The Halloween Control Center is a central application that allows controlling all Halloween exhibits at the location, i.e. in the local network, in parallel as well as safe and error-proof.
The application allows the user to trigger individual scary actions of the exhibits manually and to switch the exhibits to their auto-scare mode in which they scare autonomously.

Non-scope

The Halloween Control Center does not have any knowledge what is involved in a scary action in detail.
The Halloween Control Center does not expose direct control to mechanical or electrical operation in order to guarantee child-proof control where it is not possible to cause unsafe states by pressing too many buttons.

User roles

Trick-or-treat ghost

Kids who come by hunting for sweets and who usually don't mind a little scare.

Halloween controller

Resident kid that controls the exhibits with the intention of causing a little scare tonthe trick-or-treat ghosts before they get their deserved reward. Halloween Controllers are selected individuals and enjoy a high standing ("VIP") among the present guests.

Note: There is only one Halloween Controller working with the system at the same time.

Halloween controller's supervisor

Resident who tries to keep the scary actions and resulting noise level within reason.

Halloween system integrator

Technicians who build up the system, connect everything and keep it up and running during the night.

Stories

Personalized access using VIP card

VIP card access

As the Halloween Controller, I want to access the greeting page of the Halloween Control Center application using my personalized VIP card so that I feel acknowledged and valued as an authorized user.

Note:

Access is achieved by reading a QR code printed on the VIP card that opens the greeting web page using an appropriate app and camera of the Halloween Controller's tablet.

Personalized greeting

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see a personal greeting message on the greeting page, so that I get a personalized user experience and feel valued as an authorized user.

Enter Master screen

As the Halloween Controller, I want to navigate from the greeting page to the Master screen by using an impressive button function ("Enter if you dare" or similar, sound, etc.) so that I look forward to scaring Trick or Treat Ghosts even more.

Add Halloween Controllers

As the Halloween System Integrator, I want to add other users by name to the group of authorized Halloween controllers by creating a VIP card for them so that the privilege of controlling the exhibits is extended explicitely to them.

Note:

This process does not have to be completely covered by the Halloween Control Center.

Master screen

Control scary action in all exhibits ✅

As the Halloween Controller, I want to be able to trigger scary actions of all exhibits from the Master screen so that I have quick access to scary actions of all exhibits at all time.

Note:

Scary actions should be able to run in several exhibits at the same time in parallel.

See exhibits that are online

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the Master Screen which exhibits of the system are online so that I know which I can use to scare or which ones I might need to attend to to get them running.

Enable/disable auto mode

As the Halloween Controller, I want to be able to activate and deactive auto mode for all exhibits that support it from the Master screen so that I have quick access to scary actions of all exhibits at all time.

Note:

If an exhibit does not support auto mode, the option should not be offered.

Parallel scaring of exhibits ✅

As the Halloween Controller, I want to trigger a scary action of different exhibits to run at the same time from the Master screen so that I can create a lot of scaring and don't have to wait until a scary action is completed in one exhibit before starting one in another.

Note:

Example: I don't want to have to wait for an action of the weremonkey to stop before I trigger a Knock of the monster in a box.
A scary action should be able to run in two or more and even all exhibits at the same time.

Multi-screen control

As the Halloween Controller's supervisor, I want to have control over the exhibits at the same time as a the Halloween Controller and enable/disable auto-scare mode and trigger/abort scary actions so that I can calm down the situation if very yound (and therefore sensitive) Trick-or-Treat Ghosts arrive.

Notes

It is not mandatory to live-update status information in the UI. By refresh is sufficient.

Auto mode

Enable auto mode

As the Halloween Controller, I want to switch the exhibit to auto mode if supported by the exhibit, so that it terrifies trick-or-treat ghosts who visit by performing a random scary action triggered by motion without my intervention.

Disable auto mode

As the Halloween Controller, I want to disable the auto mode for the exhibit so that the exhibit does nothing anymore automatically and ensures peace of mind for all involved.

Display support of auto mode 🆕

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI whether an exhibit supports auto mode or not, so that I know if it's worth trying to set it to auto mode.

Display mode of operation

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI whether an exhibit is currently in auto mode or not if auto mode is supported by the exhibit, so that I know its mode of operation even if the exhibit is not currently doing anything.

Alive status

Display "alive" status

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI if an exhibit is "alive" so that I know that I can control it or have to take measures to restore it, otherwise.

Display "health" status

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI if an exhibit is not considering itself "healthy" so that I measures to restore the exhibit's health. Example: Low battery.

Scary actions

Manually trigger scary actions ✅

As the Halloween Controller, I want to manually trigger scary actions of an exhibit, so that a scary action of my choice happens in the right moment to scare the kid from the b class that tripped me over without saying sorry.

Note:

Only one scary action involving mechanical movement or electrical actions (relay and LED) may be active at the time in the same exhibit so that the hardware is controlled in a safe and definitive way.
This means that I can trigger additional scary actions that involve only sound in an exhibit that is already running a scary action using hardware.

Abort scary action

As the Halloween Controller, I want to abort a scary action so that I can for example stop the unintended generation of terrible noise in case I have accidently triggered it.

Display ongoing scary action

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI if a scary action is currently being executed and which one given the fact so that I can determine which one is the scariest without having to remember my UI interaction in detail.

Scary loops

Trigger scary loop

As the Halloween Controller, I want to trigger the exhibit to execute a scary loop if this is supported, so that it continously terrifies trick-or-treat ghosts who visit by e.g. giving an ambience sound or fog generation without my intervention.

Abort scary loop

As the Halloween Controller, I want to stop a scary loop for the exhibit so that the exhibit does nothing anymore automatically and ensures peace of mind for all involved.

Display ongoing scary loop

As the Halloween Controller, I want to see in the UI whether an exhibit is currently performing a scary loop or not, so that I know its mode of operation even if the exhibit is not currently doing anything.

Compatibility

Mobile device compatibility

As the Halloween Controller, I want to control the exhibits from a mobile device (tablet or smartphone) so that I can do so while running around in the garden.

Android tablet compatibility

As the Halloween Controller, I want to control the exhibits via an Android tablet so that I can use my beloved tablet for this task and don't have to buy a new one.

iPhone compatibility

As the Halloween Controller's supervisor, I want to control the exhibits via an iPhone so that I can use my beloved phone for this task and don't have to get used to a another device.

Stories for future improvement

Discover exhibits

As the Halloween System Integrator I want the Halloween Control Center to discover exhibits automatically that are available to be controlled so that I don't have to adapt the Halloween Control Center when I add or remove an exhibit.

Discover scary actions

As the Halloween System Integrator I want the Halloween Control Center to discover the exhibits' scary actions automatically that are available to be triggered so that I don't have to adapt the Halloween Control Center when I add or remove a scary action to an exhibit.

Performance criteria

Safety of operation for trick-or-treat ghosts and all other users of the application and the whole Halloween system.
Intuitivity and usage error tolerance of the user interface
System robustness against technical failures, e.g. temporary network connection issues or low battery issues of an exhibit
Appealing design of the user interface
Extendability of the system in a way that new exhibits and scary actions can be added with a limited effort.