Executive Summary

Technological progress is advancing relentlessly, and an ever-increasing part of our lives takes place online. Every day, we are required to upload vast amounts of personal data. Most people have long lost track of which of their data is floating around the internet. PSA's ich.app aims to address this issue by securing this data and creating a protected digital identity. The app is designed to simplify everyday tasks while ensuring that private information remains safe and is not exposed openly on the internet.

Goal

The goal of this project was to determine, whether a potential market for the ich.app exists at WU Vienna and whether it is possible to integrate the ich.app into the university´s ecosystem. Thus, this project aimed to identify new university-specific features that could create a significant additional value for all stakeholders at WU, while keeping secure identification as the app´s core function. Moreover, entry barriers into the WU market needed to be assessed and potential technical limitations hindering implementation evaluated. 

Methodology

The project was conducted using design thinking. Design thinking is a problem-based, use-centered approach to creating innovations. In the beginning, we used primary and secondary research to get a feel for the project. As part of this process, we conducted 20 interviews to better understand our target group, consisting of faculty members, students, WU-IT, and third parties. Subsequently we synthesized the insights gathered and clearly defined the problem to be addressed. Next, we used different methods, like starbursting, to create innovative solution ideas. Based on these ideas we created a total of 8 different prototypes with the help of AI and programming tools like Figma, Claude or Uizard. With iterative test runs conducted within our target group, we aimed at identifying improvement potential in order to further enhance the prototypes. 

Results

Over the course of the project, a comprehensive concept for the ich.app was developed, enabling its integration into the WU Vienna ecosystem. For this entirely new application area of the ich.app, specific features were identified and tested with the help of prototypes, such as a digital student ID, a payment and student discount section, and a career tool. These and many more features cater significantly to the wants and needs of the various stakeholders at WU, while still maintaining the core focus of the ich.app - identity verification use cases - as its central competence.

Cooperation Partner

• (ich.app)

• PSA Payment Services Austria GmbH

• Handelskai 92 / Gate 2, 1200 Wien

• http://www.psa.at

Contact Person

• Lucia Nowak - lucia.nowak@psa.at

Student Team

•     Maximilian Elser

•     Sebastian Epple

•     Lorenz Frauscher

•     Katja Hirzinger

•     Simon Klaffenböck

Project Manager

• Diana Lauer

• Andrew Isaak