Past Present & Future

What’s your pet app idea? Based on the tools and processes that Aaron shared, discuss the minimum essential features, as well as elements that are not essential that you would want to add after launch.

what I would like to explore more, is tracking the amount of time each person spends daily thinking about the events that already took place in the past, planning the future and  focusing on what they are doing at that moment.

I am interested to learn how much of our time we spend on thinking about other things other than what we are doing at that time. I believe the data collected can be helpful with many psychological issues. Moreover, it may also be helpful in tracking our focus and productivity.

I conceptualized this project in my Design History class and would have loved to learn more about it had time permitted.

In order to track this data we need two essential things. One, a headset that can tracks and distinguish the different waves sent by the human brain and, second, an app to monitor and document the data received.

While researching tracking devices, I came across a devices called NeuroSky. However, I am unsure if NeuroSky is capable of collecting the data needed. Nevertheless, lets assume NeuroSky or some other device exists that can track and distinguish waves associated with thoughts of the past, present or future.

I believe the application is the important part of this idea as it will take and transform the data into something that is understandable. The application can be in the form of a mobile app or a website, in both cases it will demonstrate the same thing.

I believe that the essential features to launch the app are as follows:

. A headset or other device that tracks and distinguishes brain wave;

. The headset or device will need to have bluetooth capability so it may transfer the data to the application;

. An easy translation of the data for the user to track the information; and

. A graph that shows the change during over a course of time.

I believe the above is enough to launch the application. However, in order to maximize the application’s potential, I believe it will need to include the following:

. The ability to set goals (for example the use is able to set goals in order to focus more on their daily activities)

. The application could have the option to make recommendations based on their activities and how to achieve their set goals;

. In cases involving psychological patients, doctors can have access to their patient’s data to track their activities and progress;

. Social networks and comparison abilities: this can give the user the opportunity to compare their results with others. For example, the user can compare his or her results with someone they admire.

There is no question that social interactions and networking is today one of the most important aspects of ever design. Nevertheless, I believe, based on the MVP list, that the social interaction and networking portion of the application is comes at the end of the list.

Prototype

Discuss one of the best prototypes you have encountered, either yours or someone else’s. Why was it great? What did you or its designer learn from it? What would the designer have missed if the prototype had never been built?

Initially when I decided to blog about this topic, I wanted to write about prototypes I had created while working as a graphic designer and their importance in avoiding future disappointments.

However, last week, I went on a tour  to The Long Now Foundation at Fort Mason and came across a fascinating prototype for their “10,000 Year Clock” project. This clock is meant to be an symbolic work for long term thinking. It is designed to tick for 10,000 years and is scaled to be as a monumental piece built inside a mountain in West Texas.

The scale and the detail of these prototypes is significant as it is made up of thousands of parts. in order for them to test and learn every step they had to divided the project into different parts and create a prototype for each part. Given the massive scale of the project, some prototypes needed to be built at a smaller scale just for the designer to test if the technical aspect of the project would works. Other prototypes were just designed to study human interaction with the project.

In addition, during the tour, I learned about the different levels of the prototype. As can be seen from the posted pictures, some prototypes are very small and made with cheap material, such as wood. For a project this scale, I don't think the designers will ever be able to build the final project without going through several prototypes.

Overall I was very impressed with the work and I am looking forward to see the final project especially so that I may compare the prototypes to the final project.

Billabong

Blog on a brand you admire (not just the product or service). Explain what elements of the brand “speak” to you and what they say

One of the many brands that I like is Billabong. Billabong is an Australian clothing company that sells dresses, surfing shorts, swim suites, pants and many more. Regardless of what the product is, all look fun, playful, funky and designed. Also, it feels like their cloths are designed for the beach or a hot summer day. It is very clear that they are targeting young audience but it really lively and fun adults can pull their cloths off too.

The look and feel of their brand comes through in the design of their logo and expands to the design of their cloths, shops, websites and the events they sponsor.

I have always been a big fan of their brand not only because they make really nice cloths but also because I think by wearing their design I can make a statement. I have a passion for design and I enjoy wearing something that I consider designed.

Midpoint Grade

Blog on what you think your midpoint grade should be in this class. Be specific about what you’ve done or not done to earn that grade.

Since this a direct message to both Christopher and Maria, I would like to thank you for the amazing semester. As expected, business of design is unquestionably an essential course for any graduate design Student. It is obvious that you have both dedicated a lot of energy to the class. Thank you.

I, like most other student, believe I deserve an A at this point of the semester. I have turned in all my blogs on time and have exerted an enormous amount of time and effort on each one. I have actively participated in the team project.  I may not have asked questions for the sake of asking questions but I did ask questions when I thought it was appropriate and necessary.

School in the Cloud

After watching Sugata Mitra’s ted talk, I was surprised to learn how little our education system had evolved.

It is sad to see that we use the same old teaching system as those used during the British Empire even though studies have clearly shown this method to be outdated.

The system of educational currently in place reduces curiosity and punishes creativity. Mr. Mitra’s theory of a “School in the Cloud” would undoubtedly promote curiosity and reward creativity. However, I do not believe the “School in the cloud” approach is without its flaws. For example, the “School in the Cloud” approach requires an active and dedicated student body. Absent such, kids may be left behind.

In my opinion, the “School in the Cloud” approach is a great way to spread education in hard to reach and impoverished areas but may not be the global solution to improving our “obsolete” education system.

Ethics of designing for behavior change

Reflect on the ethics of designing for behavior change. When is it okay and not okay to “trick” people into doing things that are good for them? Does everything we create, in one sense or another, change an end‐user’s behavior? Use concrete examples to illustrate your points.

Regardless of our intentions all design will create behavior change in a way or another. Now if tricking someone to changing his or her behavior is ethical is the question.  I think the morality of such a change depends on the intentions behind the design. For example in advertising, even if the client is going to benefit from that product or service, it is for the sake of personal interest. When burger king designs an ad showing a grilled patty, they want nothing more but to gain more profit. Burger King may be a healthier choice than McDonalds, but their intention is not people’s health, all they care about it pure profit.

I believe tricking people to change their behavior is justified only if it is done to improve their lives. This improvement could be medical, in education or even simply helping someone achieve their goals. For example Protius, is designed to change behavior for the client sake and improve their lives. My father is diabetic, he is very well motivated and has the ability to take care of his health but a signal would be very helpful.  A little reminder to encourage him to stick to a schedule will significantly help his health.

I believe that if the intention behind a design is to improve ones life, then it is justified to trick people into helping them. But if your main reason for the design is for the producer to benefit from the behavioral change, then it is not ethical.