The Problem Listening to music and reading generally
become solitary activities How can we make them social activities
instead?
The Solution B.A.M.!
Books and Music A portable tablet device that allows
users to listen to music and read books, AND sample the music and books of BAM users in their proximity
Wireless Headphones
Social eReader
The user enters a browsing screen where multiple books from other users nearby can be chosen and read.
A book is chosen and the user can read the book for as long as the book's owner is still nearby.
The user can make notes and comments on the book to be read by other nearby users, or flag the book if the user is interested in purchasing it.
The user finishes reading and returns to the browsing screen, with an updated list of books from nearby users.
Another book is selected and read while its owner is nearby.
If the current book's owner leaves the area, the book is no longer available and the user is returned to the browsing screen.
Overall Goal Raise awareness in users to those around
them Theoretically/Ideally: Similar interests, or
peaked interests, result in friendship.Users: College students who frequently read or
listen to music in public places Sherry Turkle notes that portable devices
are currently used as a means of escaping awkward situations, decreasing social awareness in place of exclusion
Research Direct Observation
How is it used now? Day-In-The-Life
User’s perspective? Drawing it Out
More User’s Perspective
InterviewsGathering of
additional qualitative and quantitative data
Findings:Draw it out Drawing-It-Out showed
that users are relatively spread out through the buses.
People on the bus tended to sit alone rather than next to others when the choice is available
Gauged user expectations
Interviewed 3 potential usersJoyce Wong (20), avid readerPriyank Patel (21), avid Stinger userMichael O’Rourke (20), avid music listener
Users’ taste in music tends to reflect their personality
Users tend to share tastes with their friends Interviews served mainly to justify idea’s existence
Had we had a second chance, we would have asked more relevant questions
Example: “How weird would it be to see someone looking at you through a tablet-like device?”
Findings:Interviews
Findings: Day in the Life Placed us in the user’s shoes Forced us to consider when the BAM
would be used (beginning of the day vs end of the day)
Made us think of creative, outlandish scenarios that could occur via the BAMMeeting your future spouseMaking a business out of supplying
textbooks via the BAM
Findings:Observation
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Observing potential users in their natural habitat, the Stingers, helped the process in two ways:1. Placed us in user environment2. Showed us a multitude of the
population that is excluded throughout previous research techniques
The Future Improvements to
Our DesignFinding some
alternative to the proximity feature due to “creepiness”
Focus on social network akin to iTunes and Facebook
Better research next time
Informing Similar DesignsImplementing the
proximity feature would encourage socialness in the right user
Is there a site for users to share their book and music interests?