Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
User testing
I have been testing a structure that allows to graphically manipulate content among different users.
Basically allows people to visualize a group of 5 hot contacts (the ones they call more often), they social groups and the media content of themselves and the other users that run the same system.
The user set ups privilege levels in order to allow different people to access more or restricted media.
There is also a timeline in the top of the interface that displays the proximity of the user´s appointments.
The reaction have been positive. with some details to fix, like the position of the clock and the sequence of actions, like is it possible to writte a message first? or do you need to choose the recipients first?
Thursday, April 5, 2007
zenzui
A spin off from microsoft using the "zoom in and out" concept for navigation as in the "sugar" interface but in a small screen.
www.zenzui.com
Friday, March 23, 2007
Status march 23
1)Status
During the research I performed an exercise to map social and physical networks of some users, the way this two networks interact is what Is giving me the main hint for the project.
Im conducting low fi testing of different activities:
-Creating a new contact
-Organizing contacts
-Accessing own media
-Accessing contact´s media
-Sending information to individuals and to groups
And also working on the graphic language and refining the layout, Im using a initial layout of 240 by 320 pixels.
On the other hand I am organizing a small visual scenario that I will send on monday morning to you.
2)Design guidelines
-Temporal and locational value of information
There has been a lot of work around getting external services in a context base scheme, but Im interested in how to organize and present your own information in a time and location base.
"There are moments for sms and moments for a phone call"
-Theresa, 20
I am working with the concept of having a group of contacts for direct access always on screen, an a group of contacts that pop up on screen when you are getting closer to a certain event, like contacts showing up one hour before you have a lunch appointment, so it will work as a remainder and also as a quick access to send messages like "Im on my way".
-Groups information management
Im working on the idea of the value that the position of your contacts on the screen can provide, give the user a spatial organization option apart from the alphabetical traditional way, and the use of gestures to clarify the actions, like pull together all the members of a group and then just drag the collective message or content to them.
I will show you more about this point with some slides.
-Visualization of media, processes and contacts
One of the insights from the research is that users don't use mms in a constant basis, actually within my participants nobody has ever sent a multimedia message.
Of course there are multiple factors, like cost and device compatibility, but in the side of the interface what I found is that even if people is just one click away from sending a mms they need to have a clear visualization about this. Awareness of this capability is low.
The idea I am working on is a multi layered interface that allow users to drag and drop the content they will like to send directly to the contact avatar.
3)Technical issues
I have been doing some technical research now and I think the best suited way to carry the presentation is a low code or zero code based flash animation, just using the basic flash tools like go to and play with "fool" animations, in this way the version of flash lite that I could use wouldn´t affect the file but still I would be able to show certain degree of interaction.
I had a meeting with my classmates yesterday, four of us are working with mobile services or devices and we found that we can borrow some Compaq Ipaqs from the design lab.
4)What is next?
-Layout refinement through low fi testing
-prototyping the interactions in flash animations
-refine the graphical language
-Check tecnhical feasibility of loading the simulation on the iPaq
-Send you a copy of the mid presentation
During the research I performed an exercise to map social and physical networks of some users, the way this two networks interact is what Is giving me the main hint for the project.
Im conducting low fi testing of different activities:
-Creating a new contact
-Organizing contacts
-Accessing own media
-Accessing contact´s media
-Sending information to individuals and to groups
And also working on the graphic language and refining the layout, Im using a initial layout of 240 by 320 pixels.
On the other hand I am organizing a small visual scenario that I will send on monday morning to you.
2)Design guidelines
-Temporal and locational value of information
There has been a lot of work around getting external services in a context base scheme, but Im interested in how to organize and present your own information in a time and location base.
"There are moments for sms and moments for a phone call"
-Theresa, 20
I am working with the concept of having a group of contacts for direct access always on screen, an a group of contacts that pop up on screen when you are getting closer to a certain event, like contacts showing up one hour before you have a lunch appointment, so it will work as a remainder and also as a quick access to send messages like "Im on my way".
