UCD Assignment 2 – Interface Design

Fruit Shaped Sticky Notes

The Kudamemo fruit-shaped sticky notes by D-BROS from Japan. These fruit-shaped sticky notes so cute! if you are in Japan, you can check out from here.

Personally i feel that design is really cute,haha, who thought that post its could look like these. It’s not your boring coloured square post its anymore. I feel that this design is simple yet it changes the way I look at post it , like post it isn’t just a post it anymore. Really thought this design was very cool and innovative.

http://likecool.com/Kudamemo_Fruit-Shaped_Sticky_Notes–Office–Gear.html

Waterproof Post It!

Do you get your geart ideas in the shower? This AquaNotes($TBA) is a waterproof notepad that allows you to write down all ideas while in the shower.
“Water simply beads up and rolls off its waterproof paper. AquaNotes is so durable, you can even write underwater. Each pencil is made from 100% natural cedar that is water resistant.”

This design is damn cool, so now we won’t have to worry about forgetting something in the bath! You can just simply write it down. I wonder why i never thought of waterproof papers before.

http://likecool.com/AquaNotes_Waterproof_Notepad_for_Shower–Bath–Home.html

New Prototype Testing Survey Questions

These are the questions that we have asked our users when we did our prototype testing.

Questions regarding the prototype:

1-      Locate your current location

2-       Using the index function, navigate to the Borneo Orang Utan’s location.

3-      Find out the different routes from your current location to Babirusa.

4-      Navigate back to the main page.

5-      Could you tell me the distance between Arapaima and Borneo Orang Utan?

Views about the prototype:

1-      What is your view about this application?

2-      Is the interface too difficult and complicated to understand?

3-      Any suggestions for improvement?

4-      Will you use this application if there is one in the future?

Iphone

Personally I feel that, the apple iphone have opened many doors, and give us a whole new aspect of technology. It really changed the way we look at phones and how we use handphones.Personally I am also currently using an iphone, and after using the iphone, i realize how good and user friendly it is. It is really like one compact computer plus handphone plus ipod all in one.

“Apple Inc released the Apple iPhone in the summer of 2007. This new device merges interactive media, music and phone services together in one complete package. The iPhone is akin to a small personal laptop. It can take notes on the go and then send them as an email. It has a full calendar, and access to email from the most notable websites including Yahoo, Google and AOL. The phone also has YouTube built into the phone so users can access almost all the videos offered at YouTube.com. Its biggest selling point is the touchscreen. It is also the only phone running a software copy of Mac OSX.

Although this phone is not the greatest piece of equipment, it does allow the consumer many portable freedoms and connectivity. Future phones are attempting to copy and add their own specal feature to the phone market. This type of phone is inspiring other companies to allow users to do more with their phones. It is also forcing websites to function with standard computer users and mobile phone users. Now websites like Yahoo and Google have their classic website and a mobile website mode.

With the summer 2008 release of the iPhone 2.0 software update, the iPhone is beginning to differentiate itself from most, if not all, current phones on the market. The iPhone now has to capability to download, and run various games and applications built on Apple’s iPhone Software Development Kit. While allowing users to run or develop any conceivable application for the iPhone, Apple also assures their legendary penchant for control of its platform is upheld by approving all applications that are placed within Apple’s Application Store; Which can be accessed on an iPhone, or iPod touch running the 2.0 software, or through the Application navigation option which was built into iTunes beginning in version 7.7. The application store also allows for Apple to provide the seamless connection experience that they build into much of their software that is not currently available, or executed as well by other companies. Importantly, this is considered by many to be Apple’s first foray into the extremely competitive market of video gaming, and is one of the few current examples of interactive media that is multi-platform, and executed without the use of conventional storage media. (i.e. DVDs, CDs, etc.)”

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Advanced_Interactive_Media/The_Future_For_Immersive_Media

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Interactive Media

Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio etc.

Interactive media is related to the concepts interaction design, new media, interactivity, human computer interaction, cyberculture, digital culture, and includes specific cases such as, for example, interactive television, interactive narrative, interactive advertising, algorithmic art, videogames, social media, ambient intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality.

