The document proposes an app called Elbow Room that helps users find quiet places to work or relax at any time of day. It would use predictive algorithms and multiple data sources like credit card transactions, weather reports, and webcams to determine the current and expected crowd levels at nearby cafes and restaurants. The app would provide a color-coded "crowd index" for venues, along with details about their amenities to help users choose places that are peaceful and uncrowded. The goal is to help people easily locate establishments where they can sit comfortably for an extended period without feeling rushed.

1. Elbow Room:
The App
u u u
By Andrew Cohen
For General Assembly UX11
Presented Dec. 17, 2013 (Revised May 22, 2014)

2. RESEARCH NOTES
Utilizing open-ended “Ohno Circle” methodology,
I sat in a restaurant near my home and just
observed the customers while taking notes.

3. FINDINGS
Many of the patrons who came in after 2pm came
not for the food (which is excellent) but in search
of a quiet place to
• Think
• Talk
• Listen
• Read
• Work
• Observe

4. PERSONAS
My research identified several user groups likely
to seek out such mid-afternoon “third place”
establishments. Among them:
• High School and College Students
• Stay-at-Home Mothers of Young Children
• Freelancers
• Professionals Seeking a Quiet Getaway

5. CHALLENGE
Find a way for people who like to hang out in
quiet, uncrowded restaurants or cafes to
immediately locate establishments where they
can sit with friends or a book for a long time
without being rushed or distracted.

6. SOLUTION 1
An app/website that uses data analysis to
determine at which times a given establishment
is likely to be uncrowded based on of sales at
different times of day.
Example: It could tell you that the nearest
Starbucks is a mob scene on Mondays at 8am
but a hermit’s dream at 11am.

7. SOLUTION 2
An app service that encourages restaurants and
cafes to install webcams that allow prospective
customers to see how crowded it is in real time
before making the trip.
This could be an add-on to services (Yelp, Zagat,
Foursquare) that already help customers find
venues.

8. THE IMPLEMENTATION:
Elbow Room
An app that uses predictive
technology to help you find a
quiet place to go at any time of
the day.

10. Algorithms predict present and
future user density by factoring in
such factors as:
• Credit-card data
• Fire code requirements
• Weather reports
• Real-time transactions
• Doorway sensors
• Cell phone density
• Webcam analysis

11. User criteria creates a ranked list of
nearest venues matching desired
attributes, giving each a “crowd
index” number and a corresponding
color.
• Green = Under 50% full
• Yellow = 50% to 100% full
• Red = More than 100% full
(expect a wait)

12. Venue-level page gives detailed
information, including a graph
showing that day’s crowd estimates,
along with other data one would
typically find on Yelp, Foursquare,
or Zagat:
• Address, phone number
• Hours, attributes, price
• Travel information
• Live webcam (if available)

13. THE END
Please don’t forget to tip your server