-Groups information management
Im working on the idea of the value that the position of your contacts on the screen can provide, give the user a spatial organization option apart from the alphabetical traditional way, and the use of gestures to clarify the actions, like pull together all the members of a group and then just drag the collective message or content to them.
I will show you more about this point with some slides.
-Visualization of media, processes and contacts
One of the insights from the research is that users don't use mms in a constant basis, actually within my participants nobody has ever sent a multimedia message.
Of course there are multiple factors, like cost and device compatibility, but in the side of the interface what I found is that even if people is just one click away from sending a mms they need to have a clear visualization about this. Awareness of this capability is low.
The idea I am working on is a multi layered interface that allow users to drag and drop the content they will like to send directly to the contact avatar.
3)Technical issues
I have been doing some technical research now and I think the best suited way to carry the presentation is a low code or zero code based flash animation, just using the basic flash tools like go to and play with "fool" animations, in this way the version of flash lite that I could use wouldn´t affect the file but still I would be able to show certain degree of interaction.
I had a meeting with my classmates yesterday, four of us are working with mobile services or devices and we found that we can borrow some Compaq Ipaqs from the design lab.
4)What is next?
-Layout refinement through low fi testing
-prototyping the interactions in flash animations
-refine the graphical language
-Check tecnhical feasibility of loading the simulation on the iPaq
-Send you a copy of the mid presentation
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Message and media
Why should I have an email address in my contact list if I cannot (even if do) send an email?
Physical places, Social places
During the interviews people has been showing me what location in their social sphere have different contacts and by which means do they communicate.
Also I have learned about transition moments, public spaces and activities that the people do while commuting.
Also I have learned about transition moments, public spaces and activities that the people do while commuting.
More about postures and gestures
If we are in a noisy crowded place how will you show me that you will give me a call later on?
How will you show me that you will send me a message?
What about sending an email later on?
How will you show me that you will send me a message?
What about sending an email later on?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Some thoughts...
In the first weeks of this project I spent considerable time doing secondary research, some thoughts of what I have find so far:
-Information Visualization. In "Linked" the author deals with the history of network theory. Graph theory is behind of this. but graph theory posses a set of visualization tools that are designed to abstract to the minimum point and simplify network structures.
The media is the message, so networking visualization is not just the structure but the embodiment that will allow the access to any intended meta data for the users. why?, because the use of different kinds of elements and information implies the use of distinctive visualization hints for the users, when mobile devices were about making calls there was just one layer of information behind: numbers. Today mobile networking deals with multiple content which implies the use of multiple and distinctive visualization layers.
Is the amount of pixels related to the amount of information and tasks that we can manage?. Recently I review the instruction card for the iPOD shuffle, and the device only has one single LED as a visual user interface (excluding the static graphics in the controls) but it has the ability to express more than 8 different status for the device. On the other hand this level of interaction relies strongly on the use of time and an external previous introduction ( the physical instructions card) to create an understandable language for the user.
-Interface Language. In "Smart mobs" Howard Rheingold presents the way people find new uses for their mobile devices with the same interfaces, something that makes me think about the ability of people to create multiple interpretations of a same set of signs and play with them.
When mobile devices just showed numbers they still allowed people to play with the visual characteristics of the user interface, like creating words from dedicated numeric displays. It makes me thing about the convenience of a literal representation system for the interface like Steven Blyth´s concept, what level of pliability does this approach allows to the user?, will you get tired soon from a limited set of representations?.
There is always the risk of annoy the user with mechanical output repetition like when we use the sound alarms in msn or skype, most of people end up turning off this feature.
-Information Visualization. In "Linked" the author deals with the history of network theory. Graph theory is behind of this. but graph theory posses a set of visualization tools that are designed to abstract to the minimum point and simplify network structures.
The media is the message, so networking visualization is not just the structure but the embodiment that will allow the access to any intended meta data for the users. why?, because the use of different kinds of elements and information implies the use of distinctive visualization hints for the users, when mobile devices were about making calls there was just one layer of information behind: numbers. Today mobile networking deals with multiple content which implies the use of multiple and distinctive visualization layers.
