Monthly Archives: July 2014

amidoinitrite, Artifact, Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (DCAS), Week 1 (DCAS)

Question 1.4: Design for you

Leave a comment

The Question 1.4: Design for you homework for Week 1 of Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society required me to design an artifact that addresses my user experience gap of a solution that supports and encourages an efficient and affordable contactless ticketing system for public transport by creating a visual expression of the design as well as a simple prototype of the artifact.

Visual expression of the design, including dependent and alternate technology.
Visual expression of the design, including dependent and alternate technology.
q_1_4_cardboard_prototype_01
Prototype featuring app installed on NFC enabled smartphone
amidoinitrite, Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (DCAS), Week 1 (DCAS)

Question 1.3: Visual expression 1 – The basics

Leave a comment

The Question 1.3: Visual expression 1 – The basics (V) homework for Week 1 of Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society required me to draw a sketch of a chair. The goal of this assignment was to get me comfortable with the basics of sketching to ensure I can create a quality output of the visual expression of my designs.

q_1_3_sketch_chair
Apparently, the Bentwood chair is a classic chair that was designed more than 100 years ago and suits all manner of cafes and dining rooms, from French bistros to modern cafes and upmarket restaurants. Really? We found our set of fours on the side of the road prior to a hard-rubbish collection.
amidoinitrite, Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (DCAS), Week 1 (DCAS)

My gap

Leave a comment

The Question 1.2: Find the gap homework for Week 1 of Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society required me to identify things that annoyed me or caused me extra effort, time, money or discomfort throughout my day and then list 10 user experience gaps that could potentially be diminished or mitigated by an artifact (product or service). I was then required to choose one of these user experience gaps to serve as the basis for my course project.

My user experience gap

My user experience gap is a solution that supports and encourages an efficient and affordable contactless ticketing system for public transport.

This meets the course project criteria because it solves the problem of congestion at stations and inefficient transfer of passengers on public transport caused by the technical constraints of existing public transport ticketing system. The solution would require the creation of a software artifact that operates on smartphones as well as a program that supports the delivery, integration and adoption of the solution.

amidoinitrite, Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (DCAS), Week 1 (DCAS)

Question 1.2: Find the gap

Leave a comment

The homework for Week 1 of Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society required me to identify things that annoyed me or caused me extra effort, time, money or discomfort throughout my day and then list 10 user experience gaps (solutions to actual or perceived user experience issues that could be used as a course project) that could potentially be diminished or mitigated. One of these user experience gaps is to selected as the basis for my course project.

10 user experience gaps

  1. A wearable appliance that transmits information/permission required to access rooms/buildings and operate an electronic device as well as accurately input data from a touchscreen interface.
  2. A device or service that blocks unwanted noise (headphone leak) in public spaces (public transport)
  3. *A solution that supports and encourages an efficient and affordable contactless ticketing system for public transport. This user experience gap is to be my course project.
  4. A flexible material/fabric or surface that remains polished/glossy after prolonged wear that would be suitable for footwear.
  5. A service that strategically sorts and prioritises emails and tasks based on sender, urgency and project timelines and deliverables (Everything can’t be urgent).
  6. A carry bag/backpack/satchel with self-illuminating interior that makes it easier to identify contents of the bag such as keys, pen or wallet in the dark
  7. A wallet or similar device that remains closed even when it’s holding a large amount of change.
  8. A garment (shirt, pants or both) with provision to hold a small mobile  device that can be easily accessed and operated without causing the wearer discomfort or causing the clothes to fit incorrectly.
  9. A product or service that informs bus drivers they’re required to stop for passengers at a bus stop.
  10. A product that negates or mitigates unusually strong cologne in public spaces
q_1_2_myki
The myki card and reader fitted to the turnstile at a metropolitatn station in Melbourne, Australia. The myki system is supposed to be contactless, but it’s not. Not only does it require prolonged contact which contributes to congestion at the turnstiles, it’s sluggish and turgid. It also took a long time for the system to be implemented at much cost to the taxpayer.
q_1_2_mfd_console
A console of a multi-function device (MFD) used to produce photocopies and scan documents. A stylus (that is prone to going missing) is the only accurate method to input data. In an urgent administrative situation, alternative input methods such as your finger or the end of a ballpoint pen or similar object can be used.
q_1_2_mfd_card_reader
This card reader permits the user to operate the multifunction device (MFD) to photocopy.
amidoinitrite

Question 1.1: Click & Collect

Leave a comment

For Week 1’s 1.1 Good design homework for Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society, I was required to consider the artifacts I use regularly and then briefly explain why I love it.

I know the Coles Click & Collect service isn’t an artifact and it doesn’t really fit within the assignment brief like the Sipper lid, but it evoked a ‘I love this’ reaction from me (as required by the assignment brief) so I thought it would be okay.

I love how the user flow of this experience is incredibly smooth and simple. The busy consumer orders their groceries online and then picks them up from the Click & Collect locker on their way home as they stop to get fuel.

Click & Collect provides consumers with an extremely convenient experience where they only have to stop once. This convenience provides consumers with further evidence to never stray from the Coles Universe of essential products (groceries/food, liquor and fuel) and services (car insurance) by shopping anywhere else.

