean’s market share by maximizing product-market fit and improving the portfolio’s desirability.  
- Increase customer adoption of software solutions by simplifying the user experience for IT Admins.  
- Reduce operational costs for users through efficient device management and streamlined update processes.  
- Improve user engagement and ensure that devices always run the most up-to-date software.  

 

My Role
I was tasked with designing a solution that would allow IT Admins to manage application installations—both pre-installed and post-installed—across multiple ActivPanel devices. This involved understanding the technical complexities of the problem, creating user flows and journey maps, designing wireframes and prototypes, and collaborating closely with developers to ensure a smooth implementation.

 

What I Did
- I began by thoroughly investigating the problem space, generating over 20 technical questions to discuss with product managers and developers. These questions helped clarify the expectations for pre-installed and post-installed applications, manual versus automatic firmware updates, and diagnostic capabilities for offline devices.
- Based on my research, I developed user journey maps that outlined the different paths and expectations for both pre-installed and post-installed applications. I mapped out the scenarios where manual or automatic installation methods would apply and defined the corresponding user actions and available features for each scenario.
- Using these journey maps, I designed intuitive user flows that allowed IT Admins to manage application installations with minimal friction. This included the ability to toggle between manual and automatic installation methods, whether for a single device or in bulk, and to identify and resolve errors when devices were offline or not up-to-date.
- I designed mockups, wireframes, and prototypes that illustrated the new feature’s UI, how it would perform, and what the user could accomplish based on the type of app and installation method.
- I created high-fidelity deliverables for handoff to developers, ensuring that all designs were delivered on time and within scope.
- Throughout the development process, I maintained close communication with the dev team, reviewing the implementation, addressing bugs, and making adjustments as technical constraints or new questions arose.

 

Outcome
The fully functional application installation feature is now integrated into the Admin Tools suite, with a 100% success rate for pre-installed and post-installed applications. IT Admins can easily manage installations, make decisions about manual versus automatic updates, uninstall applications, and troubleshoot issues. This new feature has significantly reduced the operational burden on IT teams by providing them with the tools they need to manage hundreds of devices efficiently.

Key results from the project include:  
- Increased adoption of Promethean’s software solutions, contributing to higher user engagement.  
- A notable rise in site visits, web sign-ins, and device enrollments.  
- A spike in APK releases and firmware updates, particularly for ActivPanel 9 devices running FW 2.1+.  
- A more streamlined workflow for IT Admins, improving productivity and reducing costs.

 

This solution not only enhanced the perceived value of Promethean’s core applications but also allowed app teams to push updates independently, ensuring that customers receive new features and improvements without waiting for firmware updates. Ultimately, this project has strengthened Promethean’s position in the market by providing a user-friendly, scalable solution for managing device software.