We have now merged

We have now merged with the Interactive Media Design group: @greenhouse.

please follow the new blog...

http://glashausdesign.blogspot.com/

Final Working Prototype

Completed 02/03/09

The Concept

Talking Club:
Steven's grandad is a member of a 'Talking Club.' This is an organisation where people of all ages (in this case the elderly) meet to talk about current situations, experiences, books, news articles, etc.

Concept:
coffeeblog is a coffee table that can record and play back opinions, thoughts, stories and debates. The table will have 3 modes standby, record and play back. If there is no sound in the room then coffeeblog will be in standby mode. however, when there is any background noise the table will switch on. The table will either enter record or play back mode depending on whether there is a cup of tea or coffee on the coaster. whilst listening to the playback setting if the user wants to join the debate, or add to the story they can then switch to the record setting. this is done by playing at cup of tea/coffee on the table. This way of interaction is inspired by Steven’s grandpa who likes to sit on his sofa beside the coffee table and talk to his visitors and feels comfortable talking in this environment.

Value:
We cannot underestimate the value of the insights of the elderly. Not only are they the most experienced in their previous line of work, but they are also consumers for many businesses.

Relate to Working:
With these opinions made public businesses can hear, lease with, and even hire the person who made them. They will provide a link between the working world and the elderly.




So, the idea in it's current form:

A coffee table that can record and play back opinions, thoughts, stories and debates.

The table will have a record, and a playback setting. Whilst listening to the playback setting, if the user wants to join the debate, or add to the story they can then switch to the record setting.

There will be no on button it will be either weight (items on the table) or sound (noise in the room) activated. [to be confirmed]

More to come...

Working prototype v.1

Please excuse the bad video angle, unscripted explanation and general lack of preperation but this is version 1 of our prototype.

After an extremely productive day we manage to refine our idea and produce a sound activated circuit that plays another person's story.

Cheers to Morv for the vid.

Desktop Background

Feel free to use our company background on your computer!

mp3 Player Working

We got our mp3 player (VMUSIC2 chip) working today!

this is our 100 ideas book and banner

Reinturpritation of the brief

COMMUNICATION ESTABLISHES A NEW WAY OF WORKING.........
_______________________________________________

our interpretation of the brief

Communication is essential for companies in the 21st century.
Through a familiar medium, teaching communication as a new way of working will be perfect preparation for reemployment.


breadandbutterdesign.

Company Values (02/01/09)

STRIVING FOR A SENSITIVE SOLUTION.

Novelty, one function products are rarely seen in your grandparent's home. By giving a new function to a familiar product we can sensitively network the older generation and give them a new way to communicate.


MAKING TECHNOLOGY INSTINCTIVE.

A object that does not require a manual. That's' aesthetic, texture, sound and design tell the user what to do. It does not do the unexpected, for it is incapable of doing so. The user is instantly an expert and comfortable using it. Core Value


LINKING GENERATIONS

For most of us, the way we communicate with our grandparents is by visiting them, a formal occasion where food is cooked, etc. Younger generations can communicate instantly and informally (for example text: 'hey, howz u?'). This is possible for the older generations. Our networked object should be used by the grandparent, their children, and their children's children to communicate simple, yet interesting information on a more instant, informal fashion.


YOU CAN DO WHAT WE CAN

The elderly often share the view that things are beyond them because they 'ain't what they used to be.' For a start 50 years more experience in learning should be a hefty head-start. Our product will give the elderly enough motivation to learn and enough interest to try.

Elderly

So let's start investigating 'the elderly.'

'Being old' is inevitably a time when you've seen a lot of things - good and bad - and when people you know may become ill, But the public view seems to focus on the sad side of elderly life.








Can we create a product that changes this public image? By designing a product that creates or even instills happiness in the elderly, that strengthens their bond with family and friends, and even create the desire to continue working past the retirement age of 65?


by Jack Chalkley

Brief

Here's a summary the brief we've been given:

New ways of working and your grandperson*...

Perhaps ‘new ways of working’ sounds like a young person’s issue, but important demographic changes are happening in Scotland, and elsewhere:

- people are living longer and often staying active long into their retirement years

- jobs tend to be less physical, and many people are even reluctant to retire...

