Interactive World (Helfand Reading Response)

"New boundaries are enabled by new kinds of technologies, by demands of new products and the imperatives of new economies"

Technology in the late 90's to the mid 2000's was clearly explored just like the artists of dadaism, cubists, and constructivists. Now technology is being pushed more and more. The question of why has always been asked, even why a machine has an animation and whether or not it is even worthy of the time. I believe the question is why not? Technology has made people question the beauty of the world around them, they get so sucked into the flatness of technology. Each step further into that design takes us away from the physicality of living our lives outside the framed screen. One of the biggest reasons ive wanted to be a designer was to make the world around me more apparent and beautiful. I think about what if the walls and ground we step on is a meshing of technology and nature. I think that technology is slowly pushing in that direction.

Introducing the ideas that the internet has provided us into the physical world is the next big thing. how can we make the world function like or with technology? We are neither limited nor belittled by our previous designers of the 21st century. We can create detail, reason, something of worth with technology all we have to do is continue to be avant-garde.

MX: Back Home scenarios

What if I am a freshman in college and am from out of state. I want to be connected more with my family/friends/community back at home.

Back Home will be an app and website that will provide students a way to stay connected with their home when they are away. By creating a profile and by inviting friends and family members to Back Home via the app or site they will be able to experience home away from home. This whole system will help the students stay at ease when they are nervous being away. The app and site will track what their family or friends are doing and provide the students opportunity to add to their experience and vice versa.  

With live alerts on your mobile device you can keep up to date with big events or places your family or friends are at giving you a sense of still being apart of their lives.

What if I am starting to get a little homesick as I am missing my home/old room.

The online memory of your room will help the college student adjust and feel at ease by letting them customize their new home by projecting their fondest things from home. So whether it is your favorite wall with all your friends written notes or your favorite poster of David Bowie they can be customized and formatted to your new space at college.

Customizing your room is easy, and if your parents have put up new things or have surprised you with a note or something special you can  see the latest additions to your old room. You can choose to put them up in your own new room, keeping you in touch. 

What if I miss seeing my mom. 

This system will include a video chat and the option to project the person you are talking to on your wall so they feel like they are actually there with you in your dorm room. The app for the computer will use the built in projector and project an HD image of your mother as if she was in the room with you. 

What if I miss hearing/going to my little brother’s soccer games back at home.

with the Back Home app your family can live record the game on their phone app and stream it live to you or can record it for you to watch later on. If live, the user can be projected at the game to cheer on their little brother as they score a goal! Also at the same time you can project the game from your computer in your own space seeing it at a larger scale so that you can have the sense you are really there amongst all the action. 

What if I live on a lake back at home, and moving into an inner city college makes me miss my hometown surroundings even more.

The Back Home app will allow you to set up a listing of where you are from (town/city/state/etc) you can choose your favorite place and set it as your live background both on your app page but also as your home on the hub site. When using the site on your computer you can project it in your room with a live feed you both will be able to see and hear your old tromping grounds. And when you just want to hear the sound you can just pull out your phone app and have the live feed near you when you cannot project it. 

In addition to being able to projecting your own home Back Home will suggest places near by that have similar elements that you are missing back at home. Places that can give you the same feeling as home. 

What if my parents went to the state fair, and feel bad I wasn’t able to go since I am in college.

Not being able to physically be there is a problem of the past, with Back Home you can project all the fun sites in your own space. You will be able to interact with vendors, so if you find that one cool thing you really have to have you Back Home will give you the option to purchase it and ship it to your dorm or apartment at college. In addition to being able to see your homes state fair Back Home can tell you about local state fairs in your college area. This can provide you an opportunity to share your new homes state fair with friends and family back at your old home. Options to interact such as purchasing goods or going on rides will be offered to both parties using the app on any mobile device. 

How can I find out who else is from my hometown around here?

When going to a new school finding people from your area can be a task. With the Back Home app you will be provided a list of people at your school and possible other close colleges who are from your area. That way you can go and meet new friends and become more comfortable in your new place of living. But it doesn't always have to be someone from your home, Back Home will also alert you if someone has been interacting with someone from your home town. They might be someone who you can relate to and possibly become friends with also. 

What if I want to connect with other people that go to a nearby college that are also from my hometown? It will be nice to have friends that can relate to my home state.

If you haven't already been suggested at previous interactions with the app or site, while out and about if you are at the store or a restaurant and someone else has the Back Home app they will be added to your suggested friends list, with live notifications and mobile phone “places” Back Home will be able to tell you if someone around you is from your hometown or state. 

What if I want to share my hometown interests/photos to my new friends?

If you find a new friend that has Back Home you can send objects to be placed in their “home” creating a customized room that both reflects their old memories while also updating with their new memories. Things can be added or denied via the app or site. Using the site you will be able to place the new memories where ever you want to when projecting your old room. 

What if I am a foreign exchange student, and I want to see if there are any college clubs for the people of my home country?  

After confirming where you are from via the app or on the online hub you will be able to input your likes, interests, hobbies, etc. then Back Home will find clubs, associations, or people with similar likes or beliefs allowing you to assimilate easily. In addition to clubs the app will find businesses, services, or facilities that can cater to your culture or origin. 

MX: scenarios and mood boards

Mission: To make students feel more comfortable adjusting in a new environment with the support of their hometown and interests.

Specific Audience: College freshman possibly at UMKC, KCAI, Penn Valley, Rockhurst

How are you building community: We are planning on helping with the smooth transition of freshman by making them feel at ease and meet other people with similar backgrounds/interests.

