Choose an app on your phone. How would you modify this application?

Question Analysis

This question is designed to evaluate your ability to critically assess existing technology and identify opportunities for improvement. It tests your creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of user experience. The interviewer wants to see how you approach product enhancement and whether you can articulate clear and actionable changes. To answer effectively, you should consider the app's current functionality, user feedback, potential for innovation, and technical feasibility.

Answer

App Chosen: Spotify

Proposed Modification: Enhanced Playlist Personalization

• Situation: Spotify is a popular music streaming app with a large user base. While it offers personalized playlists like "Discover Weekly," there is potential to further enhance user experience by increasing the personalization of these playlists.

• Task: Identify a way to modify Spotify to improve user engagement and satisfaction through increased playlist personalization.

• Action:

  • User-Centric Algorithm: Implement an advanced algorithm that not only considers users' listening history but also their mood, activity (e.g., workout, study), and time of day. This could be achieved through optional user inputs or by analyzing contextual data if permissions are granted.
  • Mood and Activity Tagging: Allow users to tag songs or playlists with specific moods or activities. Use this data to refine recommendations.
  • Interactive Feedback Loop: Introduce an interactive feature where users can provide feedback on playlist accuracy (e.g., thumbs up/down, emoji reactions) to continuously refine and improve recommendations.

• Result: By implementing these modifications, Spotify could offer a more personalized experience, likely increasing user satisfaction and retention. Users would feel more connected to the service, as it would better align with their individual preferences and daily routines.