Version 0
Version 1
Static (Comic Sans)
Active (Comic Sans)
Random (Times New Roman)
Grouping (Times New Roman)
Assignment 1: Version 0
Final audio and video transcripts
Spike is working as the manager at the RAC when a desk employee informs him that one of the treadmills has been reported broken. Spike examines the broken down treadmill and discovers that there is a broken part that controls the treadmills movement. Spike heads upstairs to the Gym Genie where he uses the interactive touch screen to search the database for blueprints to the specific treadmill make and model. He selects the exact missing part and it is printed in seconds. He heads down to the treadmill and fixes it, solving the issue and having the treadmill working within minutes of it first being reported to him.
Jerome is a grad student at UMBC and likes to workout in the weight room at the RAC. It’s usually very crowded and with his muscles he needs to lift very heavy amounts for his workout. However there aren’t enough weights around to equal what he needs, leaving him a few hundred pounds short. So h e heads upstairs to the Gym Genie and selects the weights section from the interactive interface and prints out the few hundred pound weights he needs. He takes them back into the weight room where he does his full workout.
Storyboard(S)
Comments from people: They suggested that Josh’s role wasn’t clear, I should make it more clear that he is asupervisor of some sort. They also suggested I should make it more clear if it is a student or a worker or an employye, basically who was reporting to Josh that the treadmill was not working. They liked how I used smoke coming out of the treadmill to show it was broken. They also suggested I could skip the first and fourth panels and just start with someone telling josh that the treadmill isn’t working.
PHOTO STORY BOARD
1. Brian, the manager on duty is informed by one of his staffers that a RAC user has reported a broken treadmill. 2. Brian checks the treadmill and sees that is indeed broken and needs a new part. 3. Brian goes to the 3D printer and surfs the interface to find the blueprint for the broken part, and then prints it. 4. Brian uses the new part to fix the treadmill and get it working again.
1.Jerome is a grad student at UMBC and likes to workout in the weight room at the RAC. It’s usually very crowded 2.and with his muscles he needs to lift very heavy amounts for his workout. 3.However there aren’t enough weights around to equal what he needs, leaving him a few hundred pounds short. 4.So he heads upstairs to the Gym Genie and selects the weights section from the interactive interface and prints out the few hundred pound weights he needs. 5.He takes them back into the weight room 6. where he does his full workout.
Reading: Representing users in accessibility research
This was a good reading in that it brought up issues I had never really given much thought to. It starts off by explaining how difficult it is to even get a group of disabled individuals to participate in studies, whether it be from lack of organization or simply there not being truly representative number of users. However, the authors explain that remote testing could be a solution in the future. They also describe the importance of a control group, especially in situations where there is a limited area of participants. The authors give the example of older adults-centered studies, but state how participants were often younger adults, the authors suggest that “Lack of a control group makes these assertions about the influence of age problematic.” The final interesting thing was how the authors explicitly state how HCI participant selection is usually based on the task and are selective based on the age, internet use and the like. I have heard this before, but I like how the authors just come right out and say it.
Reading: Participatory design of an orientation aid for amnesics
This reading was interesting. I see how it relates to what we have been doing in class because of the use and mention of storyboards in the article. Storyboards are used as a physical artifact that helps act as a memory trigger for amnesics and is pointed out to them in discussions when needed. Another thing this reading pointed out that I never realized was the participatory design can be used by most populations, even those with special needs. I never really took the time to think of it that way, but it does make sense since it does “Advocate[s] respect for all collaborators.” The final thing that the reading taught me was the importance of using redundancy when speaking with people with memory issues, it seems so obvious, but yet so important.
Idea Generation
Brainstorming Techniques: I used improv (yes, and technique), meditation and bootlegging techniques in my brainstorming session. I first used the the improv technique and actually found the youtube video we actually watched in class and showed it to my participants. I explained to them what a 3D printer was and told them that there were no limitations and it would be placed in the RAC. I guided them with questions (What would it do? What would it be called? What would it’s main uses be?) and just let them go. An advantage of this was that it spawned some great and plausible ideas, a disadvantage was that the participants were hesitant at times out of fear of sounding silly. For meditation, we all sat in a quiet room and just sat in silence for a few minutes with our eyes closed and then just started naming aspects of the printer (which in the improv it was decided it would be called the “Sports God”). An advantage is that the deep thought allowed for a quiet space without distractions and each person came up with some very interesting ideas. The disadvantage is that since no one was talking aloud during the process some of the same ideas came up. The bootlegging aspect was fun, we had a few turns and came up with some great ideas. An advantage of this is that everyone got a part of everyone elses idea, so the ideas were a group project. A disadvantage is that describing how to do this confused the participants a bit.
