IDEO created these three video scenarios to communicate some of the user experiences made possible by Intel’s advancements in ultra-mobile PC technology. Although Intel is not in the business of making products like the ones depicted, it is in their best interest to show companies that are (i.e. Sony, Samsung, etc.) what is possible with Intel’s chips.
I am posting this because I think it is a good example of a typical “future scenario” video that focuses on consumer technologies and user experiences.
I will continue to post videos related to future visions and scenarios, one of the domains of my final project
Fitness club ad in the Netherlands, image from unpressablebuttons.com
This fitness club advertisement displays the weight of whoever is sitting on the bust stop bench, reminding them (or possibly shaming them) to think about exercise. It is another example of real-time data and public displays.
One of the most cliché of urban computing scenarios is the Minority Report style targeted advertising, but how can you can realistically change a billboard to meet the needs of one person in a group of people (without wearing a special eyeball)? I like that this does the opposite by singling out a person in a group of people, with the expectation that everyone is looking.
The Networked Omniscient (2006) by Evan Allen & Matthew Worsnick
I am also reminded of The Networked Omniscient (2006) by Evan Allen & Matthew Worsnick, in which they re-imagine Times Square filled with advertisements based on real-time data. For example, an NYPD advertisement that reads “There’s a Glock G-34 pistol crossing 44th Street. We’re on it.” Another billboard (sorry for the bad image) advertises a taxi company by reminding an individual of a flight they have later in the day.
I will continue to post observations, inspirations and anything else that I come across in the city or online which may be relevant to urban computing, one of the domains of my final project
While walking around town tonight I passed this on H.C. Andersens Boulevard, a display that was recently installed which shows the number of cyclists passing by. Red numbers indicate cyclists who passed by that day and blue is a running total for the year. A small sensor placed a few meters before the display changes numbers each time a bicycle rides over it. And according to the Copenhagenize blog, there is a SIM-card in the counter so the information is automatically sent to the City of Copenhagen’s Center for Traffic. Also worth mentioning is that next to the counter is a free pump for your tires!
This is a good example of real-time data and public displays, but it would be great to give these numbers some sort of context… How many cars have passed by? How does today’s number compare to the daily average? What data can the Center for Traffic send back to this display. Anyway, this was taken around 7pm and roughly, almost 7000 cyclists had passed by? 14,000 if you estimate the other side of the street. Well done Copenhagen!
I will continue to post observations, inspirations and anything else that I come across in the city or online which may be relevant to urban computing, one of the domains of my final project
Early morning chat and breakfast to share ideas about thesis
Still frighteningly vague given that this project is due at the end of August, but here it is anyway…
I want my thesis to …
I want my thesis to explore the social contexts of emerging technologies as they play out in people’s everyday lives. I want to emphasise the everyday by keeping my exploration grounded in reality through a process of user research and analysis. My research will look at the present and recent past so that I can ask questions about the future. At the same time I want to investigate the roles of scenarios, fictional narratives and storytelling as a means of exploring given contexts and communicating design concepts.
I’m interested in/inspired by…
I am interested in the behavioural effects of adopting new technologies and how this changes peoples everyday lives over time. I am also inspired by the creative uses of technology, new appropriations and the opportunities these create to help people improve their lives.
I am interested in new technologies and areas of research around the topic of urban computing, which explores the role of ubiquitous computing and networks in urban environments. Such new areas include locative media, location aware devices and participatory sensing.
It is important that this project involves itself with a context, user group or set of values that interests me personally. For example, how technology can support autonomy, spontaneity or mobility while also strengthening relationships, personal networks and communication. More examples include Copenhagen, cycling, empowerment, travel, community building, poor, disabled, exploration, etc..
During my thesis I would like to challenge myself in…
I would like to challenge myself in the early stages of the design process that we have been exploring throughout the year, which include user research, design vision, identifying problems & opportunities and visualising concepts through scenarios, personas and storytelling.
From Copenhagenize (the Copenhagen bike culture blog), comes this great music video that reminds you of how awesome it is to bicycle here. When the year is over, this is one of the things I will miss most (no matter how hard New Yorkers try).
Mimi Son made the above video that covers all the CIID projects and several of the others. Below are photos of some of my favorite projects.
Children playing with a PlayAlive demo
Not the best photo but a really neat project by a Danish company called PlayAlive who make “intelligent playground equipment.” It is essentially a large, playground style jungle-gym equipped with electronic pads (pictured above) that light up and make sounds to create different games. Children have to run and climb around the playground in order to hit the pads. It is sort of like a massive, multi-player Bopit in which kids actually get exercise.
A child playing Remote Impact by Distance Lab
Remote Impact is another computer based game that requires physical activity. It was the developed by the Distance Lab, a research group in Scotland that develops technology and products around the theme of distance. Remote Impact is a boxing game in which opponents fight eachother remotely. The game works by punching a life size silhouette of your opponent as he moves around, and the harder you punch the soft screen, the stronger your virtual punch will be.
Mimi sprays canned smoke on the coughing plant by Kitchen Budapest
The Coughing Plant was my favorite project by Kitchen Budapest eventhough it was probably their simplest. The idea is easy… a sensor inside the plant detects smoke and a hidden speaker makes a coughing noise. They had another version in the form of a picture frame hanging outside the building entrance where all the smokers were, but picture frames don’t breath and plants do. Maybe they could have made a dog collar???