ACTIVITY SCENARIOS

I am a freshman in college and am from out of state. I want to be connected more with my family/friends/community back at home.
This online hub will help college students stay connected with their home when they away. It will do this by letting them create an online profile which will have many functions and will act like the students are still part of their life back at home. This whole system will help the students stay at ease when they are nervous being away.

I am starting to get a little homesick as I am missing my home/old room.

The online hub will help the college student adjust and feel at ease by letting them customize their homepage with photos from their house/hometown. They can decorate their homepage to their liking. You can also project photos on your dorm room walls so it feels like your room you might have back at home. 

I miss seeing my mom. 

This system will include a video chat and the option to project the person you are talking to on your wall so they feel like they are actually there with you in your dorm room. 

I might not have the time to video chat with my mom, but could I quickly talk to her?

There will be a way to talk to her without the use of video chat. It will act like a phone.

I miss hearing/going to my little brother’s soccer games back at home.

Your customized profile will connect you with the soccer schedule of your little brother or any other local sporting event, along with updating you on the scores and by sharing photos of the game.

I live on a lake back at home, and moving into an inner city college makes me miss my hometown surroundings even more.

The online hub/app will let you have the ability to choose familiar sounds that you are used to hearing at home. It will then play them on your computer/iPad while you are hanging out in your dorm room. It will make you feel like you are still at home and comfortable with the lakeside atmosphere.

It would be nice to see what the weather is like back at home.

You can look up what the weather is like back where you are from, and have it displayed on your home page/profile so you can see it every time you log in.  

My parents went to the state fair, and feel bad I wasn’t able to go since I am in college.

Your parents/friends can send you photos so you keep up to date with events happening in your hometown.

How can I find out who else is from my hometown around here?

When you personalize your profile on the online hub, there will be an option to view a list all of the people from the surrounding colleges that are also from your hometown. 

What if I want to connect with other people that go to a nearby college that are also from my hometown? It will be nice to have friends that can relate to my home state.

Once you see the other people that are also from your hometown, you can have the option to message them and schedule a get together/outing.

What if I want to share my hometown interests/photos to my new friends?

Once you befriend people, you can have them see your customized homepage/profile of photos which can be of your home/family/lifestyle.

What if I am a foreign exchange student, and I want to see if there are any college clubs for the people of my home country?  

Once you type in where you are from, the hub will list college clubs based on your home country. If the college you go to now doesn’t have a club, you can either have the ability to create a club or see if the surrounding colleges have the club you desire. 

If I am getting homesick and miss the Italian food I enjoy from my hometown/country, what do I do?

On the online hub, you can have the option to select the types of foods you enjoy and it will recommend nearby restaurants that specialize in the food you enjoy. It will also list some other people from surrounding colleges that enjoy the same food/restaurants so you can have the option to invite them out with you.

I was very interested in history museums back at home, I really would like to continue going to them for fun, but I am new to this town.

The online hub will list nearby attractions if you list interests. It will even allow your parents help recommend nearby attractions. They will be able to give you a list of options that they will think you will like. 

I need a specialized service where should I go? 

It will recommend nearby services so you will know where to go. It will help you know the surrounding area incase you have troubles adjusting since you might not be familiar with the area.

I am Catholic and would like to know Catholic churches I can go to?

You can have the option to type in your religion, and it will give to search results for nearby churches along with other college students that attend those church services.

I got a good grade on my project and would love to share my achievement with my parents.

You can easily upload your projects/assignments to let your parents see your achievements. There is even a reward system. If your family wants to reward you for your good grades, they will have the ability to give you coupons/gifts cards to nearby restaurants/attractions. 

I need help studying for a test.

This system will help stay connected with other classmates so you can prepare/organize study sessions.

Would this online system recommend other friends?

Once you start making friends that are also from your hometown, it will allow you to get to know their friends who have similar interests as you. 

I am really starting to adjust to college well and its surroundings.

The more you branch out/do activities (check in at the places), it will generate rewards/discounts. This way, it will encourage students to be active and socialize.

MOOD BOARDS

Community/Audience:

Design Inspiration: (for online home pages/profiles/maps/projections in dorms)

MX: Home away from Home

reading response: community psychology

It was interesting in the breakdown of memberships, I 
think the actual breakdown is going to be a tool I either 
keep with me or memorize because it is so well listed. I 
Think that the way it has the core needs of the member
of a group; boundaries, emotional safety, a sense of
belonging, personal investment, and a common symbol
system (the tougher point to understand) 

So boundaries are good to understand I believe that it
is something sometimes looked over or overstated when
a design is made for a specific group. I know there is a
sweet spot per say that is a balance of recognition and 
accessibility. I think if you recognize the need or prioritize
the needs of the users boundaries can be a beneficial apt
way to hit that sweet spot. 

I think the other points such as personal investment and 
a common symbol system is pretty standard. Just in a
user system you need them to invest time, feel safe to 
use the program, and feel like the program is creating a
need for them to use said program. 

Empowering, shared values & similar search, definitive 
element of a true community, those words can summarize 
the rest of the article. Mainly because the rest feed closely
to the main point of understanding membership. Empower
your member or what do they get out of it that will make
them come back to the program? What values are you 
sharing or have similar that will make the user to return to
using the program produced? What is the definitive element
that is making your program a "true Community" that your
users will feel and possibly make them feel apart of a real
community, not some facade community. What will your
program do to make them feel like they are contributing to
the community. 

home away from home: our own graph

I would like to thank taylor for doing the graph. I know we

spent a lot of time concept building and I believe we found

a topic that has us both really excited. 

MX: possibilities

here is a post for MX, thinking about the possibilities for the future.