Creative Technologist
I make fun stuffs with and about computers.
Current: Building Queer Map Taiwan with SpOnAcT.xyz
Previous: Senior Creative Technologist at OUTFRONT Media
Previous: Senior Creative Technologist at OUTFRONT Media
Open Glass
2019.09 - 2019.10
Major studio
Billy Ho
Yusha Wen
Background
Research and location scouting
Opened in 1969, Damrosch park has served as an outdoor performance space and is named after the Damrosch family, many of whom were musicians. Throughout its existence, it has hosted numerous free concerts in the summer as part of Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Besides music events, hundreds of juried vendors display their wares during the annual American Crafts Festival in the Park, it is also known to be the place that hosts NYC’s Big Apple Circus in winter.
DESIGN
In relation to the Lincoln Center itself. The complex does have a reputation for being rather forbidding and almost fortress-like on the outside, which led to the “transformation” effort that is opening up Lincoln Center structurally so that it is better integrated with its Upper West Side neighborhood.
We stayed at the place for 3 hours and did a time log along with little descriptions about their appearances and behaviors.
We interviewed 3 park goers and ending up wih data that overturned our initial hypothesis.
Ranging from babysitters to local residences they all enjoy the events provided by Lincoln Center while also being a usual attendee. At this point, it has seemed that generally, people who stayed at the park are from the upper west neighbor and musically involved.
Concept
Prototype
PROTOTYPE - 01
Our first iteration of prototypes aimed to engage people with natural sounds( Sands, Water..) with an intended interaction as follow:
Our first iteration of prototypes aimed to engage people with natural sounds( Sands, Water..) with an intended interaction as follow:
- People notice the music we provided to prompt them to get closer our installation.
- Start to observe the mechanisms and star to interact with them physically.
- Realize it is a sound device and play a set of sounds echoing the background music we provided.
REALITY CHECK
First thing we noticed right away was the affordances weren’t clear enough, along with the poor sound volume our installation provided wasn’t good enough to attract people’s attention. Most importantly, upon 5 minutes after we setting up, we were approached by the security guard questioning out devices, given the fact that they were all visually just a couple of black boxes we had no other option but to head back.
REVISION
Having our small yet crucial feedbacks in mind, we redirected our goals as the following:
Having our small yet crucial feedbacks in mind, we redirected our goals as the following:
-
Simple – Easier to identify the intended usage, what is it for.
- Playful – To engage with strangers more efficiently.
- Transparent – To eliminate the concerns one might have upon seeing the device.
Around the 2 hours of observing, we ended up with 10 groups of interactions. Besides genuinely being contempt with our results, there were also some unexpected outcomes and indications to improve.