Comments written by peer:

What did you learn from the process?

Feriga:

I have learned that throughout the body storming process, it is very difficult to show the actual performance on how the object works. Human error will occur during the presentation. At that point in time, the whole interaction is to tell the tester to walk as per normal while looking at his/her phone. However, the presentation of the human vibrating motor and LED was not presented very clearly at specific timing as it was too fast. Hence, I felt that having the actual product and parts installed will let the tester has a better experience. Not only that, the feedback given to us was useful to make the experience even better before going into real interaction.  From there, I have learned a lot from my peers through their feedback and knowing how different response will make a difference.

Sherry:

Through the process of body-storming, we were able to learn about the possible reactions of participants in our project, and as well as the other perspectives and interpretations through the feedback of our peers. I felt that it was rather difficult to make the participants feel about our project without physically experiencing or seeing the actuators at work. Such as personally feeling the vibrations of the vibrating motor at the back of the head, being absolutely engrossed ( in a possibly time-based task ) with the phone, and the people around witnessing the cap of the person who is walking in front or nearby being abruptly being lit-up by LEDs. I felt that the impact and response might have been different as it was rather difficult to convey it verbally. I also learnt that it is important for instructions to be clear, albeit subtly in our designs and placement of our objects as we would not be able to have a piece of paper explaining the instructions later on.

What surprised you while going through the process?

Feriga:

I was surprised by the comments that my peers commented. At first, they interpret wrongly, but after we explain our project they understand better. One of them commented to us that it will be good to have the sound of a “horn”  whenever the user look down as it brings a bigger impact. At the same time, it instills the feeling of shame and uncomfortableness. So that the user and the surrounding will be aware. Not only that, one of them point out that the design of the cap is also very important. Hence, I felt that the feedback was really helpful as it takes a lot of consideration to comment and let me and sherry know.

Sherry:

I thought that it would still probably be difficult to understand our project after our explanations, but our peers were able to understand our intentions. I was also surprised by the different interpretations of our project, which were also relatable to our objectives, such as instilling a sense of shame.

How can your apply what you have discovered to the designing of your installation?

Feriga:

I have discovered that the design of the cap is very important to let the people surrounding the user to be aware of.  Word and sentence such as “ I’m not paying attention ” or “ Don’t be a Hazard ” will directly inform them on what is happening. Also, we need to think about how the light aims to alert the user or just the surrounding and how we link to how our message is brought forward. From the experiment, Sherry and I step up and further improve on our initial idea.

Sherry:

It is important to imply the instructions for the participant subtly through our design, the form, and the placements of our objects and elements. We should also take the unawareness of the surrounding of the user and our message to another level – through more provocative methods such as mocking messages on the cap, which can be a form of an indirect protest or jab at not (only) the user, but the others who are guilty.