- and employers are increasingly aware of the knowledge, experience and wisdom that is lost

when they do

- many older people are more independent but also wish to travel to visit remote family, both of

which require money...

- at the same time, there will be less younger people in work whose taxes etc. can support state

pensions

All of which suggests that we may end up needing to, or wanting to, carry on working beyond the current retirement age of 65. So ‘new ways of working’ is as relevant to your grandparents’ generation as it is to yours.

Your grandperson and networked objects

Your grandpeople may seem surprising potential users of networked objects. Networked objects become interesting because grandpeople may or may not have ever used a PC, and whilst many are learning how to, others may not be interested or be too intimidated by this: simpler objects

- networked objects - can make the amazing possibilities of computers, the Internet and interactive media electronic media accessible and engaging to older people. There is so much more we could be sharing across the generations, whether side-by-side or across the world. Technology could be helping us cooperate, rather than dividing us because you can’t write shorthand and your grandmother can’t use Automated Speech Recognition; you can’t tell the weather from the clouds and your grandfather can’t log on to a forecast website; you can’t use a compass and your older neighbour can’t use GPS, etc., etc. (these are certainly not the best examples – you will be proposing better ones!).


As you can see, lots of restraints but even more possibilities

Mondays meeting

Today we met as a company and began breaking down our research, creating insights and generating ideas.

We are now focusing in on the networking aspect of the object.

We were set a fast pace by our lecturer and forced to come up with numerous insights and ideas over the course of the day.

We certainly made progress...

Meeting yesterday

We met yesterday in the University's Air bar.
Good little discussion, kept us on track with plenty of tasks.
Lets keep in touch with our Grandparents!

Grandparents

Steven's Gran

Name: Mary
Age: Early 70's
Retired: Very early to look after grandchildren and focus on family.
Jobs: Shorthand typist, did the books for family business, full time gran (looking after grandchildren).
Hobbies: Walking, gardening, cooking and spending time with family.



Jack's Grandma



















4th from left is Grandma Gwen, Third from right is me! - Boxing Day 2008

Name: Gwen
Age: early 70's
Retired: 'a bit before retirement age'
Jobs: Worked in a bank (various roles), Lollipop lady, Social worker
Hobbies: Cross-stitch, Sudoku, Scouting



Malcolm's Grandad

Age: 85 :O
Jobs: miner/medic in the navy
Retired: ?
Hobbies: member of a miners club/various other clubs/has a dog/travels a lot around Spain to see family etc


Xiao's Grandma

Name: Yaying
Age: 82
Retired: Look after me(grandchildren)when I was little.
Jobs: teacher,politician.
Hobbies: calligraphy, pet，writing her story,reading etc

4 company values (to be constantly evolved)

STRIVING FOR A SIMPLISTIC SOLUTION.

A mobile phone is not just a phone, it's a camera, games console, torch, fax machine (and more) all in one. But does it do anything well? Our solution will be one of a single function, one purpose performed perfectly. A simple solution is not a simplified version of any other object or function. It was only ever intended to one task and that is exactly what it does.


MAKING TECHNOLOGY INSTINCTIVE.

A object that does not require a manual. That's' aesthetic, texture, sound and design tell the user what to do. It does not do the unexpected, for it is incapable of doing so. The user is instantly an expert and comfortable using it. When this is achieved, the object is successful and anything less is unacceptable. Core Value


LINKING GENERATIONS

If a child explained how to use his Christmas present to his grandparent, would they understand? If not, whose fault is that? The child's? The grandparent's? A product should be aimed at it's intended age group. Our intended age group is 1-100, and why not? An object that both young and old understand. Just because you have lost touch doesn't mean you are unable to keep up.


YOU CAN DO WHAT WE CAN

The elderly often share the view that things are beyond them because they ain't what they used to be. For a start 50 years more experience in learning should be a hefty head-start. Enough motivation to learn and enough interest to try.

Task List

Assign rough roles to company members:
100 ideas:
Get scrapbook:
Ask grandparents to record their daily life:
Finalise company logo:
... We can add to this as we go work our way through the project. Could be handy for quick reference.

First day

So our company was formed today and some group values established.

We've decided to ask our grandparents their weekly schedule to stay in contact and try and grasp some of their hobbies.

WE ARE BREAD AND BUTTER DESIGN

WE ARE BREAD AND BUTTER DESIGN