findplayMAKEtalk

User Testing Repsonses: Dr. Kenneth Scott-Brown

2010-05-12T02:31:00.001-07:00

This one's a bit different as his response is also the foreword to my book.

Dr. Kenneth Scott-Brown:

Observer: Magnifying the issues in surveillance.
The initial impression is reminiscent of Wallace and Gromit’s Lunar Robot from a Grand Day Out, albeit perfectly engineered and pristine. The coin operation delivers a simple digital read out showing the viewing target and then the user is faced with a visualisation task that is a quirky mix of reverse ‘etch‑a‑sketch’ and good old fashioned radio tuning. Each twist of the large dial flips the scene, the two hand turned knurled knobs change the ‘X and Y’ position of the image under the ‘scope. The average user has to stoop to get to the right height, and then twist their head to see through the spy hole. Then a close up of the pixel matrix reveals time lapse video of urban rural, indoor scenes. Some local, some national and some international.
The experience changes over the viewing period, initially the browser finds them self debating whether to figure out what is going on in the current scene or change the channel to find out what’s in the next one. This picks up two empirical questions.
Firstly, how much of a scene do you need to see to recognise it? A few flicks and twists help figure this out, one prediction is that on average a diagonal flick across the scene gives the best chance of recognition. The second one is how long do you need to fixate a scene to detect a change? How long in this case does it take to establish that these are live feeds from real CCTV cameras presented in time‑lapse format. It could easily be the case that some users browse so quickly that they don’t ever twig that the scenes change at all.
As a piece of visual art, paradoxically this limited view serves to illustrate the way that the installation is not constrained by the normal conventional boundaries of picture frames (the user gets to move the frame), or the linear limits of video‑based art where the artist has chosen the video frames to transmit their message. The point about Observer is that the interaction risks becoming addictive, there is no limit on the temporal constraint of the visual experience because it permanently and uniquely updates for each viewer.
A powerful underlying thread of themes is conveyed by the installation: there is a pain associated with extended surveillance voyeurism, there is a limit to how much of a scene that can actually be seen, the amount revealed by the ‘peep‑hole’ is much more like the amount of scene revealed by an individual glance of the human eye. This exhibit demonstrates magnifying glass problem or framing effect is a version of the same problem that surveillance operators face. On the one hand they can pan or zoom to find out what just outside the frame, they can multiplex the number of cameras, but there will still be items out of frame; and at the end of the day they can only really monitor one screen at a time.
With the scope of the cameras set to the local and the national level, the piece illustrates the extent and pervasiveness of modern surveillance, what if you recognise someone you know in the footage? What if they are in danger? This is the attraction of the piece, can you detect the unexpected?

User testing Responses: Charles Farrier

2010-05-12T02:26:00.000-07:00

Charles Farrier (No-CCTV.org.uk):

Your prototype looks very interesting - and the application of cctv that it explores is timely.

You may be aware of the Internet Eyes Ltd cctv game about to launch in the uk - a private company asking private individuals to spy on each other using private cameras connected to the internet, with a cash prize each month for the person who reports the most infringements. There is also the texas virtual border patrol in the US whereby people can log on to the net and watch a live feed of the texas border and report suspicious activity (mostly just suspicious birds or deer). These projects seek to outsource cctv monitoring to members of the public.

A BBC television programme called 'Inside Out' described Internet Eyes as a "revolution" in CCTV despite the fact that it has not yet launched and that the texas virtual border patrol that they compared it to was an enormously expensive failure. Study after study has shown that CCTV does not have a significant effect on crime, so such "revolutions" are ways of ensuring that the public do not focus on the lie that they have been sold. Creating systems that encourage people to watch the world through a monitor and report people they see on the screen actually discourages people from interacting with real people and becoming part of the community they live in.

There have been other citizen spy pilots such as the cable TV channel in East London that showed live feeds of CCTV cameras in the area. All of these seek to make members of the public become the watchers and to become part of the surveillance state. In doing so they hope to normalise people to surveillance and aim to make people ignore the uses that constant monitoring can be put to by the state or corporations.

