Thoughts and Results from Feb 3rd Critique

So critiques went well.

I’ve learned I have a strong concept, but I need to reassess my impetus, or motivations for doing the project. Also, the interface needs a makeover. And that’s okay, since I considered it a concept sketch that I got too carried away with.

Back to the beginning. Back to connecting people over distance. Connecting people through media. Through a conversation about media.

It’s interesting to look back on the things you’ve made in the past. And this is certainly something I’ve been doing to follow up and reflect upon my last set of critiques.

I’ve thought about the connection that I felt the first few times I tested this experience with my family and friends. For me, the most compelling part of these experiences were the times when neither one of us were talking: when we were both silent as we watched a movie. This was compelling because, though there was no audible or visual feedback, I knew they were there on the other side, watching with me. I’d feel a rush of happiness when I would hear a faint chuckle, and those moments would usually cause me to laugh. Remembering this subtle feedback and experience has helped me realize that perhaps spoken conversation is not the most crucial part of my project.

Still, I think, in terms of this project, speech can be a very compelling part of the project as well. I do need to recognize, however, that some people don’t like to talk–or be talked to during movies. Nevertheless, some of us do. And, for many of us crazy multi-taskers, some of us may want to be a bit more proactive and multitask as we watch content.

Thinking of all of this has made me consider giving my project three different “modes,” all of which I have addressed at some point in the course of my project’s development. Only, I never thought of combining them together, and letting the user choose how they wish to experience the content.

Through the past few days, I’ve also taken the advice from my new Writing and Research instructor, Chris Prentice, and have begun to observe the experiences and environments in which we watch media more closely. I’ve gone to movie theaters and have observed the audience, watching for the moments in the film when they feel compelled to talk to one another. I’ve also been studying my own family’s habits when it comes to watching TV in our home: when do they want to sit in silence to watch TV? And when and why does TV become a more social activity?

All of these obersvations, as well as some reassessment and revists to my previous work on the project, have led me to a more simplified, yet promising, proposal for the project.

I’ll be working on another breakdown and set of user scenarios (or storyboards) to illustrate this proposed model and see if it is viable. When they are ready, I’ll post them with a more detailed explanation of the methodology and ideas behind them.

As for now, I need to join my family to watch the Superbowl. After all, this could be a great research and observation opportunity!!! (and Go Pack Go!)