The AfterLife coffin
James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau created AfterLife, a coffin that uses a decomposing body’s biomass to recharge batteries. This was situated next to a similar project (that I assume was by the same artists) that was a motorized sticky fly trap. It was able to collect all of the dead flies and use their bodies to charge a small digital clock.
Before the exhibit opened, Preben Meyer (director of the Innovation Lab) demoed three projects from the exhibit on Good Morning Denmark. One of these was Meet the Food You Eat!
He also brought it on another television show filmed in Århus.
Travel Global | Read Local is a library service for hotels and their guests. It aims to promote Danish culture & knowledge to visitors of Denmark by giving them access to library materials and services. At the same time, Travel Global | Read Local allows hotels to serve their guests in new ways by arranging to have library materials delivered directly to their rooms.
Who is it for?
Travel Global | Read Local is for hotels and their guests. Many visitors to Denmark are eager to find local knowledge about sights, activities, books, music and other things that suit their personal interests. Few places in Denmark provide such information to help people experience the local culture in a meaningful way.
Hotels are interested in meeting the needs of their customers and providing them a comforting and welcoming stay.
Why is it valuable?
Hotel guests are able to explore Danish culture through the library and have books, CDs and DVDs waiting at their hotel room when they arrive, all for free.
Hotels that partner with the library will have a unique service that allows them give their guests a personalized experience.
The library can continue it’s mission of providing free access to culture and information while at the same time lead the way in promoting Denmark as a country which places a high value in the sharing of knowledge.
Possible business opportunities exist for both the library and hotels to offer paid subscriptions and premium services.
How does it work?
A special library website promotes materials and information relevant for visitors and guests in Denmark. When a visitor books a room with a partner hotel, they are given the ability to reserve materials from the library website. The library will arrange to deliver the materials to the hotel and the hotel will manage the rest. A hotel guest has many options for returning books, reserving more books, etc.
What were your key learnings?
People coming to stay in Copenhagen all begin by following a very similar travel process. In general, many people who are new to an area often seek the local library because its universal services make it reliable. Many people visit a country to learn about it’s culture yet they have different tastes and interests. There is a need for local and trustworthy information that can be tailor made for specific people.
Copenhagen Central Library photo by Tobias Toft
Week 1: The Context
Finding a design domain and building a user research plan was the primary focus of week 1. We had visits at several libraries to help generate a broad understanding of the existing system and services. We spoke with experts to gain knowledge in current trends, challenges and other issues facing libraries.
By the end of the week we chose ‘foreigners’ as a user group and made research plans to further refine this as a design domain.
We were interested in how library services could play a role with people who are visiting Denmark or who have just moved to Denmark. Plans for the following week included visits to the airport and other places where we might be able to find foreigners just arriving in Denmark.
Card sorting - one of our user research methods
Week 2: User Research
We conducted user research in the field and turned insights into design challenges. Most of the research took place at the airport and tourist information office where we conducted video interviews with tourists and foreigners living in Denmark. We were interested to know how they prepared for their trip and what resources they accessed once they arrived in Denmark.
After this we had the enormous task of finding the best quotes and observations from all our notes, videos and photos. For each insightful quote or observation we collected (we collected a lot), we had to answer “what does it mean?” Once this helped us understand the value in our insight, we then had to ask “so what?” As a group this really helped us figure out what was interesting and if it was useful.
The goal of this process was to create 3 well thought out design challenges that we could then create concepts for.
An early sketch by Sid
Week 3: First Concepts
We looked at three design challenges and created as many concepts as possible. We conducted many brainstorming sessions which included classmates not involved with our project. At the end of the week, we had literally hundreds of concepts. Most were purely inspirational but they provided material to develop several solutions and begin the process of planning how to execute an initial experience prototype.
After presenting three concepts to the class, we decided to move forward with one that involved incorporating library and hotel services. In a matter of days we were able to make a short video that communicated the idea.
Experience prototype at Hotel Fox in Copenhagen
Week 4: Experience Prototyping
hagen help us test our experience prototype with their guests. We prepared brochures, order forms and mini catalogs for the receptionist to distribute to guests when they check in to the hotel. We also brought 20 of our own books that the guests could borrow. The books were a mix of novels, guide books and design related photo books. Almost all of them had something to do with Denmark. We also included DVDs and a few other items in the catalog even though we did not bring them to the hotel. If a guest would like to borrow a book, they just need to fill out a small order form and give it to the receptionist. We also included questionnaires so that the guests could give us feedback about the service. Inside each book is a bookmark with recommendations based on that particular book. These include sights, other library materials and places to visit (i.e. The Danish Design Museum). For the sake of this prototype, the role of the library is not important. However we still included books and print material
We spent a few hours each day hanging out in the lobby and observing guests as they receive the brochure when they check in. The idea is to see if hotel guests, who generally only stay 2-3 nights, are interested in looking at new books and bringing them back to their rooms. We would also like to know what types of books are most popular and how the receptionists are able to manager the service.
Contents of the hotel welcome kit
Week 5: Solution Concept
We refined our hotel/library concept based on the insights from our experience prototypes and produced communication pieces to help make the concept clear and understandable. These included a concept video, service blueprint and system diagrams. We also began thinking about future scenarios based on the service we created and how a larger system could give travelers access to books all over the world.