The location of Click & Collect lockers is another interesting thing about this service. It’s highly likely suburban locations deemed to be potentially lucrative has been determined through the analysis of data (shopping habits, amount spent, groceries bought) freely supplied by consumers through the use of their Coles loyalty card program.

coles_click_and_collect
A Click & Collect locker at a Coles Shell service station located in Box Hill, Melbourne, Australia.
coles_click_and_collect_pumps
The intense red colour of the locker makes it easy be identified.
coles_click_and_collect_wideshot
The location of the locker within the service station allows consumers to easily access their delivered groceries.
Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society (DCAS), Week 1 (DCAS)

Question 1.1: Sipper lid

Leave a comment

For Week 1’s 1.1 Good design homework for Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society, I was required to consider the artifacts I use regularly and then briefly explain why I love it.

I love the sipper lid on the top of a take away coffee cups as it allows me to safely consume my hot morning coffee without spillage as I traverse the public transport system on my way to work.

The streamlined  design of the spout on the lid helps to direct coffee toward the opening of the sipper lid which permits me to easily control the amount of hot coffee I consume.

q_1_1_coffee_sipper_black
A black plastic take away sipper lid from my morning coffee.
q_1_1_coffee_sipper_white
A white rubber sipper lid from a disused reusable coffee cup. A functional and environmentally responsible artifact. The spout design on this lid is less shapely than the disposable lid.
q_1_1_coffee_sipper_mug
The more robust style sipper lid of a reusable mug. The pronounced lip on this lid actually makes drinking from this mug uncomfortable and somewhat clumsy.
green_sipper
A green rubber sipper lid from a reusuable coffee cup.
amidoinitrite, Concept, elearning, learning design

User flow for the completion of a safe work method statement (SWMS)

Leave a comment

This sketch demonstrates the preliminary user flow for a web application/mobile experience that permits the completion and submission of a safe work method statement (SWMS) as part of a vocational training and assessment experience.

A SWMS is a site-specific form that must be completed before any high-risk construction work is commenced. Generally, the completion and submission of a SWMS is a paper-based.

This web application/mobile experience seeks to take advantages of the affordances of mobile technology and allow users (students in a vocational training and assessment context) to complete this form prior to commencement of work.

In a training and assessment context, the completion and submission of the SMWS is predicated on learning management system (LMS) connectivity and established user permissions.

2014-07-17_userflow_swms

Based on the preparatory user flow sketch, I then worked with developers and designers to extend the Mobas web application with the SWMS template.

SWMS_developed_as_web_application
Sequence of screens that make up the SWMS completion experience for the Mobas web application.
amidoinitrite, Concept, elearning, learning design

User flow for a practical task capture: Technical report

Leave a comment

This sketch demonstrates the preliminary user flow for a web application/mobile experience for a practical task capture, more specifically the completion of a technical report or similar documentation as part of a vocational training and assessment experience.

prac_task_capture_user_flow

Like the safe work method statement (SWMS) template, this web application/mobile experience seeks to take advantages of the affordances of mobile technology and allow users (students in a vocational training and assessment context) to complete this form in the workplace or training environment.

In a training and assessment context, the completion and submission of a practical task capture is predicated on learning management system (LMS) connectivity and established user permissions.

Based on the preparatory user flow sketch, I then worked with developers and designers to extend the Mobas web application with the practical task capture template.

practical_task
Sequence of screens that make up the practical task capture experience for the Mobas web application.
amidoinitrite, Artifact, Concept

Flip Rig: An extremely light-weight and simple rig for a FLIP MinoHD video camera

Leave a comment

A project at work required video footage of a series of veterinary surgical procedures to be recorded for inclusion in an online teaching resource.

The project did not have resources (DSLR and personnel) to record the series of surgical procedures nor does the relatively small operating theatre permit an additional non-surgical staff member to occupy the theatre.

With these constraints in mind, I designed and assembled a camera rig from a number of different pieces of hardware to support a Flip MinoHD digital video camera (found in the back of an old storage cupboard) that could be used to record each procedure.

The simple  nature of the Flip video camera means that any member of surgical team can start the recording prior to the commencement of the surgery without having to consider the possible complication of operating a semi-professional video camera or DSLR.

The light-weight and unobtrusive nature of the Flip also allows the camera to be fitted to the arm of the surgical light. A perfect place to capture a bird’s-eye view of the surgical procedure.

flip_rig_001

flip_rig_002

amidoinitrite

There’s no place like the wonderful world of developer options

Leave a comment

The experience was incredible. It was if I’d just stepped into the wonderful world of Oz. The experience was remarkably like Dorothy tapping her shiny red shoes wishing hwe returning to Kansas. There I was tapping the screen of my mobile phone, just like Dorothy tapping her shoes and wishing to be whisked away to a familiar place. Unlike Dorothy leaving the fantastical colourful world of Oz for a mundane existence in Kansas, I was leaving the mundane world of default settings for the colourful and exciting world of developer options. A developer world previously available to Android users by default, but now had been obfuscated behind a a mysterious and unnecessary iron curtain. An world that would only become available after tapping the screen of my device seven times. Bizarre.

My questions for hTC

  1. Why would you ever think your users would never be interested in accessing functionality offered by developer options by default?
  2. Why would you think it would be better to make it more difficult rather than less difficult for users to attempt to develop tools and content with and for their phone?
  3. What was your reason for doing this and why seven taps?

2014-07-03 13.53.54

2014-07-03 13.53.32

2014-07-03 13.54.13