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EXPERIENTIAL PROTOTYPING: A NEW METHOD IN PRACTICE
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CASE STUDY 1: MERGING USER-BASED NARRATIVE WITH WORKING MODELS
RUN - Global Running System
complex system within the context of a specific community, running.
community of recreational runners and running groups.
I then set out to create a story based on the people within that community. What I found was that the community included a lot of different types of people with different kinds of needs. Some people joined running groups to make friends, some ran to stay fit but found it difficult because they traveled a lot, some found it nearly impossible to get motivated on their own, and some people ran because it was simply fun.
I then visually translated the story into an interactive narrative that demonstrated a potential system. For most of the runners, being connected to the community was important. The system allowed runners to run with a partner or in a group no matter what geographic location, all through ambient, color shifting technology integrated in the fabric of their shoes. Runners could find a partner or a group and run with them by tracking their pace. The pace is displayed in their shoes through color. Green means you’re ahead of the pack, red means you’re falling behind. A motivation ring and web-based community were also part of the system.
[prototype]
To communicate the system more clearly and to evaluate the experience, I built a tangible interface of the shoe in a way that quickly allowed for an examination of the interaction.
[Blank Spaces]
I did not focus on the form and materials of the product; rather, the tangible interface put emphasis on the experience of the interaction within the larger framework of the system.
I then coupled the media-based story with the tangible interface resulting in an Experiential Prototype. It was a quick an efficient way to communicate and evaluate the experiences and viability of the system potential within the context of the running community.
[A refined approach to Experiential Prototyping]
The success of telling an interactive story coupled with a tangible interface led me to wonder if the combination of the two could be a viable development technique for designing complex systems within the process of product design. The final project is a more in-depth and refined demonstration of Experiential Prototyping and the role it plays as it connects the gap between media and product design for these emerging technologies
What is it? (system description)
How it works (show the first demo) »
How is it communicated? (Experiential Prototype: show the second demo w/ the interactive shoe)
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CASE STUDY 2: AN IN-DEPTH APPLICATION OF EXPERIENTIAL PROTOTYPING
BOBI - Mobile Mash-ups
BoBi is an innovative mobile and networked music system that turns music loops into a community-based and entertainment sport encouraging them to stay physically active. The system allows kids to become their own dj, start and/or join a band, and create custom music tracks through the dance moves that they love. It includes a mobile device called the "Mobile Mash-Up Device" or "MoMu" and a web-based community that kids can get involved with at any level and advance up to a full-blown performance. Here's how it works:
The main concept of BoBi is that it acts as an open source of images, sounds (including noise and music) and gestures. The “BoBi” (which is represented as a small, ping-pong ball-like object that is movable and can be attached to a person’s body on things like clothes, hats, shoes, etc.) can be used (through certain gestures) to collect music, sounds and noise from a person’s environment. The key aspect is that the person chooses what should be collected,and then can download the collection to a system like a computer. The BoBi could be seen as the “anti-iPod” in that the audio formats the BoBi uses are open source ones and not limited to certain programs or systems.
There are four main features that are explored in this system: COLLECT, SHARE, PLAY, and SYNC.
+ Collect
A person can use the BoBi to COLLECT a variety of sounds from hot spots in an environment (tagged places, people, and things.) These collected sounds can then bedownloaded to the person’s music library (of ranging formats) where the clips can be mixedtogether (and with other sounds) to create personalized music (which can then be played back from the BoBi.)
+ Share
The SHARE aspect of the BoBi is that one person can “pour” music from his/her BoBi into that of another. Thus giving the notion of open source file sharing a some what tactile dimension, almost tangible through vision and gesture.
+ Play
The PLAY part comes in through dance. With a Sun Spot in hand, Jennifer demonstrated how each gesture would trigger a certain beat play for a few seconds. Combining gestures together would then play out a piece of music, one that is being mixed in real time. As youdance, the BoBi responds; your moves make your music.
+ Sync
People can also SYNC their BoBi to those of their friends. As in the PLAY example, one person can use certain dance gestures to create a beat. This musical sequence can then be passedalong to a friend’s BoBi, the friend can then add to the moves, changing the beat. Passing iton.
Primitive shapes, blank objects
What I found to be the most interesting probing question was the idea that representing someone using the system through film/motion is inspiring for product designers to observe their behavior with an "empty device". For example, If the device in the scenario is removed and replaced with a primitive form, this allows for the focus to be on the interactions and subtle nuances performed by the character. An example of this is the gesture of moving the device from one hand to the other. How does this change the form of the device? How does it change the interface? Another example is the gesture of "pouring" data into another device. How does this change the form and the interface?
