1.

A
The Fitbit is a wearable computing device. It is a fitness band worn on a person’s
wrist and is designed to track physical activity. They are also designed to track
important health and activity markers including heart rate, quality of sleep etc.
The Fitbit Sense has an AMOLED touchscreen display. Navigating Sense can be
done by finger gestures such as tapping the screen, swiping side to side(left to see
apps and right to open quick setting or return to the previous screen in an app) and
up(to see widgets) and down(to see notifications). It also has a button on the left side
of the smartwatch, on pressing it returns to the clock face. It is designed to display
data such as heart rate, calories burned, number of steps walked etc with just a
finger gesture. Therefore, a user is required to be able to utilise haptic perception in
order to navigate through the U.I of the Sense. It also utilises basic vision perception
to be able to see all the data of the user’s physical and health activity.
Fitbit Sense allows a user to set goals for oneself depending on the type of the
activity (sleep, walking, swimming) etc. It also gives reminders in case the user is
behind in accomplishing their respective goals. This function requires the user to
have good working memory(cognition ability), as it provides the user with the
necessary data (for example- no of steps walked) and it is up to the user to take the
required measures to accomplish that goal.
1.B.a
One of the major issues of the Fitbit Sense is it that it doesn’t provides its users with
the ability to change the display settings of the watch. Currently the only colour
options for the Sense are red/yellow/green which can be hard to distinguish due to
its light vs intense colour scheme. Some users especially ones with colour vision
deficiencies (such as deuteranomaly, protanomaly and protanopia) may find it
difficult to read and comprehend the various graphs and analysis and the daily
reminders that the Sense provides. Some users may also find it difficult to read some
data due to the Sense having a fixed font size as well.
The users may also experience issues with the AMOLED display as there have been
cases of the screen turning black, becoming unresponsive or suddenly emerging
screen lines of dead pixels which can be very frustrating for a user and can ruin their
experience with the product.
1.B.b
To improve the customer experience for the users experiencing such colour vision
deficiencies. The first step would include the data gathering (for example-surveys,
questionnaires etc.) to figure out how many or to what extent do users with these
deficiencies struggle with the current colour scheme. Some colour combinations
(red/green, green/brown, light yellow orange) must be avoided in every aspect of the
U.I.
The Sense can be designed to have a lot of different colour and contrast schemes
that the user can choose. The Sense could also have the option to manually
configure a colour scheme of the user’s choice by adding a colour filter that is
accompanied by a text label. The contrast can also be increased by reducing the
opacity of the background if needed. The sense should also have the settings to
change font size as to make it more accessible for the elderly or other users.
2.A
Pervasive computing interfaces like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
could become a dominant force that can transform the way the museum sector uses
technology to showcase its exhibits and engage with its visitors.
Firstly, let’s consider VR, the idea is to create a massive auditorium that utilises the
immersive technology (such as VR headset  3D displays, 3D audio, gesture
recognition, spatial sensing, haptics and cameras.) to create experiences that can
provide greater insight and engagement with the dinosaur exhibit as VR is not
constrained in the same way as our reality and can be used in a variety of ways
(fast-forward time, augment the visitors view with information, instantaneously move
to a different location etc.). It allows visitor to observe the dinosaur artefacts free
from their display cases and observe them in their historical environment and also be
able to interact with them.
The other technology will be a tour-based app (as tours guides have always been a
significant part of a museum experience), its design is intended to make it
convenient for the visitor to interpret the physical space of the museum. This app will
consist of geo-location features such as annotations and tagging, QR codes
(scannable barcodes that provide access to further information), museum floorplans,
navigational and information features. This app will be available on android and iOS
platforms
2.B
As the focus of the VR is to provide a complete immersive experience. The theory of
distributed cognition can be applied to analyse the interaction between the visitors
and the avatar of the various artefacts present in the exhibit that are generated by
the VR. Not only the artefacts the interaction with the overall setting that represents
their natural habitat and environment can also be studied.
2.C

