Exploring Interaction

October 25, 2012 Mitra Malkamy/4204913

Working title: S ocial S pace boxes

Introduction:
This report you are about to read is about exploration phase of social space box as a report for Exploring Interaction. Space boxes are studios (max 20m2) provided by DUWO, for international students. Because they are private and near to campus so many students choose them for living. This report also includes different phase of exploration in design process, interaction vision, and initial ideas in Ideate phase.

Design goal:
Create a new way for people who live in space box to know their environment and each other better.

Exploration and research:

The first thing that has been done in this phase was finding the best way to communicate with other people who live in space box to find out their feeling and experience towards space box. My goal was to become familiar with people around me, and understand their point of view.

First phase:
Online survey As a first step in this phase I tried to write down some questions based on my knowledge and experience living in space box.

Here are some samples of questions in online survey: 1.Explain your expectation from space box. 2.Write your definition of interaction. 3.What kind of interaction you like to have with other people? 4.Do you use common room? These questions helped me to become aware of peoples opinion. I didnt put any multiple choice questions, to give people enough freedom to write and don t limit them by my own words. I put this online survey on Facebook page, because this is the only communication way that I have known with other space boxers and asked them to fill out the form.

Results:
After receiving answers I analyzed them. I made a categorization based on Interaction, Expectations, and Activities. According to results, I realized some critical points about peoples opinions. 1) People like to have interaction with their neighbors and they appreciate even short conversation like Hi. 2) They like to share their ideas with their neighbors. 3) They like to meet new people and of course help each other. 4) The problem is they dont know how to start or where to go. 5) They also complain about lack of common space and useless of Red box (common place for space boxes, but it should be reserved before using from DUWO) 6) There is no option that they can choose for doing activities.

My impression and choose a direction:

At this point of time, I visualized current situation and my own impression. I tried to choose a right direction to find a solution key, which I thought is finding a new way to encourage people to become closer to each other and talk about their hobbies.

Current situation

My direction
I considered roles as people who live in space boxes, activities as different kind of games, topics they want to share, and know as an innovative way of interaction and tools as a connection link such as commonplace. If I can build this circle of interaction I may find a key to solve this problem. To make sure that I am in a right direction I designed a booklet and ask people to fill it out.

Interaction vision:

Surprising Fun Playful

IBBandOBB

INT ER AC TIO N VIS IO N

Obvious and clear Non-intruding (keep privacy) Curiosity Assertive Fresh Innovative Self-motivation Helping Being together

Second phase:
Booklet As I mentioned for verifying my direction I designed a booklet and asked some people that I knew to fill them out. I changed the questions based on peoples suggestion in my online survey and tried to ask students more details. For instance, I asked them where they want to meet new people, or draw a picture of a day with their friends.

I asked some of people I know in space box to fill this out, but unfortunately, I didnt receive them back just two. So, I thought another way to persuade people to help me. I added a short description and a cookie to my booklet. Then I didnt ask on Facebook or people I know, I just went to peoples door and asked them if they have 20 minutes time to complete my booklet. I was pleasantly surprised by peoples reaction. Some of them invited me to the ir room for a coffee, the other people asked me where do I come from, and it was really interesting to see how people start a conversation with out even knowing you. The results were also amazing. I got 6 out of 10 back in my mailbox, and people answer questions really carefully, and thank me for a cookie.

Results:
Similar previous phase I analyzed the answers. This time I also used similar method and made a categorization based on Positive, Negative aspect, Interests, Suggestions/requirements. 1) People enjoy talking and meeting in corridors 2) Like to share smile or saying Hi 3) Because they know about each others life situation they dont mind to invite people to their room 4) Some people like to other knock their door and invite them to dinner or coffee 5) They are happy about the distance with TU campus 6) They like to do activities 7) Loud music sometimes is annoying 8) Laundry expense is high 9) Bad facilities 10) They are colorful but not in good conditions 11) Feel lonely sometimes 12) Dont know their neighbors so they cant talk 13) Activities they like to do: sports, community garden, parties, and hangout 14) Lack of commonplace 15) Some people like to have common kitchen as well 16) Help each other

Brainstorming:
After reviewing results, I did a brainstorm session with myself. During this session I drew some sketches and some ideas. First part is about new way of communication. 1) Board on front door: I space boxes we dont have any label on our door to show our names, so I thought it could be nice if we can have a board on our door with our name and hobbies. People can communicate via writing on each others door.
Hi Mitra I am number Hi... 124 I am Mitra I also like I like cooking cooking Watching Maybe we can arrange a movie.... time? :)

Ring

Pen

Board Handle

2) Un known message Unknown message from neighbors in mailbox (E.g. Jokes, wish a good day) I thought it would be nice if you find a message every day in your mailbox. After a while you can guess from whom you receive it. People are free to introduce themselves whenever they want.

Front Door

Hi this is an unknown message from your neighbor. I like to wish youd have a good day. You can also write something nice and put it in others mailbox to see how many interesting messages you can get back. Lets do it neighbors. Give each other positive energy

3) Innovation ways of communication: The only common place in space boxes is the laundry room. I thought if I can create a nice shape of a board (E.g. with a wood) I could encourage people to share their interests with others.

4) Community garden: Because we dont have enough space here, I decided to use metal fences as a part of community garden. I have two ideas in this field. First, use current fences and put flowerpots on them or in corridors. And second, I designed a new kind of railing with pots with 3D. I think if it could be practical it will change the space box appearance a lot and people really enjoy living in them. (Sketch could be found in appendix)

Fences with pots

New flower fences

5) Common place It is really obvious that when people dont have any common place to go they cant communicate with each other. This idea is far from reality, but I like to design spaces and I did it also in my brainstorming. The only place that I could think about it is between two rows of boxes. If the distance between boxes be10 meter, I considered 3 meter for lighting, then I have 4 meter as a width and the length like boxes length for my common place. (The sketch could be found in appendix)

Further plan:
I have to generate my ideas, and changed them in more real way that I can try them in a context. So, as my next step I am going to try ideas in a real context and see how people will react. I dont want to predict anything, but I hope my ideas can be worked in space boxes. Further, I will evaluate them and discussed them with tutors and my buddy, and try to improve the defects.