User Scenario
This is the imaginary family I created as users of my application. Each uses the application in a different way, at different times, in different locations. From this information I will create a navigation map of information to be found on the application. This scenario will also help inform the final visualization of how the application works.
The next step in my research was to conduct some research through discussion. To facilitate the discussion I used a method known as “Speed Dating.” I ended up asking just two questions. 1. What makes you feel close to your family and friends? and 2. What makes you feel close to your family and friends when you are apart? I made a series of papers on which I wrote everything I could think could be an answer to these questions. I had my participants place these papers in order of least to most importance.
Most of the participants said that conversations, memories, and opinions were important when they are around their family and when they are not.
From this research I gathered that, really, conversation (which involves memories and opinions) is a main part of keeping people connected.
I started off this project with research. I wanted to see 1. what else is out there in terms of apps about sharing information and 2. how people stay connected.
I found some interesting things for the first part of my research.
Cloudy uses polls to find the opinions of your friends and family. It is an interesting way of getting input from others without asking everyone individually.
This app is about displaying one moment of your life through a photo. People can check to see what your photo of the day is, or follow you and always seen the newest image. The result is to access days and days of someone’s life through just photos.
Think of Prowl Owl as a tracking system for your friends. Although tracking friends seems a bit on the 1984 side of things, Prowl Owl focuses on knowing locations for the sake of being social. You see where your friends are around town, and meet up with them, somewhere that makes sense for all involved.
Journaling has been taken to the digital age. One Day provides a place to keep a journal that is password protected, can be exported, and allows you to keep track of all your entries. For people who want to document daily, this is an outlet.
All of these methods require daily input to keep up to date. A dailybooth account without photos, most days, says little about the person’s life. One Day obviously needs input, and most of the time is kept private. Prowl Owl automatically provides location information, but reaching out to others is up to you. Even Cloudy requires voting, creating polls, and participation. With this project, I want people to input information once, and for the app to do the rest. These days, everyone is so preoccupied with work and trying getting everything done, that I don’t want to add another headache to their schedules. The aim of this project is not to add more technology to already busy lives, after all this is to help all of those bustling people, and make it easier to connect to friends and family.
So this is my blog devoted to my independent study at Carnegie Mellon University. I am a junior communication design major in the School of Design at CMU. Although I am familiar with websites, I have not yet delved into the world of application creation. Drawing from my experience of studying in Italy for a semester I am focusing my project on keeping in touch with family and close friends even while physically separated or even just busy.
The concept behind the project is to have a glimpse at a person’s life if time to talk and catch up is sparse. I am dealing with subjects such as the weather where that person lives, noting career achievements or demotions, and the events they participate in, all while requiring minimal input from the users. News websites, weather stations, and other social media apps would all provide the updates. Check back for more, soon!
My advisor for this project is Stacie Rohrbach, Associate Professor of communication design at Carnegie Mellon University.
