When we initiated the development of HUBkap™, we had one clear objective in mind: Simplicity = efficiency = productivity. Not to get to analytical, we knew that people’s lives had become very, very overwhelmed with their daily responsibilities, and technology was not always helping. The problem is too many sources on too many devices, with too much information — more importantly, non-relevant information.
To us, the ultimate user experience was to actually accomplish what you set out to do – and do it in a shorter more enjoyable timeframe. The end result would become obvious. So we wanted to establish a benchmark from which to embark and show tangible improvement. What better place to start than the U.S. Department of Labor who actually maintains data on how we all spend our time. More specific, how we waste time doing some of the simplest aspects of our daily life. In a nutshell, Americans spend approximately 1 hour each and every day just to deal with scheduling, organizing and communicating our normal day-to-day activities. Not surprisingly, women spend almost 2 hours each day dealing with the same issue. If you do the math, this equals approx. 3 days every year. That is basically one long weekend — wasted!
Just think about your own personal situation. Planning a “simple” family picnic/BBQ can be a 2-3 day event of back-and-forth planning, organizing, negotiating ideal times for all and communicating to everyone. Then there is the event itself. How many phone calls will you get from attendees to inquire about directions, what to bring, and other elements that could have all been handled with only one simple calendar event –AND a very important ingredient: The right information.
What people don’t realize, or forget, is that most calendar events require a certain level of adjoining input and follow up. Many times, this can last days if not weeks (getting ready for vacations). Meeting friends at the movies requires research for what movie to see, then an invite to friends, then a consensus from all on what movie to see, then discussions for show times, the actual location of the theater, and any potential after movie plans. Understandably, compiling this information, organizing it and communicating with others, can seem overwhelming and is certain to bring about procrastination. It’s no wonder that most people’s calendars have become nothing more than Wish lists.
That scenario is why we created HUBkap™. Our user proposition is actually quite simple: Make people more productive through convenience, and give them back some of that wasted time. The way to do this is to provide people relevant and real time information, based on the intended activity being scheduled, allowing the user to make decisions right on the spot. Then with a single calendar entry to all, include this information, so the invitees too can make decisions on the spot before they accept or decline. We even programmed HUBkap™ to automatically limit the relevant search for top picks, best pricing, most relevant. This is where a lot of time is wasted, so this is where we put our efforts on your behalf.
Finally, in keeping with the simplicity and convenience productivity driver, we wanted to create a UI that is easy, fast and comprehensive so that all of the above is accomplished within seconds, not days. If this approach appeals to you, look into hubkap.com and tell us what you think.