An essential feature of interactivity is that it is mutual: user and machine each take a more or less active role (see interaction). Most interactive computing systems are for some human purpose and interact with humans in human contexts.^[1] Manovich complains that ‘In relation to computer-based media, the concept of interactivity is a tautology. …. Therefore, to call computer media “interactive” is meaningless – it simply means stating the most basic fact about computers.’ ^[2]. Nevertheless the term is useful to denote an identifiable body of practices and technologies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_media

Future for Interactive Media

Media that engulfs people with interactive experiences has invaded education, entertainment, business and just about every other aspect of life. Blockbuster video games lead the way in interactive development and some theaters are engaging viewers by stimulating all of their senses – This is all a reflection of the evolution of immersive media.

Sub woofers placed under chairs vibrate viewers in order to influence the way they react to sound. Experiments with the sense of smell are also becoming possible as an actor/baker performs within an expanded movie-environment that can now generate the aroma of warm apple pie to the viewers; thus pulling them further into the story through their sense of smell. These kinds of ideas are revolutionizing how people react to media as a new generation of producers begin to realize that nothing is preventing them from impacting all of the human senses.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Advanced_Interactive_Media/The_Future_For_Immersive_Media

Moustache Mugs

The Moustache Mugs by Peter Bruegger. You can order via email.
Enjoy effortlessly masquerading behind a character moustache while drinking your favourite tea or coffee. Every mug has a different design on each side to explore your favourite masculine expression! Choose between feisty Fu-Magnum, ambigues Mustafa-Chaplin and cheeky Maurice-Poirot!

This cup is designed by Peter Bruegger.The design of this cup, really made me laugh. It is cute and cool. Who knows that a mug can be so funny and cool. In our normal mundane lives, small and innovative designs like this can really perk us up. I want to get one of these mugs too.

http://likecool.com/Moustache_Mugs–Design–Gear.html

Magical Wand TV Remote Control

It is possibly the coolest TV remote! The Kymera Magic Wand comes with a built-in accelerometer, is able to recognize “magical gestures” to change the channel and more.
For example, to turn up the volume, you rotate a clockwise motion and vice versa. Flicking it up or down will change the channel, and there are 13 gestures to master in total.
It will hit the market this October 1st onwards for £49.95(about $84), pre-order here.

I think this is really the coolest remote control on earth. This remote actually works like a wand, it is able to recognize  magical gestures to change the channels and more. I am a big harry potter fan, and i think, if i have this wand remote control at home, i wont stop changing the channels. Or changing the volume of the tv. I feel that this design is really very cool, using gestures to change your channels.

http://likecool.com/Kymera_Magic_Wand_Universal_TV_Remote–Gadget–Gear.html

Flexible Chair

FlexibleLove is a expandable chair, designed by Chishen Chiu, made almost entirely of cardboard. Stretch and fold your accordion-chair about ten times and it will reach its maximum length.

This is a super cool design of a flexible chair/sofa.You can turn it into so many different style of chair, depending on what you like. What i like most about this flexible chair/ sofa is that, if i have it at home, i don’t have to see the same old boring sofa everyday, whereas i can change it to what i like everyday. Really cool and refreshing idea.

http://likecool.com/FlexibleLove–Seating–Home.html

Coke Moblie Phone

Designer Daizi Zheng has designed an eco friendly phone for Nokia, which runs on Coca-Cola drinks. Yes, its fuel cells generates electricity from carbohydrates(sugar) in the Coke and it can run on any sugary water, not just Coke. Daizi writes:
“The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment. Bio battery is an ecologically friendly energy generates electricity from carbohydrates (currently sugar) and utilizes enzymes as the catalyst. By using bio battery as the power source of the phone, it only needs a pack of sugary drink and it generates water and oxygen while the battery dies out.
Bio battery has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable. Meanwhile, it brings a whole new perception to batteries and afternoon tea. “

Eco friendly phone that was designed for nokia, this phone actually runs on coke!!!!how cool is that. Imaging drinking and enjoying your coke, and at the same time power your phone with that coke! This phone generates it’s energy from carbohydrates(sugar)and it can also run on any sugary drinks. Seriously how cool is it to have a phone that can actually run on soft drinks itself. I personally think that this design and concept is super cool and innovative, never in a thousand years will i imagine my handphone running on coke or soft drinks. It’s really cool.

http://likecool.com/Mobile_Phone_runs_on_Coke–Concept–Gear.html