SWING TO CONNECT (2012)

Interactive system to connect people in breakout areas

project swing

TASKS


User research
Context mapping
Information visualisation
Concept evaluation
Interactive prototyping
Usability testing


WHAT IS 'SWING' ?

'Swing' is an interactive system that consists of an interactive installation and a web service. It enables colleagues to share images with each other in breakout areas; and by simply swinging the hanging ball, users can interact with the shared images in a playful and relaxing way.



WHAT IS THE CHALLENGE ?

This project is part of SmaCs(Smart Context-aware Services)project funded by the Dutch goverment.In this project, the goal was to improve the breakout area experience by designing the interaction between people and an electronic display.




STEP 1: RESEARCH

In order to achieve the project goal, there were two questions to be answered prior to the start of the design phase.


CONTEXT MAPPING

The first question focused on enhancing the understanding of the breakout area and discovering design opportunities in such an environment.

To answer the first question, two steps were taken:

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After each interview, the video recording was analyzed. Interesting findings were written down using key words together with corresponding quotes.

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Those finds were later categorized into insights, base on which an infographic was made to present the research findings as well as facilitate discussion with project stakeholders.

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INTERACTION EXPLORATION

Inspired by the participants of the breakout area context research, literature and case studies, many ideas were generated. Later all these ideas were categorized from three perspectives: nature of the ideas, effects of the ideas, input and output modalities used in the ideas. Such a categorization further enhanced the understanding of the design possibilities.

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STEP 2: DESIGN GOAL

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It was found during the Context Mapping that, besides taking a rest, a breakout area is also a place where colleagues are connected. Therefore, the design goal was further defined as:

Design an interactive system that improves the connection between people in the same working environment in terms of getting to know each other better and encouraging more frequent communications and provides innovative, relaxing and playful interactions that fit in a breakout area context.

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STEP 3: DESIGN


BASIC CONCEPT

The basic concept consists of a web service with which user can share images with the breakout area in their office and a ball-shape interactive device that is hanged in a breakout area with a string. By swinging the ball, the images shared with this room are shown one after another on an electronic display and the images scrolling speed corresponds to the swinging speed of the ball

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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

When the basic concept was made, it was presented to potential users by using sketches and story boards for their feedback.

Base on the result of the concept evaluation,the following criteria were determined for further improving the basic concept:

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STEP 4: IMPLEMENTATION AND USABILITY TESTING

A working prototype was made and improved based on usability test results.

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