November 05, 2005
User Testing
This friday evening we did some user testing with Rob Faludi's help. It was really enlightening to see how what we thought people would do with our prototypes would match what they actually ended up doing. The windmills worked out well. We are going to pursue those and also look into Min's smoke idea.
We also discovered that the proximity of the prototypes as well as their order next to each other made a big difference. Whatever was after the windmills was much more likely to get blown on. That's also a lesson in using an item which might not be central to an installation but could lead by association. The windmills were also being touched so we are going to experiment with placing a barrier between the user and the windmills so that it's clear that if you want something to happen (hopefully) you will give us breath.
Posted by mb2811 at 03:25 AM
November 01, 2005
The Seven Year Itch
This exhibit (Link: http://www.ektopia.co.uk/ektopia/archives/2005/09/07/blow) uses a microphone for breath input but what's interesting is that the photograph explains what to do at the exhibit. If you find yourself in front of a microphone you may end up doing one of many things. Singing, talking, yelling, etc. not necessarily blowing but the fact that the microphone is accompanied by a highly recognizable photo makes it perfectly clear what the microphone is for.
In this way we have the flexibility of a potential shift from what we discussed this evening. Instead of the blowing being clear, the thing that reacts could potentially make it clear that you are supposed to blow. Another way of looking at it thought we may not necessarily want to mess with microphones again :)
Posted by mb2811 at 03:40 AM
Dollar Store
I scavenged the dollar stores and found some blow-y things in the party department. I'll see what I can do with them. I also think that another way to make the installation coherent is to lead by example. Say you have a couple of thin grass-like wires that you want people to blow on. You could have a fan blowing on them initially so when the individual approaches the installation they can follow the fan's 'lead'. Another potential way to facilitate interaction.
Posted by mb2811 at 03:39 AM