Is the amount of pixels related to the amount of information and tasks that we can manage?. Recently I review the instruction card for the iPOD shuffle, and the device only has one single LED as a visual user interface (excluding the static graphics in the controls) but it has the ability to express more than 8 different status for the device. On the other hand this level of interaction relies strongly on the use of time and an external previous introduction ( the physical instructions card) to create an understandable language for the user.
-Interface Language. In "Smart mobs" Howard Rheingold presents the way people find new uses for their mobile devices with the same interfaces, something that makes me think about the ability of people to create multiple interpretations of a same set of signs and play with them.
When mobile devices just showed numbers they still allowed people to play with the visual characteristics of the user interface, like creating words from dedicated numeric displays. It makes me thing about the convenience of a literal representation system for the interface like Steven Blyth´s concept, what level of pliability does this approach allows to the user?, will you get tired soon from a limited set of representations?.
There is always the risk of annoy the user with mechanical output repetition like when we use the sound alarms in msn or skype, most of people end up turning off this feature.
What will this concept do?
So far I am defining what will this concept do, this is a first round of thoughts about this:
-The product will allow users to visualize, organize and manage their contact lists
-The product will allow users to organize and manage media content as a link for the contacts (nodes)
these two points are the main focus on the project, but since the same is involving the input of information and media the solution will work as well in a multi task interface that will allow two input this content to the device and store it in the device or in an external location.
-The product will allow users to visualize, organize and manage their contact lists
-The product will allow users to organize and manage media content as a link for the contacts (nodes)
these two points are the main focus on the project, but since the same is involving the input of information and media the solution will work as well in a multi task interface that will allow two input this content to the device and store it in the device or in an external location.
Where am I ?
What does this project is about:
-Management and visualization of contacts information
-Media management and sharing as trigger for social networking
I am about finishing my first round of user interviews, the one that will help me to define the bases for the concept.
Yesterday had I had two interviews with a reviewed protocol for the first part of the interviews:
Interview Protocol v.1.0
1.0 General Information / User
-Who are you? / can you introduce yourself?
-How old are you?
-Where do you live?, With who?
-How is a day in your life?, What are your daily activities?
-Do you have any hobby or leisure activity?
-What other interests do you have?
2.0 Social Environment / Communication
-Who are the persons you are constantly in contact with?, Why?
-Tell me about your friends
-What kind of activities do you do with your friends?
-In what kind of places do you meet with your friends?
-Why is these people important for you?
-Do you belong to any organization?, like a sports club or hobby group?
-Do you have any other regular social activity?, meetings, concerts, pubs, chats?
2.0 Physical Environment / Mobility
-where do you have to go during the week?
-Do you spend much time out of home?
-When not at home where are you?
-what kind of transport means do you use?
-Do you commute alone?
-when you leave home what do you carry always with you?
-what do you do while commuting?
Plus to this I am using two short exercises to help me visualize the physical environment and the social environment of the users.
I am also going for information of contact management: how does people keeps the information about their social circles?, where do they store this information?, what do they store?, when do they access this information?
Tomorrow (today) will be a very busy day with 3 (maybe 4 interviews) to close this stage.
-Management and visualization of contacts information
-Media management and sharing as trigger for social networking
I am about finishing my first round of user interviews, the one that will help me to define the bases for the concept.
Yesterday had I had two interviews with a reviewed protocol for the first part of the interviews:
Interview Protocol v.1.0
1.0 General Information / User
-Who are you? / can you introduce yourself?
-How old are you?
-Where do you live?, With who?
-How is a day in your life?, What are your daily activities?
-Do you have any hobby or leisure activity?
-What other interests do you have?
2.0 Social Environment / Communication
-Who are the persons you are constantly in contact with?, Why?
-Tell me about your friends
-What kind of activities do you do with your friends?
-In what kind of places do you meet with your friends?
-Why is these people important for you?
-Do you belong to any organization?, like a sports club or hobby group?
-Do you have any other regular social activity?, meetings, concerts, pubs, chats?
2.0 Physical Environment / Mobility
-where do you have to go during the week?
