Due: Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Goal: Identify a context that interests you and uncover user needs, goals, artifacts and usage patterns with an eye towards understanding problems and revealing opportunities for design.
Action:
1. Select a context or topic area that interests you and you think might have design opportunities for mobile devices. Examples could be museum exhibits, the library, a social environment such as coffee shop or club, etc. You might have an idea for a mobile application in mind, but try not to focus on that solution, rather the problem area that motivated your idea.
2. Observe, take notes and take pictures as people interact with artifacts and others in that environment. What are they doing? What artifacts are they using to accomplish those tasks? How are they using those artifacts? What are their goals (this may require some unstructured interview questions)? NOTE: be sure to explain to people you talk to that this is for a class project and presentation and will be for your instructor and classmates only. It is courteous to ask someone before taking their picture. Your pictures can be only of artifacts if you prefer.
3. Write up your observations, problems you noticed and any possible opportunities for design. You should write no more than 1 page, single-spaced.
4. Create a SHORT presentation (at most 2 minutes) using the pictures from your observations for the class. Your presentation should also discuss your observations, problems you noticed and any possible opportunities for design.
Deliverables:
1. Classroom presentation (at most 2 minutes). Please email an electronic document (.ppt or .pdf) to tartaroa@union.edu by 2:45 the day the assignment is due. Also, put your presentation on the computer closest to the front on the left in the PASTA lab prior to the start of class.
2. Written report (at most 1 page, single-spaced). Please email an electronic document (Word or .rtf) to tartaroa@union.edu by 2:45pm the day the assignment is due AND hand in a hard copy in class.