To provide better user experience, knowing your users is a critical step of any
human-centred design.
One of the most compelling experiences in VR is to have a face-to face encounter
with another avatar. This is different to seeing an image or video of a dinosaur on a
2D screen, as participants share a virtual space. Therefore, a good way to
evaluate this technology is through cooperative evaluation with the users. By
conducting an experiment in an empty custom-built room that will allow
different types of users to interact with it. It will help identify the issues, the
physical and digital constraints of this technology and the VR equipment (For
example- interaction with a visually impaired user or a participant with colour
vision deficiency, how will a first-time user interact with it?). A simple task can
be assigned for the participants to figure out their familiarity with interaction in the
virtual environment. As people move through galleries, engaging physically, socially,
intellectually and often emotionally with content and with each other, their emotional
reactions and behavioural responses will be recorded for example by measuring
parameters such as time to accomplish a task, number of errors, time to learn etc.
Together with these parameters the elicited responses of the product will also be
considered through necessary means (without interrupting the interaction).

by measuring parameters
such as time to accomplish a task,
number of
errors, time to repair an error, and
time to learn
3.A
A couple of weeks ago I bought the 11-inch iPad Pro. It was a suggestion from a
friend as it is a nice balance between my 16-inch laptop and a 6-inch smartphone,
and it is also very useful in note making should I need to justify the purchase to my
parents.
After using it for a couple of weeks I noticed that I have been practically hooked to it,
as my screen time on my iPhone went down by a massive 70% and I no longer use
my laptop for long periods. It has a good battery life as I only need to charge it once
a day which is a massive plus point for me.
3.B
After giving both the papers a good read I decided to select ‘The thing and I:
Understanding the relationship between user and product’.
As mentioned in the paper a product’s character is of big importance as it helps
shape the first impressions of a customer. As for me, my reason for purchasing the
iPad was due to its utility as it slots right in between a laptop and a smartphone. The
iPad line-up has a variety of different products intended towards different customers.
The iPad air is well received by the students, and professionals often prefer the Pro
variant. From a student’s perspective I found it very useful in making notes and its
powerful chip provides a very fluid gaming experience in my free time. After getting
the iPad I use it even more than the iPhone or the laptop. And it houses a powerful
battery that gives me up to 10 hours even after heavy use. Its battery and powerful
chip aside, its UI make its extensive use feel fluid rather than tedious and irritating.
These attributes which can also be considered as pragmatic attributes as mentioned
in the paper were one of the biggest reasons that convinced me to purchase it. I
have not explored all its functionalities but functions like split view, split keyboard are
really useful and things such as 3d camera and AR support look really promising for
the future.
I would consider its sleek design and luxurious feel also a part of its hedonic
attributes. Although its regular software updates and diverse app support is can be
mostly considered pragmatic. It also gives a sense of satisfaction to know that the
product is still supported and will age finely. Nowadays any apple product is a huge
source of discussion be it negative due to their money grabbing tendencies or
positive due to its success in being a cut above the rest in the field of technology
which contributes to its identity as a product.
Objectively speaking the iPad can be considered a good ACT or SELF product
depending on the individual. As for me, who I consider as not very socially active, I
value its pragmatic attributes way more than the self-satisfaction it brings with
owning a high-end product.
3.C
According to Hassenzahl’s framework a product’s character is determined by the
pragmatic and hedonics attributes in which the pragmatic attributes are instrumental,
task-oriented qualities whereas hedonic attributes are qualities that are non,
instrumental and self-oriented.
As for the limitations, Hassenzahl’s suggest that products have a character that
suggests a capability to manipulate the environment however that itself is a very
difficult task. Primary hedonic (or SELF) products are more focused on pleasurable
experiences because of the weak connection to goals and expectations about
fulfilling these goals so they often do not focus on long-term importance which can
be considered a major drawback. As the primary hedonic and the primary pragmatic
(or ACT) are independent of each other it is very difficult to find a balance between
the two and create a product that satisfies both these attributes.
As a product’s character is only intended by the designer (who can only predict the
changes in way of technology) it might not be appreciated by some users or the
product can be neglected or even feel unwanted depending on the situation. As its
usability sometimes hinges on this unknown variable these characters become
either more or less relevant. The apparent character can also change within  a
person over time which could decrease usability, so they are at risk of getting
outdated quickly. That is why most users wait for a few weeks for the product to be
reviewed before making a purchase.
This framework focuses quite heavily on the presentation, as new and exciting
functionalities help in stimulating the potential users. However not every designer
has the resources available so some of the low scale products don’t get the
recognition they deserve.
However, as the products are designed based on the usage modes theory, they
are usable in both the action and goal mode which tends to satisfy a large portion
of the users.