Reflection: I really thought the process was interesting and very useful. I thought the improv was the easiest, most fun and most useful of all the techniques. The most ideas were spawned from it as well, and it was were the best ideas came from as well. As mentioned above, the bootlegging was the toughest because the participants had trouble understanding how exactly to complete the task. Next time I should probably show examples of how to do a bootlegging assignment to make it easier for the participants.
Ideas:
Improv: (yes, and…)
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Print out courts and fields
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what if it could paint lines too
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replace broken bats and equipment
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what if it could keep score
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it would replace rac jobs
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more people would be needed to understand operation of machine
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Name is “Sports God”
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can make rooftop courts and fields to consolidate space on campus
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could fix all machines that are broken
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could print out new and better machines
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It could print out weights
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could create equipment thats not availible now (gymnastics, more wrestling matts”
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You could go on any website (Amazon, Dicks, eBay) and it could print right from there
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A catalogue of different parts of all RAC machines is available on Sports God (a list if you will) and you click (touch screen) and specify every single aspect of part you need.
Meditation:
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It should have internet access so your machine can just buy blueprint online from companies who make RAC machines
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Suggestion box for students so UMBC can gauge what new equipment students may want.
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The Sports God is one computer, but multiple printing ports, so more than one thing can be printed at once.
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Printing ports should be available at every Athletics facility, ensuring things could be fixed quickly
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The ability to design own blueprint for athletes (baseball bat designed specifically for players)
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Allows for any logo, color and design to be placed on any piece of equipment as well
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Would have different inputs for different materials (wood, wire, aluminum, metal)
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Record inventory
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Record cardio information and print out workout results
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Print out bleachers for events
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Print out cups and beverages
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Concession stand setting, literally printing snacks and utensils.
Bootlegging:
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Print out smaller equipment to make it more portable
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print out equipment that can be taken outside (water/weatherproof)
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print out a literal track with lines so more people have a place to run
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can print out tablets that are specialized to allow people to do homework while working out
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can print out basketballs and footballs
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can print out towels for people who sweat while working out
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can be used to print out bathing suits for people who want to swim, but forgot bathing suits
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if someone wants to play basketball but only has running shoes, it can print new shoes
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print more basketball hoops if the building is overcrowded
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can be used to print out additional lockers if too many are taken
Evaluation:
To narrow it down I looked back at my data and what most users said they wanted the most. I also thought about what would be the most useful and would fill the greatest needs of the RAC. Out of all the ideas I thought these were the most specific to what my original idea for the machine would be and most of the ideas were just spawned off of these three thoughts.
Initial user reaction:
I evealuated these ideas with two of my closest friends who are frequent users of the RAC, I thought their ideas would be good because they really want improvement to the RAC and are always asking about how to fix the problems the facility has. They also actually volunteered to do this once I explained what the project was and they thought the improv and meditation would be really cool. I really liked the name one of my friends gave, the Sports God, I would’ve used it, but in this day and age you don’t know what will offend people and what won’t. The three ideas I decided to use were 1. A catalogue of different parts of all RAC machines is available on Sports God (a list if you will) and you click (touch screen) and specify every single aspect of part you need. 2. It should have internet access so your machine can just buy blueprint online from companies who make RAC machines. 3.Concession stand setting, literally printing snacks and utensils.
Reading: Animated Sequences
I enjoyed this reading just as much as the previous one. The steps taken reminded me of things I do at work. For instance, when I am making graphics for our video broadcasts I make a master template (just as the reading mentioned) so that all the graphics will be similarly sized, shaped and styled. I then refine the master each time to make each graphic look different while maintaining the static size, shape and style. I then copy and modify just like the reading states, so I use the same method just not for the same scenario as the reading explains. I am a master of powerpoint so most of this stuff was already common knowledge to me, and that made step five (playing the sequence) seem especially redundant, but I do like how the authors make note of how the movement isn’t always fluid.
Reading: Drawing Scenarios
I really enjoyed this reading, it really appealed to my interests since I have a media background. Because of my profession I am very familiar with storyboards so this was one of the easier readings for me to relate to. At work, I know I have used the abstract transition diagram and the visual interface state transition diagram. I feel like an annotated state transition diagram would be more beneficial for me because it’s simplistic and i’ve used it before, however I am a big fan of detail so adding annotation would be beneficial and allow me to explain what I am trying to show better. I also never realized that comic books are basically implying state transitions by layout, I thought that was pretty cool.