-Do you spend much time out of home?
-When not at home where are you?
-what kind of transport means do you use?
-Do you commute alone?
-when you leave home what do you carry always with you?
-what do you do while commuting?
Plus to this I am using two short exercises to help me visualize the physical environment and the social environment of the users.
I am also going for information of contact management: how does people keeps the information about their social circles?, where do they store this information?, what do they store?, when do they access this information?
Tomorrow (today) will be a very busy day with 3 (maybe 4 interviews) to close this stage.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Contact management
Sony Ericsson in explaining the use of contacts:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=gb&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps6_1&zone=ps&topic=SE_Contacts
During the next interviews I will pay special attention for contacts and contact management in the user´s current mobile device, but is interesting to note how in the present there are still some troublesome scenarios in the migration and sharing of content.
http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=gb&lc=en&ver=4000&template=ps6_1&zone=ps&topic=SE_Contacts
During the next interviews I will pay special attention for contacts and contact management in the user´s current mobile device, but is interesting to note how in the present there are still some troublesome scenarios in the migration and sharing of content.
Interview protocol and analysis categories
I developed my interview protocol v 1.0:
1.0 General Information
-Who are you? / can you introduce yourself?
-How old are you?
-Where do you live?, With who?
-What are your daily activities?
-Do you have any hobby or leisure activity?
-What other interests do you have?
2.0 Environment / People
-Who are the persons you are constantly in contact with?, Why?
-Tell me about your friends
-What kind of activities do you do with your friends?
-In what kind of places do you meet with your friends?
-Why is these people important for you?
-Do you belong to any organization?, like a sports club or hobby group?
2.0 Mobility
-where do you have to go during the week?
-Do you spend much time out of home?
-When not at home where are you?
-what kind of transport means do you use?
-Do you commute alone?
-when you leave home what do you carry always with you?
-what do you do while commuting?
3.0 Communication
-How do you keep in contact with people?, and when you are out of home?
-family?, friends? is there any difference?
-Do you organize your friends information?, How?
4.0 Content / Media
-What kind of activities you have in your spare time?
-Do you preserve records of these activities?, How?
-Do you share any of these activities?
-How do you share these?
5.0 Information
-What kind of information do you consult or need when you are commuting or in public spaces?
-How do you access that information?
Is still incomplete, but It proved to be helpful in my first interview yesterday evening, Im working today on it to finish it and improve it from the test interviews and yesterday first user interview.
I am also working on the categories for the analysis phase, so far I have these topics in mind:
-Context / Location
-Mobility
-Communication
-Activities
-Identity
-Management / Organization
-Content / Media
1.0 General Information
-Who are you? / can you introduce yourself?
-How old are you?
-Where do you live?, With who?
-What are your daily activities?
-Do you have any hobby or leisure activity?
-What other interests do you have?
2.0 Environment / People
-Who are the persons you are constantly in contact with?, Why?
-Tell me about your friends
-What kind of activities do you do with your friends?
-In what kind of places do you meet with your friends?
-Why is these people important for you?
-Do you belong to any organization?, like a sports club or hobby group?
2.0 Mobility
-where do you have to go during the week?
-Do you spend much time out of home?
-When not at home where are you?
-what kind of transport means do you use?
-Do you commute alone?
-when you leave home what do you carry always with you?
-what do you do while commuting?
3.0 Communication
-How do you keep in contact with people?, and when you are out of home?
-family?, friends? is there any difference?
-Do you organize your friends information?, How?
4.0 Content / Media
-What kind of activities you have in your spare time?
-Do you preserve records of these activities?, How?
-Do you share any of these activities?
-How do you share these?
5.0 Information
-What kind of information do you consult or need when you are commuting or in public spaces?
-How do you access that information?
Is still incomplete, but It proved to be helpful in my first interview yesterday evening, Im working today on it to finish it and improve it from the test interviews and yesterday first user interview.
