Private Kit 4+

So when you click on the visualize data streams button, it shows you a piece of a map momentarily before booting you out of the app. Looks like another bug but hopefully you guys know this by now. And also would like more info about choosing an information source. Are we supposed to look up our local and any other .gov website that supposedly does testing for COVID-19?? Kinda confusing, well a little bit.

3 stars for effort, but less for usefulness now. Suggestion: Many many people want to be able to do something and helping with their own contact tracing is a good start. Too much of the current contact tracing method relies on patient memory, which gets less precise as you go back in time. I suggest this app add a simple notebook feature where users can enter their own contacts. An easy interface to select the date & time and make a note if it was a public place (grocery store, work) or a private encounter including names __________ (eg met with 2 friends ____ & ____ for whatever activity). The info gets dropped out once it’s 15 days old. Should be easy coding and zero privacy issues since it’s user input and doesn’t get sent out anywhere. If the user gets the virus, they’re well prepared for the contact tracing interview and if they hear of someone getting it, they can scan their own history list to see if they should self isolate.
Criticisms: 1. Why is the “trail” marked with giant green bodies instead of just a line connecting dots? Simple dots would far better pinpoint locations where there may have been a stop (eg grocery). 2. It doesn’t seem to work well in our rural area. The ‘public data set’ is far from matching our state’s map of reported cases. But maybe that’s one of the parts under development.

Similar to what many others have said, I really want to use this app, for myself and for the greater good. But... I mean, what even is it? I have zero clue what it is doing, the instructions/information is nonexistent, the UX/UI is completely unhelpful (check overlap? with a bunch of overwhelming red circles everywhere? and I guess theres supposed to be some green trail?)... I mean what even is this app? I downloaded it because I figured MIT was up to good things... and I am sure they are, but as it stands now I can’t see the point in this app and there is no clue given to me about any potentially hidden benefits, the vision of what it hopes be or really any context at all. I reached out and offered to help with the design and haven’t gotten any reply (I have no doubt they are busy but just let me see how I can help!). I have deleted the app once already and will likely delete again now. If they want us to participate then they really gotta do a better job telling us about what this obtuse app we are allowing to track us at all times is even doing.