+ How it works
MUSIC
DANCE GESTURES
Gestures are individual dance moves that play clips and clip elements. By performing a gesture, a clip will be added to the beat. Perform the gesture again and the clip will fade out. There is a maximum of five clips that can be played at any time and a maximum of four gestures that are able to be performed for the song. The system comes with a set of default gestures for each dance genre including hip-hop, freestyle, breakdance, krump, jazz, etc... This case study will demonstrate how the genre of hip-hop will work. The basic beat clip plays when the device (described below) is moved. It fades up to full volume and continues to loop as the device is moved around. If the device is still, the beat fades out. There are four additional clips that can be added to the beat clip through dance gestures. The clips consist of the different instruments that make up a song. They can be played by an individual person or in a group called "bands". The maximum number of band players cannot exceed five, which is the number of instruments that make up a song. Just like in a rock band, each person in the band is assigned to a specific instrument.
MoMu Device: Features
- Mix music through dance movements
The device detects your movement and plays clips according to the different gestures performed for each dance move. In "single" mode, there are four gestures that fade in and out each instrument in a song. In "band" mode, the four gestures fade in and out each clip element for a specific instrument.
- Mobile Connectivity
The device is built on wireless and mobile technologies. It connects to the web-based community to access the library of clips and dance gestures, user profiles and buddy lists, and loungers. It connects to other devices via mobile technologies and/or bluetooth if multiple devices are within a proximity range of each other.
- Configure
The device allows you to set the mode you want it to be in, which modifies how it reacts to gestures, each other, and the web-based community. The modes include: (1) band, (2) single, and (3) lounge.
- Lounge
In between jam sessions and performances, the device allows for people to listen in on other jam session similar to entering a chat room.
MoMu Device: Modes
- Configure
The device allows you to set the mode you want it to be in, which modifies how it reacts to gestures, each other, and the web-based community. The modes include: (1) band, (2) single, and (3) lounge.
- Band Mode DIAGRAM SKETCH »
This mode configures the device to play and sync-up clips performed by five people simultaneously. Each person in the band is assigned an instrument. The clips are mixed and matched on the fly while performing dance moves. The band members can be either next to each other in the same room or connected from a distance anywhere in the world. If they are next to each other, the devices are connect via bluetooth. If the band members are in different locations, the devices are connected through mobile technologies.
- Single Mode DIAGRAM SKETCH »
This mode configures the device to play and sync-up clips performed by only one person. The gestures fade the five instruments that make up a song in and out. The music can be recorded or played live for loungers to listen in on your jam session.
- Lounge
In between jam sessions and performances, the device allows for people to listen in on other jam session similar to entering a chat room.
Web-Based Mash-Up Community: Features
- Join/Create Band
Search through member profiles, add to buddy lists, and invite people to either create a new band or join a band that already exists
- Browse/Make/Share clips
Find clips, make them, and share them with your friends in your buddy list.
- Manage clip library
This is where the you can create your own list of clips you like and custom clips you make. The gestural device can be configured to play clips in this library.
- Browse/Make/Share gestre macros
Find dance moves according the the style you like, i.e. hip-hop, freestyle, krump, jazz, etc... Or you can make your own by recording a move using the device. They can then be shared with your friends in your buddy list.
- Manage gesture library
This is where you can create your own custom gestures that you record. The device can be configured to react to the gestures in this library.
- Rank bands
You can browse through bands that people create, listen to their jam sessions, and rank them similar to ranking a feature film.
- View member profiles
You can browse through a list of the people in the community, see who they are, what kind of music and dance genres they like, what instrument they specialize in, chat with them, and add them to your buddy list for future jam sessions or just to simply listen in on theirs while in "lounge" mode.
- Collaborate with mixing guru
This features allows for live help on mixing music and dancing. The guru provides tips, classes, and matches people up to form bands.
- Guest artists (dance & music)
This feature invites guest speakers to hold live get-togethers to show tricks, provide inspiration and role models. The guest artists can demonstrate new moves and/or music clips that they provide for the music library (For example, Moby has bundled software on his latest album release that allows you to mix the music. Each track is broken up into individual clips that are mixable in the application. The feature described in the web-based community, will allow a space for guest artists to offer their music and a way for them to promote it)
- Lounge
This feature allows you to browse bands and find the ones that you love. It let's you sign up to listen to jam sessions through your device.
- Schedule performances
If you're in a band or simply jamming by yourself, this feature allows you to open up your jam sessions for other people to listen in. While in "lounge" mode, listeners can find the times you are scheduled to jam out. The device let's you know when you're scheduled much like an ambient alarm clock. It gives you 10 minutes until stage time and lets you know how many people are listening.
+ Design Research
NAME EXPLORATIONS »
SCENARIO SCRIPT »
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