I am also working on the categories for the analysis phase, so far I have these topics in mind:
-Context / Location
-Mobility
-Communication
-Activities
-Identity
-Management / Organization
-Content / Media
Monday, February 19, 2007
IDEO + social phones
Some years ago Ideo made a series of conceptual mobile phones attaching the problem of the Social practices and the intrusion of the mobile phone in public environments.
http://www.ideo.com/case_studies/social_mobiles/index.html
http://www.ideo.com/case_studies/social_mobiles/index.html
Networking through media sharing
iTunes (version 7.0.2) has a functionality for a shared library when more than one user is on the same network. The user can view the other´s play list and play songs.
This functionality allows the users to interact, the other day I was surfing through the library of a classmate and found an error in his library (wrong artist name in one song), so I had to contact him and tell him about this...
This functionality allows the users to interact, the other day I was surfing through the library of a classmate and found an error in his library (wrong artist name in one song), so I had to contact him and tell him about this...
Online tool
I´veen using this free online tool for mind mapping. Is a little bit limited but still useful:
http://www.bubbl.us/edit
http://www.bubbl.us/edit
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Sony Mylo
An interesting approach from Sony to the broad possibilities of mobile networking
http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/assets/itpd/mylo/prod/index.html
http://www.learningcenter.sony.us/assets/itpd/mylo/prod/index.html
We have a hunt...
Hunt v 1.0
"Enhance the experience of social networking for teenagers through multi layer portable interfaces"
"Enhance the experience of social networking for teenagers through multi layer portable interfaces"
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The meaning of postures
Some days ago I was reading Jan Chipchase´s blog (www.futureperfect.com) and he was commenting about the importance about the postures we adopt for determined activities like taking a picture, or in this case make a call.
What is the posture of blogging?, is there one for networking?, the media is changing but we still are using little bricks, will this evolve in relation with the contents ?
What is the posture of blogging?, is there one for networking?, the media is changing but we still are using little bricks, will this evolve in relation with the contents ?
Friday, February 9, 2007
Identity 2.0
Its being more clear to me that this project deals with the topic of identity.
having tutoring with J.P. he show me last week about this project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpajcAgR1E
having tutoring with J.P. he show me last week about this project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpajcAgR1E
lifting technology
I got to know about some interesting projects, among them one by Steven Blyth former student at Ivrea.
http://people.interaction-ivrea.it/s.blyth/mysocialfabric/index.html
Its a really interesting approach to the visualization of social networks, specially the way he represents human networks, is a very literal approach.
I have some mixed reactions about this work. on one side during the workshop I had last Monday I realized about the problems people have to assign quantitative visualization and organization into people, and how this becomes even more difficult when the people involved has a closer relation with us.
On the other side I haven´t been able to see some sort of testing conclusions from his design. Does a so literal representation of human relations works fine for people?. I mean It seems like a great idea, but what kind of reactions would produce to you see people just facing away in the interface or facing all at the same time to you?
http://people.interaction-ivrea.it/s.blyth/mysocialfabric/index.html
Its a really interesting approach to the visualization of social networks, specially the way he represents human networks, is a very literal approach.
I have some mixed reactions about this work. on one side during the workshop I had last Monday I realized about the problems people have to assign quantitative visualization and organization into people, and how this becomes even more difficult when the people involved has a closer relation with us.
On the other side I haven´t been able to see some sort of testing conclusions from his design. Does a so literal representation of human relations works fine for people?. I mean It seems like a great idea, but what kind of reactions would produce to you see people just facing away in the interface or facing all at the same time to you?
Lift 2007, Geneva
I havent post as often as I would like to, but on the other hand I´veen working and reading, also attending a conference in Geneva.
So far I´veen working in the research both with people and reference material.
Last week I had an interview with a classmate who is a user of a social application for mobile phones, nokia phones to be more specific and is called "sensor". I used it as a first test to shape the rest of my interviews but also as a very practical opportunity to learn from first hand about an existing service.
In the beginning of the week I conducted a workshop with some students at Umeå Institute of Design, it was a very rough exercise that help me to structure future exercises and get very broad insights about the project and the path to follow.
Now I am at Lift 07, my impressions: technology for everybody, everywhere all the time.