3D Printer Assignment 2: User Data
How users currently use the RAC
When it comes to using the RAC, members and employees face a fairly simple process. Once they gain access to the building they can use any piece of functioning equipment, as well as rent any type of sporting equipment. Some members can get warm towels for showering and swimming. Sometimes members of the RAC need a drink which they can buy from a vending machine as long as it is stocked Members and employees also use the weight room which has various types of bench presses, dumbbells and free weights. Members and employees can also rent out the indoor courts to play hockey, soccer and tennis as well.
How users will use the RAC in the future
Members of the RAC can do all of the things mentioned above, as long as the equipment and materials are available and functioning. However, many of said things aren’t properly functioning or available to them. Treadmills and stationary bikes breakdown easily, weights go missing, basketball and soccer balls get torn up and go flat. A 3D printer could solve these issues in the future. If a weight goes missing, the printer can replace it. If a treadmill has a broken part, it can be printed and replaced easily. If someone needs a towel but there aren’t any clean ones available at the moment, a new one can be printed. If allt he basketball or soccer balls are checked out or flat, it can be printed out. Another problem is that sometimes people want equipment the RAC can’t supply, like lacrosse sticks, a Frisbee, a rugby ball, baseballs and baseball gloves With a 3D printer these can be obtained easily by the member. . Sometimes people show up at the RAC without the proper attire (wearing flip-flops or boots, and wearing jeans or khakis not shorts or sweatpants). If there was a 3D printer they could literally just print out the right attire and stay at the RAC instead of having to go all the way back to their dorm or home.
Personas:
Rick Beilein is a 64 year old Chemistry professor at UMBC. He likes to workout in between classes to stay in shape so that he can continue to teach for as a long as possible. He enjoys the leg press, unfortunately, his legs are so strong that the weights the RAC offer for it aren’t much of a workout for him anymore (Variable 1). He has been grandfathered (no pun intended) into the towel service which was discontinued to new members in the summer of 2011, but since he was on the towel list when the service was discontinued, he can still have towel access. He normally works out in the hours he has every day between classes and office hours so he needs to shower and change quickly (Variable 2).
Peyton Burke
Peyton is a second semester freshman at UMBC. He enjoys using the RAC to blow off steam after classes. He loves to play basketball at the RAC (Variable 3), but he struggles to be able to play because most of the times he is able to go to the gym all of the good basketballs are checked out, and those that aren’t are pretty flat. The best times for him to go is after his environment science lab, but he has to wear boots to that class because they always go to the nature reserve stream on the backside of campus in the middle of every class. So even though he is near the RAC he always has to go back to his dorm to change into proper shoes and get in to the right attire, but by the time he gets back all the basketballs are gone. He likes to lift weights as well, but struggles because the weights the RAC has are too heavy for him as a beginner.
Spike Hancock works is RAC employee who manages the building and he mainly focuses on making sure everything stays up and running. His main problem is making sure that all the equipment stays up and running (Variable 4). The issues he has are when the treadmills and stationary bikes breakdown, he has to have the replacement parts mailed in and that takes two days, which leaves members angry. Another issue people complain to him about is the lack of drinks available in the vending machines, the supplier is very poor about coming to restock them, and people often forget to bring their own water bottles to work out (Variable 5).
Data
A recent article in the school newspaper (The Retriever) pointed out that many students and faculty who use the RAC are very unhappy with the non-functioning equipment. A lot of the money from student rec fees went to renovations of the swimming and tennis facilities, and while people who use them are happy, the workout facilities need work. As the article states “The RAC’s gym equipment is a poor excuse for an exercise facility. If you wander in there at any main time of the day, excluding an hour before the RAC closes and the first hour it opens, you will often see countless students resting up against the cardio balcony’s railing.
The students are not resting from fatigue due to the treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical, but because they have to wait up to thirty minutes to use the next available machine. The number of available exercise machines is only the first problem. UMBC has roughly 10,000 undergraduate students, but the RAC only has 30 cardio machines. Of those 30 cardio machines, only about 22 work correctly.”This article was met with much support from the student body and it shows that people use the RAC are upset with the lack and amount of functioning equipment. From workingin the RAC I heard numerous personal complaints about these issues myself.
Some Assembly Required 