4.
Facebook is a website which allows users, who sign-up for free profiles, to connect
with friends, work colleagues or people they don’t know, online by sharing status
updates, personal photos and other items of interest.

For the past few years Facebook has been attacked throughout Europe over privacy
issues. Germany is threatening fines to get Facebook to prevent hate messages
from being posted or advertised. Spain’s privacy regulator just imposed fines on
Facebook for collecting data on ideology, sex, religious beliefs, personal tastes, and
navigation without “clearly informing the user about the use and purpose. The fact is
that Facebook’s underlying business model itself is troublesome: offer free services,
collect user’s private information, then monetize that information by selling it to
advertisers or other entities. (Diane, M.Francis, 2017)

Facebook as a social networking service collects lots of user data. Not only
Facebook, lots of big media firms hold a lot of information about a person. What they
do with this data is essential. Most, if not all, of Facebook's ethical lapses involve its
handling of this data. The most famous ones like the Cambridge Analytica debacle
(March 2018) in which it was discovered that a researcher hired by the firm had
collected the data of around 50 million Facebook users by getting about 270,000 of
them to run a personality-test app under false pretences(violating Article 1.2,1.6, 3.1
and 3.7 of ACM Code of Ethics). To see something like this come out it is a very big
blow to the users who had faith in the company and its methods and believe that
transparency and authenticity really do matter to them (violating Article 1.3). Now,
users became more cautious of how and where their data is being shared. Many
users have changed their approach towards these platforms but still continue to use
them. The younger generation don’t feel as strong towards data leaks as they are
usually on several different platforms and are subtly aware of the data risks.

As Facebook makes most of its revenue from advertising it is hard to solve its
current situation. However, some valued could have been considered during its
starting years such as a clearer privacy interface which focuses on data minimisation
like not sharing data about political and religious preferences with advertisers and
third parties. That would make it harder for malicious advertisers to target people
who are more susceptible to fake news and propaganda. Also restricting the sharing
of information with third-party apps on its platform. Today, Facebook automatically
shares a person’s name, profile picture, cover photo, gender, networks, email and
Facebook ID with all third-party apps, without any review process. Such pieces of
data are unnecessary for most apps and it would be sufficient to share only the
Facebook ID and perhaps the email with them. Lastly, for apps that do require
personally identifiable information, Facebook could have setup transparent and strict
process to audit and approve these apps and the companies behind them. That
would signal that Facebook takes privacy seriously and that there could be legal
consequences for the misuse of data which would ensure that its users can trust the
company with their data
As for the current situation new data protection mechanisms that give Facebook
users better control over their data could help mitigating the damage and improve
users trust .Under a data trust structure, Facebook would act as a trustee for user
data, holding them on trust for the user and managing and sharing the data in
accordance with their instructions. As a trustee, Facebook would be subject to a
fiduciary duty to only use the data in ways that serve the best interests of the user.
As such, a data trust structure could provide a stronger legal mechanism for
safeguarding the wishes of users with respect to their data as compared to the
existing standard of ‘informed consent’

Reference
Diane, M.Francis. ” Facebook’s Ethical Problem.”
Huffpost, Sep. 2017,
www.huffpost.com/entry/facebooks-ethical-problem_b_59c923f9e4b0b7022a646c61