So far I´veen working in the research both with people and reference material.
Last week I had an interview with a classmate who is a user of a social application for mobile phones, nokia phones to be more specific and is called "sensor". I used it as a first test to shape the rest of my interviews but also as a very practical opportunity to learn from first hand about an existing service.
In the beginning of the week I conducted a workshop with some students at Umeå Institute of Design, it was a very rough exercise that help me to structure future exercises and get very broad insights about the project and the path to follow.
Now I am at Lift 07, my impressions: technology for everybody, everywhere all the time.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
searching, finding, looking for and learning
The last few weeks have been about learning from zero in the best ethnographic tradition. I have been through different sources from pop culture (wired magazine, business week) to more academic papers in order to have a broad vision, try to get "the whole picture" about social networking.
I must say that it has being enlightening. Just now I feel that there are some discrepancies between the commercial meaning of social networks and the academic definition. So far I think that in the traditional meaning social networks are something that we have been building since we born, they are some sort of non tangible circles surrounding us, but for the so called internet social networks is most about the connections you can create.
Is interesting the fact that most of the time is just visualization. In the moment we can visualize this networks we are able to interact with them.
I must say that it has being enlightening. Just now I feel that there are some discrepancies between the commercial meaning of social networks and the academic definition. So far I think that in the traditional meaning social networks are something that we have been building since we born, they are some sort of non tangible circles surrounding us, but for the so called internet social networks is most about the connections you can create.
Is interesting the fact that most of the time is just visualization. In the moment we can visualize this networks we are able to interact with them.
Secondary research / references
I have been reading some books for the last couple of weeks in order to get into the social networks panorama:
Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution by Howard Rheingold
Mobile Interaction Design by Matt Jones and Gary Marsden
Personal, Portable, Pedestrian: Mobile Phones in Japanese Life by Mizuko Ito, Daisuke Okabe, and Misa Matsuda
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| Information and Communication Technologies in Everyday Life: A Concise Introduction and Research Guide (New Technologies/New Cultures) |
| by Leslie Haddon |
Monday, January 29, 2007
What is SoME?
SoME is my degree project at Umeå Institute of Design. Social networks are a human phenomena. People builds social environments around them during their lifetime. The term was first coined in 1954 by J. A. Barnes.
In the physical wold we manage our social networks based on traditional behavior and activities, such as having agendas and contact lists. However technology has allowed people to maintain and increase the weak links within their networks through different devices.
SoME is a project which aim is to generate a proposal of managing networking through a mobile device. The proposed scenario is 5 years in the future, 2012.
In the physical wold we manage our social networks based on traditional behavior and activities, such as having agendas and contact lists. However technology has allowed people to maintain and increase the weak links within their networks through different devices.
SoME is a project which aim is to generate a proposal of managing networking through a mobile device. The proposed scenario is 5 years in the future, 2012.
Project dates
Important dates of the project:
March 13-14 Mid presentation
April 24-25 Final revision with mentors and Programme leader
May 07 Submition of the Project report (3 printdowns)
May 14-16 Examination week
May 31 Deadline for updated project report
Jun 01 Degree exhibition
March 13-14 Mid presentation
April 24-25 Final revision with mentors and Programme leader
May 07 Submition of the Project report (3 printdowns)
May 14-16 Examination week
May 31 Deadline for updated project report
Jun 01 Degree exhibition
Kick off
Officially the project started on Jan 17th.
As a way to keep a more interactive relationship with my sponsor and mentors I start this blog, is also a way to keep track of daily information that might be relevant for the project and a quick way to share.
The project sponsor is Ericsson Research (Stockholm)
Project tutor Didier Chincholle
Project mentor: J-P Hagström
Program Leader: Niklas Andersson
As a way to keep a more interactive relationship with my sponsor and mentors I start this blog, is also a way to keep track of daily information that might be relevant for the project and a quick way to share.
The project sponsor is Ericsson Research (Stockholm)
Project tutor Didier Chincholle
Project mentor: J-P Hagström
Program Leader: Niklas Andersson
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