So far so good

We've now made it through two weeks of building our prototype. We have implemented a webservice for the youngsters, including registration of a new user with new token ID(s), creating multiple conversations with multiple recipients online. We have also succeeded in having a scanner automatically upload an image to the SQL-server and display it on the web-interface as part of a conversation thread as well as having a printer automatically print out the response written in a textarea on the webpage. Additionally, we have built a first edition of a physical, aesthetic prototype, and we have managed to make the RFID-readers and tokens work with the printer/scanner setup. Also, we have made some pretty cool light indications for new posts in SMILE.

In the next four days, we will write the 5th assignment as well as polishing our webservice before uploading it on Friday and implement the RFID reader in the aesthetic prototype. The latter will enable us to more specifically and easily explain the interaction to others, the main purposes of which is being able to conduct a usability test on elderly and for the final presentation.

Pictures

What we mean:

1. Earth-pic: Perspective, a new horizon
2. Iceberg: We only know a little about each other, and we want them to explore each others lives and personalities
3. Hands: Connection, love
4. Numbers: Easy, seamless interaction
5. Bookcase: A look that fits into the homes of the elderly, perhaps "wooden"
6. Grandparents: Happy grandparents, who feel useful and interesting as opposed to burdensome and annoying
7. Coffee: Clean, stylish design
8. Woman-in-red: Grandparents are not as boring as some kids might think - they were young once, too
9. Faces: Same as 3. 

Negative:

1. Guy-with-stuff: Confusing interaction
2. Man-pulling-hair: Frustrating interface
3. Abandoned Radio: That our system is seldomely or never used
4. Stupid-woman: Interaction-pitfalls for the elderly. It should be easy enough for anyone to use at a first glance. 

We have spent the day discussing the layout of our blog. It was a very heated discussion with similarly conflicting layout opinions, and as a result, we decided to leave it as it is. Also, we ate apples.

18/4

We received feedback from Kaj on our project brief, following which we spent the rest of the day brainstorming using some techniques from ideasforideas.com. More specifically, the Escapism method, as we thought it would be a good icebreaker, and we were right. :D

17/4-12

We've finished our brainstorm on random words, and spent some time organizing, reviewing and prioritizing the results. We discovered some new topic areas that are important to have in mind in the next brainstorming process. Tomorrow, we are going to start the ideation process for concrete ideas for products.

Also, we received some great feedback on our project brief from a couple of instructors.

16/4-12

Today we attended Kaj's lecture on Webtek, following which we brainstormed the rest of the day. Our goal was not to come up with concrete solutions or product ideas, but ways and directions of achieving our goals for improving inter-generational communication.


First brainstorm of general ideas on how to solve the overall problem.



Brainstorm with Jespers 5 random words.


Brainstorm with Nies' 5 words.

Rest will follow tomorrow. G'day!

12/4-12

Today we interviewed the elderly in the senior centre, and we had some very enriching and interesting conversations with them. Afterwards, we started writing the project brief, and we're going to finish it tomorrow.