Week 8 -  

Guest Lecture - 'Jared Donovan'

Jared spoke of the semantic approach and action centric.

Systematic Approach

 

-has set deigned inputs and outputs....

-Much similar to achieve a desired task..

- Usually involves a Set process and method; and tend to be used interchangeably.

- It acts as a planned behavioural series of interaction.

-easier to fit to a tangible interaction in our chosen context

-Physical representation of Digital Information

Action Centric

 

-Its Application almost seems appropriate for artistic or aesthetic design

-movement as a carrier of information and expression

-Would make the actual design much improved

-Incredibly hard to design a Action Centric game

-Open ended Interaction

- If Action centric it must also include some schematic approach (winning or losing)

 

 

The Schematic Approach to interactive design is the kind of approach we aim to follow. There is a direct purpose for the device; unlike an action-centric approach which could be more fun, yet less related to our assignment. 

Our first step in deciding on a strong input-output system in regards to behaviour of the “Steam Tail”  A list of possible contexts we could use includes:

· Vibration
· Movement
· Pressure
· Educational
· Sound
· Shareing

Outcomes: Development

Group Discussion
Our group needs to Flesh and Solidify our concept for the following weeks presentation.

-          How the interactive tail will communicate series of information between users. The tail will be integrated within the existing online platform 'steam'.

-           Find a list of metaphors in the form of interaction and visual aesthetics linked to gamers

-          Object - the interactive tail engaging in a social environment for gamers.

-          Behaviour- The tail will communicate data to then later be accessed by the user via steam. The behaviour will be gestures communicating directly to the function.

-          Scenario

Discussion with Yasu

Yasu mentioned that the tail was a nice idea but was unsure of how it related to gamers and exactly the way in which it will be used in a social environment. T

The concept of gamers and steam was exceptional in terms of linking an existing platform back into the physical realm. However Yasu mentioned maybe a tail was not the right approach. As our user group was a broad demographic, the tail didn't relate to a specific genre.

We decided as a Group to continue to flesh the tail concept as we felt our ideas were not communicated properly during the tutor. We decided to present the concept in the direction which we are heading and figured it was early enough in the project to take a risk and run with our original idea as Kiu was passionate about the tail form and we believed the interaction would suit the user demographic.

 

 

 

 

 

Week Seven

Lourens Adrian Botha
N6326374

 

Life Tec Queensland is a leading provider of information, consultation, and education on assistive technology that can help individuals improve their quality of life and remain independent.

They aim to provide advice on the range of available solutions regardless of a person's age or level of ability

And assists  a wide range of people from all walks of life.

From older people who wish to remain independent in their homes for as long as possible, as well as children and adults with a disability.

Assistive Technology is a device or system that provides people with practical solutions to everyday life activities.

Assistive technology can help people to:

·                               Look after loved ones by assisting with showering, dressing, and eating

·                               Make mobility safer and easier

·                               Open jars and turn taps on and off

·                               Make computers easier to use and screens clearer to read

·                               Ensure personal safety by using personal alarm systems at home

·                               Make recreational activities much easier

·                               Plus countless other ideas

Retrieved from:  http://www.lifetec.org.au/home/default.asp

Group activity:

The activity was to collect one item off the shelf at Lifetec and redesign it as we see fit. As a group we wanted to select and item that was non mechanical and was an everyday practical piece of equipment.

 

Used for gardening this tool is specifically designed for assisting in the lifting of pots. The problem we found with the design was:

·                               Metal component has limited leverage and dependant on weight

·                               no adjustable height mechanism for variety of users. 

Implementing minor design changes improves the products functionality in the desired user interaction. By adding the wheel users will have the option to roll heavy objects rather than carry. The wheel of coarse would have to be large in surface area to accommodate the terrain it would be used in. As mentioned above a simple adjustment for the height would be incorporated alongside the adjustable clap for the metal element to grip the pots. 

 

What our group took away from the site visit:

Designing in such a framework as assistive technology really opened our eyes to go back to basics in terms of ergonomics and usability of interactive products such as the one above. For our semester project these considerations will be met and design through the users perspective will be enhanced through the remainder of the project. 

Week six workshop 'Cold Turkey'

Week six workshop 'Cold Turkey'

Lourens Adrian Botha
N6326374

"sensing the news".:
In this week’s studio we took it all they back to initial concept brainstorming in regards to this semesters project. We did three concept bombs based off provided design briefs each with unique attributes. Breaking each into –(scenario, object and interaction). This was very helpful in opening our minds to all sorts of project possibilities for the final interactive design solution.

