Round Table Presentation

Today there was a round-table style presentation on our progress to date. We basically provided a powerpoint presentation on what direction each of us thought the design could take. The feedback we received has fairly decisively changed our direction, I think the main change is to be in the very nature of what our product is to be. We have been swayed from an object that the children take home with them at night an use to check in in the morning, to a product that stays in the classroom. This is a completely different way of looking at the design, and may result in a completely different design outcome. In the end, Ann-Maree's concept (pictured) best reflected the direction we intend to go in. 

Fishing for Ideas

Today's gathering consisted primarily of passing around ideas for where to head for the next stage of the design. The concept bombs, though an interesting exercise, failed to yield any suitable ideas for a design direction. Despite my shining idea for Urinal Trough Space Invaders (seriously, what's not to love?) we are focusing less on the general public and more specifically on children. Children are more or less free agents, they express emotions without inhibitions or sophistication, and are shamelessly drawn to things that are fun or might provide some sort of a game. We still intend to use the "fun theory" to inform our design, just with a different audience. 

Trip to Lifetec

Our studio today was relocated to lifetec, with the purpose of exploring theway in which interaction design can affect the lives of those with different disabilities. The trip was of particular relevance to the "Sensing the News" project of course in the way we were able to see how products are designed for people with sensory and/or cognitive impairment.