5.A
A Head Mounted Display (HMD) with AR/VR support designed mainly for the specific
application and needs of NASA technicians, engineers and astronauts. This design
is inspired by other wearable computers, but it is designed by focusing some of its
components like sensors and CPU on the waist and shoulders to increase comfort
and decrease the total mass on the head. The HMD will increase safety and enable
faster decision making through vital features like audio and radio communication,
augmented vision, integrated memory, activity and environment monitoring sensors
that can analyse, sense, perceive, interpret and model information according to user
needs.
5.B
The HMD has both audio and video communication function thus it requires its users
to have basic hearing capabilities(perception capability) in order to communicate with
the radio operator, however it is not ideal for a person without vision capabilities to
use the HMD as he will not be able to utilise all the information displayed to the
HMD. The user is also required to have a good working memory (cognitive
capability) in order to make use of all the information presented and make accurate
and effective decisions.
5.C
A remote operator is required to provide precise procedural guidance to the wearer
through direct audio and video communication. It is mainly designed for astronauts
but can also be used by field technicians for maintenance and development of
infrastructure.
They can also be used by firefighter’s who require enhanced timely situational
awareness during the rescue missions and provide them with information like team
position and status, ambient temperature, heartrate, oxygen as well as navigation to
the building exit, or pilots that require navigation and awareness system in air
warfare. Integrated with their helmet they can provide significant increase in speed
and precision in combat.
5.D
The main goal of the HMD is to enhance its user’s awareness about the surrounding
environmental hazards, faster tasks execution through its guidance and navigation
capability and to fix the mass, the bulkiness and ergonomic discomfort (for example-
not sufficiently adjustable wearable system, sensors placement problem or balancing
issues) that come with the current HMD variants available. Other minor but an
important goal would be to increase vision enhancement rather than blockage (i.e.
no blocking of peripheral vision, no interference with user’s prescription glasses.)
and increase battery life through electrical and thermal means.
5.E
The features of the HMD really shine when used for space travel and as the space is
usually considered an unknown variable there are some problems that a user might
encounter in different situations. While testing the prototype some issues were
discovered by the field technicians, they usually require HMD compatible with
personal protective gear and special environment requirements (radio-free areas,
light or dark conditions etc) which requires a few adjustments before they can be
used for that situation. The HMD is not intended for rigorous use and thus has
nominal impact, wear and tear endurance. Other minor issues a user might face
could be discomfort in wearing an HMD especially for long hours or they could have
difficulties in verbal communication in loud and noisy areas.
5.F
One of the main goals of the HMD is to help in decision making in times of need. The
HMD is designed for the user to be at ease in a potentially dangerous environment
as he is constantly being monitored and instantly being made aware of any new
developments by using the different communication features and sensors provided
to them. The HMD is designed in a way that is easy use as it sends all the relevant
information directly to the display of the HMD. It also mitigates the interference with
other tools granting assurance to the user in its capability and accuracy. It is easy to
wear as it is not bulky and suffocating.

5.G
One of the core values this design incorporates is its ability to influence decision
making. The enhancement and provision of instant or real time information
processing thanks to wearable or portable computers and sensors that can analyse,
interpret and model information according to user needs or environmental settings
allows for more precise and effective decisions. It also enables higher process
control, process clarity, activity monitoring, environmental monitoring and warnings
directly “on eye”. The inbuilt memory allows the user to record every event from his
point of view, it also enables the user to reflect on the time spent with the HMD to
better understand the device and its features or for other purposes. The user’s
decision-making efficiency is also enhanced due to the supervised and procedural
guidance of the remote operator which observes all the occurring situations from the
user’s point of view.
The other is to keep the user safe from potential harm. The HMD achieves it using
environmental safety sensors (H, O2, CO2, N2H4, MMH, N2O4, He, NH3, gas
pressure differentials, cryogens, hydraulic fluids, solvents, humidity, acoustic levels).
It also keeps track of the heart rate and ambient temperature. These features help
the user in preventing environmental hazards such as explosives, compressed gas,
flammable liquids, radioactive materials etc. It can also be adjusted for use in
different situation such as areas with low or high light levels and can be used with
protective gears for additional safety purposes.
5.F
This design is intended to provide the user with easy access to vital information and
to make sure the user is comfortable and satisfied while using the product. Among
the other variants available to the users some focused more on its technological
aspects rather than the design of the gear itself, so as a result they were
uncomfortable to use due to their high mass and pressure on the head and could
only be used for few periods of time. Whereas other variants had low mass and high
level of integration which allowed for long terms of usage, but they usually lack on
the functional side with tracking systems accuracy, display resolution and luminosity
among a few other the concerns. However, this design manages to get the best of
both worlds as it distributes the mass of HMD between the waist and head and have
all the essential features as the CPU and the environment sensor are located on the
waist and are connected wirelessly to the headset through Bluetooth. This
arrangement makes it comfortable to use for longer periods of time.
The interesting aspect about this design is that it can be customised for use in
several different fields. (Discussed in 5.C). As research is being done on the
applications of virtual and augmented reality, which is a vital functionality in the HMD
the future looks promising. However, these advancements in technology can also
hurt the design and in the future they may end up getting replaced by robots and A.I.