 
Concept bombs:

This is one of my three concept bombs, the design brief stated to help communicate users with family and friends whilst inside their home. The design must be incorporated into an everyday item to tie the users together. My design focused on what the possibility could be if you where sitting in your living room watching TV and wanted to interact with someone whilst watching a program. The design showed interaction with the users communicating and discussing on information in front of them (TV,movie ect).

Observation of the Concept Bombs:

As a group we walked around the class and observed the other students work, a mark was given as to which design we believed was the best of the three. The activity was very engaging and it was great to see what others had come up with in regards to the brief we were given.

Our selected Design Direction:

The “tell tail”….. a wearable device shaped like an animal’s tail is our group members ‘Kui’ concept. It is a wearable small tail like device that the user programs to sense specific nearby objects through (wagging) movement. The mechanic movement changes depending how far the user gets. The tail starts to wag faster and more violently indicating that the source is getting closer.

As a group we discussed the device and how its input could change and be a possible adjustable element depending on the users need.  Kui is also a very devoted pc gamer and connected to this large community of fellow gamers.  This lead us to discuss where this very specific user group of computer gamers could use this device a way of connecting gamers in the real world. As well as this the environment and habitual trends indicate that gaming users would benefit from this device as it could communicate information such as emails, facebook ect in a fun and interactive method. For example, the user wants to know if there is any game stores nearby. The device will pick up any registered shops in the area, the tail wags as the user walks closer to a store. The concept somewhat adopts biomimcry, as the tail can be adopted to mimic the way an animal displays emotions, power status and tools for balance etc. through different motions from the tail. A camera is located at the end of the device for the user to take photos of anything that interests them.

Throughout the rest of the class, the group considered the vital elements of the design concept. There is ideas of different modifications that can be utilised to suit the user's preferences, it was good input but the final direction the design takes is uncertain. The group decided that research on the user's habits and lifestyle is needed to clarify on the specific actions we need to take on steering our project towards success.

Week Five

21/08/2012

Lourens Adrian Botha

n6326374

Presentation

Our Concept is a interactive game that you can play while waiting to cross at the traffic intersection.

Your opponent is the pedestrians across the road heading in the opposite direction and the pedestrians heading in perpendicular direction to you.   Depending on traffic situation the winner of the fun interactive game can make her/his line of direction turn green first and the respect of fellow pedestrians.  This transforms the frustrating wait at the intersection into a fun, interactive and entertaining experience that makes the user feel like they actually took part in the operation of the lights. 

Creative Exploration

10/08/2012

Lourens Adrian Botha

n6326374

Struggling to think of a Design Concept,

I wanted some inspiration from how electricity conducts through various forms of materials and how this material (salt water, play-do with copper wire....) could be acted upon to give varying form of output. This was done simply using a home Security speaker.

Week Four

14/08/2012

Lourens Adrian Botha

n6326374

Building the Working Model

With very limited programming knowledge, I choose to create the model solely through electrical and mechanical means.   The idea was to somehow to create a mylti-position switch that would pull in relays which would then operate the various LED and speaker.  

The choice to operate the model by means of relays were found to be increasingly difficalt and far more complex than originally thought. It would be vastly improved using Audrino which would work by mean of simple program.

The mutiposition switch made form a spring hinge. On the spring hinge the are four screws which operate each there own relay and help in position by the 12v battery supply. 

The group was very pleased with the model and how it demonstrated the to tell the Scenario  and proof of concept.

Week 3

07/08/2012

Lourens Adrian Botha

n6326374


Work Shop 

During the start of the work shop we continued to deconstruct more products for parts that could inspire new and innovative concepts.  From this old stereo we obtained a motor, Potentiometers,  knobs, two switch position switches ect.. 

Concepts

From the previous week we continued to discuss the possibility of how the interaction experience of  gambling could be enhanced, in particular with roulette machine or to aid new users to be taught how to play certain games.  

The discussed model was a transparent lever that would turn as a ball rolls over it and as a result the potentiometer connected to it would turn increasing the current resulting in an increase in the appropriate sound and noise depending on the position of the bet.

But this concept was far to limiting as there was no real input or communication between individuals. 

  

 After some further brainstorming Kui came up with a concept of a switch that would operate lights and alert drivers at zebra crossings when pedestrians are crossing.
At first look this seemed far to simple similar to the Gambling concept. 
But then we discussed the possibility  of a interactive game you could play against the pedestrian across the street and influence the order of the direction of travel let through first. 

From this point the where various games discussed such as boxing, hand rowing, dance dance revolution, pattern games.....ect. 

One important piece of this concept was to utilize the existing infrastructure at the intersection.

The team decided to go with the boxing pad game concept as it would be the effective to deliver our message and story line, as the particular game at this stage was also secondary to the concept of interaction between pedestrians, infer-structure and rewards.