Shri Hanuman Chalisa 3D App for iOS & Android Tablets
The interactive application was a remediation of the animation short film for iPad and Android tablets. The application was playful in nature and also provided a platform for sharing the stories of Hanuman, the Hindu deity. It aimed to educate the user about Hanuman in an engaging, playful, and non-obtrusive manner. It also offered a feature where the user can dedicate prayers. To incorporate all such features in a single app, intensive understanding of user experience and interaction design was required. It was a challenge to design and develop the application in a very short time without compromising on the quality. Various methods of prototyping were used for the communication and testing. Working prototypes were used iteratively for user testing; this improved the interaction design.
Availability of the Hanuman Chalisa:
In devotional songs Hanuman Chalisa is very famous. Classically it was famous in media like books, cassettes, CDs , YouTube and now in application format as digital book. In YouTube 6340 search results can be found with viewership of 5 lakhs and above. The digital books which are available in android and itunes have text and audio. In iTunes 13 applications can be found and in android 131.
Why should this app be made?
Though Hanuman Chalisa is widely read and recited very few people know about its meaning and stories associated with it. This application is a novel way of educating meaning of Hanuman Chalisa, mythology storytelling, propagates spirituality in playful non obtrusive manner.
For whom is this app?
The target audience includes Indians, NRI’s as well as international users. It also intends to cater wide age groups from 5 years and above. The younger age group will need assistance from the parents. Not all features will make sense for all age groups for example the faith beads will not be of much significance for a kid who enjoys just playing with the app.
Considerations:
As the application is targeted for international market, the quality of graphics and user experience has to be at par with the applications produced internationally. Some of the design decisions also reflect this, for example the text of Hanuman Chalisa verses and its explanation is offered in English which can be toggled to Hindi. Many of the icons are so selected that they are widely accepted. From many translations available Chinmaya Mission’s translation of Hanuman Chalisa is followed as it is widely accepted. It also provides pronunciation key.
What this app is and not?
This app is celebration of Indian mythology, spirituality and new medium of expression. It does not have any religious or political agendas. It merely expresses 400 years old composition in new medium. It does not want to hurt any religious or social sentiments. All the visuals are interpretation of the artist, Charuvi Agrawal, and thus do not claim that it is the sole way of interpreting hanuman Chalisa. This is also reflected by providing a platform for letting people express their own interpretation.
Sponsor: Charuvi Design Labs, New Delhi.
Role: Interaction Designer
Duration: 6 Months(Internship), 5 Months(Design Consultant)
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