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02 Brainstorming |
Thinking outside the box
Based on our user needs research, we began brainstorming concepts for our design prototype. For our music player, we found the key interaction points to be primarily determined by the player's form factor player's interface.
Form Factor
We brainstormed various ideas for the form factor of our music player. Some themes we were trying to think of involved coming up with a design that would easily integrate into the life of a typical senior. We had informally witnessed how seniors are uncomfortable incorporating new technology into their homes, particularly if it looks too technical. We had several brainstorming ideas for the form factor; we list some of these here:
Hanging Musical Frame, take 1
The advantages of this is that the player would be portable in the sense that it could be taken around to multiple rooms in the house
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Hanging Musical Frame, take 2
This builds off the first musical frame, but is geared to the usage scenario of having the player as a portrait hanging on the wall. It also includes a simplified button interface. |
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Hanging Musical Frame, take 3
This also builds off the first musical frame, but adds the ability to print out material which can then be exchanged with others. To support extra features, the interface is made slightly more complex with the addition of more buttons. |
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Musical Lamp
This form factor is meant to integrate into the activities that seniors are typically doing when they are listening to music in the background. As a lamp, there are natural interactions that are easily understood for seniors, and can be mapped to specific music player functionality. |
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Musical Sofa Chair
Similar to the musical lamp, this form factor is also inspired by the activities that seniors typically do when they are listening to music in the background (e.g. reading, crossword puzzles). This offers seniors an easy way for them to listen to their music uninterrupted, without having to stop their current tasks since they can avoid having to get up. |
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Musical Scrapbook
This concept was inspired by the fact that seniors are often reminded of past experiences when they listen to music. To facilitate seniors reminscing, we thought of a scrapbook where seniors could insert custom pages with music attached to certain momentos. |
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Interface
We also spent some cycles brainstorming different types of interfaces for our music player. We knew we wanted a simple interface, and wanted to explore different types of widget to see which ones best fit the mental model of a senior listening to music.
Musical Sofa Chair Interface
The long bar shape of the control panel is designed to fit into the musical sofa chair form factor. |
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Single-Mode Traditional Interface
For this interface we are brainstorming ways we can share one set of controls between two different types of media (tapes and CD). |
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Photo-based Interface
This interface incorporates the notion of a photo, which could be used for identifying the cover art of a particular album/song, or the person who might be recommending the music to you. |
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Direct Manipulation Interface
Here we emphasize the relatively small collection of musical selections that seniors typically own. This makes it possible for us to have "speed-dials" for a senior's favorite stations or album with a one-button interface. |
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Tabbed-based, Recommender Interface
This interface is a bit more complex in that it allows different views for playlists. With this, seniors have a way to view past musical selections as well as bookmarking current selections. |
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IID.2006 - Project 4