Situated interface #4
As our final outcome for the project we created a prototype of a privatised and non-privatised cuboid.
Before creating the video we wanted to display our mockups on faces of a 3D cuboid but went transferring the obj file onto After effects it wouldn’t appear. Reason being was that After effects doesn’t offer this option and an extension wasn’t available. Instead, we used the 3D camera tracker on the video of Waterloo station and were able to select surfaces where we could display images. Once, we were able to form a cuboid shape we had to apply the same video above the layers of the images to mask the people walking. Unfortunately, the video could only last 7 seconds as a result of the number of overlapped masks making it difficult to work on a mask individually. Creating this video was challenging but the video I presented to the class was worse as the size of the cuboid was smaller and disorientated but over the Christmas break I remade the video and worked on it per frame.
Before creating the video we wanted to display our mockups on faces of a 3D cuboid but went transferring the obj file onto After effects it wouldn’t appear. Reason being was that After effects doesn’t offer this option and an extension wasn’t available. Instead, we used the 3D camera tracker on the video of Waterloo station and were able to select surfaces where we could display images. Once, we were able to form a cuboid shape we had to apply the same video above the layers of the images to mask the people walking. Unfortunately, the video could only last 7 seconds as a result of the number of overlapped masks making it difficult to work on a mask individually. Creating this video was challenging but the video I presented to the class was worse as the size of the cuboid was smaller and disorientated but over the Christmas break I remade the video and worked on it per frame.
The animation on the right of the ticket screen couldn’t be added onto the screens of the cuboid because the 3D tracker didn’t recognise it as a surface. However, the way the ticket screen would work is by scanning a person’s ticket onto the camera. Once the camera has recognised the ticket it will display the essential information of the travellers journey.
Here is the feedback gathered by people in the station:
Person 1 – really interested in the idea. Felt it would be a product they would use for their ticket since it becomes annoying having to look at the number of screens and struggling to find their train. Would prefer to see news articles however, feels that even if the product started off showing news articles. Eventually due to the money companies pay the product may become privatised by showing adverts.
Person 2 – liked the ticket idea but felt the the size of the cube would be too intrusive and would therefore block people since people still do walk underneath the signs. But just rarely stand underneath them.
Person 3 – Feel that the product would be really helpful for people who are unable to read the displays or for tourists. Has an economical impact as can lower the amount of newspapers being handing out in the station due to the news stories being displayed on a screen.
Person 4 – Would limit the amount of time needing to stand trying to find the their train on the displays. Say there needs to be more than one cube as there are so many people that there can still be queues and overcrowding around the cube.
Person 5 – could be both news articles and advertisements. Some people like advertisements but they don’t have to be constantly displayed, just maybe after every 4 news articles 1 article can be shown
Person 6 – “I feel like it’s a really nice idea and it spreads people out rather than everybody gathering around the departure boards. Being able to check my ticket is something that would be really useful and it would mean I can check all my details and then go grab something to eat without having to rush around trying to get to the platform early. As a regular commuter through Waterloo I feel like it could improve my journey.”
Person 7 – “It’s a nice concept although I’m not sure how well it would work in such a crowded space, this place gets diabolical during rush hour especially when you compare it to right now for example. The ticket information concept is cool and I would like to see that implemented in the actual station as I’m sure it would be useful. I’d be interested to see how this pans out”
Person 8 – “I mean we see enough advertisements around the station so I really don’t like the idea of this big cube in the middle of the concourse advertising the latest overpriced perfume. The news articles are nice however would there be subtitle or volume for us to know what the newsreaders are saying? It’s something I’d look at if I was behind the project. The ticket information for me is not a bad idea as I’m in the station twice a day seven days a week so I’d be able to find my platform and carriage straight away. “
Person 9 -“I like the idea of using empty space within the station and it was a nice observation that nobody was using that space underneath the information board. I like the idea of being able to view your ticket information on a screen as it really breaks it down and from the photos you’ve shown me it’s a nice and simple system to use. The screens are a nice idea and I like that you are using this for a mix of advertisement and news purposes.”
Person 10- “I mean it’s a nice concept but it’s not something that would affect me personally. I’m not from the area so I don’t feel like I would be here enough to utilise this. I’m sure it would be useful for regular commuters in the area and hopefully make their journeys easier.”
In conclusion, our overall responses were positive, suggesting how our design would improve commuters experience, by saving them time in the station as well as having a positive economic impact such as paper by reducing the use of newspapers. As well as, helping those with visual impairment but we were told that it could be intrusive and diabolical during rush hours. Despite, from our observational researching noticing that very few people went underneath the signs and watching the number of people who use the ticket stands. When introducing new technology into space we have to consider that “Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral. (Kransberg 1986) What this says is that whenever we introduce a product into the market and our society, it will have an impact—positive or negative. I have a corollary to Kransberg’s First Law. It is: Without informed design, technology is more likely to be bad than good. Once acknowledged, Kransberg’s “law”—and my corollary—imply that before introducing any new technology, we must make our best effort to inform its design such that the balance is more weighted on the positive than the negative. This is simply responsible design.” (Buxton.W, 2007, p .50) Furthermore, an interviewee suggested having subtitles if news shows were going to be presented but we had already started to consider this. But, the possibility of using a news show instead of articles could be problematic as it could reduce the flow of the commuters as they would get distracted not only by what is being presented but by reading the subtitles. If we were to use headline articles, the time spent reading we be shorter and we could use one of our interviewee’s suggestion of presenting one article after every 4 articles were presented but we would have to test this idea as it would be dependent on how long an article would be up for so we could present as many headlines as possible to keep up with real-time headlines. Having conducted the interviews, it made us realise the number of tests we would have to conduct if this was real.
Reference:
Buxton, W. (2007) Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design. Right and the Right Design. Accessed from: http://library.globalchalet.net/Authors/Sketching%20Freehand%20and%20Digital%20Drawing%20Techniques%20for%20Artists%20&%20Designers%20Collection/Sketching%20User%20Experiences%20Getting%20the%20Design%20Right%20and%20the%20Right%20Design.pdf