Perhaps your prototype could be modified to add a jackpot payout tray so that it could be used to play Internet Eyes and collect your prize for dobbing someone in.

User testing Responses: Olga

2010-05-12T02:25:00.000-07:00

Olga:

I found the viewer to be an interesting idea. I am fairly sure people would be interested in seeing pictures from around the world. I would suspect they would love seeing places that friends and loved ones may live, or of places they were about to go on holiday or had just been to. In general, though, these pictures would be from static cameras.

My concerns were more from a licencing/permissions point of view. I can see that fixed CCTV cameras outside municipal buildings may be an easier option, but local authority and Police cameras would be more difficult to tap into given that CCTV operators have a long list of rules to abide by. Local authority cameras are generally staffed by Police staff who have already gone through a large amount of checks in order to become employed by Police. It is then not just a question of pointing a camera at whatever you like.

CCTV operators are not allowed to follow someone on camera unless they have a good reason for doing so. They cannot watch specific properties unless they have surveillance permissions. They may be directed by officers to watch certain things that may not necessarily be for public viewing.

For instance, if cameras were following perpetrators of crime, public access would not be possible due to data protection issues, not to mention possible vigilante activilty.

Sadly, although Big Brother may constantly be watching, he is bound up in so much red tape that it would be very difficult to gain permission to view the same images.

There is also the very real moral dilema of whether we already have too much surveillance in this country given that other countries would not allow our level of CCTV (Canada - intrusion into civil liberties, etc). However, that is another issue!

The Final Video

2010-05-12T02:11:00.001-07:00

Here is the finished video in all its glory - I've decided to use Youtube instead of Vimeo as the quality of the video seems to be greater.

Hits

2010-05-10T06:54:00.001-07:00

So far I've got over 1100 hits on my site from the past week alone!

Video Style

2010-05-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

After speaking with my lecturer about the test film, he said I should make it more obvious that lots of people would be using it & orthographic views would work best to make it look more scientific.

I rounded up a few people from the class & within 20mins I had all of my footage. The only bits I had to change are the status screen, because you can see people walking around in the reflection!

So here is the result:

Untitled from Lee Murray on Vimeo.

In The Paper

2010-05-10T05:22:00.000-07:00

One of the places I sent my email to was Press & Journal - a local newspaper for the north of Scotland. I managed to get an article in it with quite a big picture - very chuffed!

Test Video

2010-05-10T05:17:00.000-07:00

A preliminary video exploring different angles & distances.

Test Film 1 from Lee Murray on Vimeo.

Websites!

2010-05-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

After sending my press release to numerous people, I managed to get my work on various websites - mainly NOTCOT. However, this ended in something that I never expected - my site scrashing! Too many people went onto my site & the server couldn't handle it. Luckily, the server reset at the start of the next month, so there was only one day of downtime.

Some more pics

2010-05-04T02:51:00.000-07:00

After speaking with my lecturer last week, I have decided to take some more unusual pics. I hung the object on a wire mesh fence & sat it on some pallets to give it an industrial look. Check them out on my Flickr site here. I think they are much better!

The Book

2010-05-04T02:44:00.000-07:00

Almost finished! Just got a couple of pages to go, pretty much waiting for the Press & Journal article cutting about my project & scanning it in. The online article can be found here.

User Testing...

2010-05-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of pics of people using & evaluating the object: Police Officer Olga, who specialises in the CCTV control rooms & Dr. Kenneth Scott-Brown, who is a Psychology lecturer at Abertay University along with his PhD student Matt Stainer.

Press Release

2010-05-04T02:37:00.000-07:00

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release

THE OBSERVER

by LEE MURRAY

Product Designer Lee Murray has created a new application for CCTV surveillance with his object, The Observer; a public access viewing station allowing any member of the public to watch others through CCTV cameras. The object explores the potential social effects that could arise if all CCTV cameras were monitored by the public. Would people become vigilantes if they saw a crime being committed, would they watch it just for fun, or would they alert the police if there was a cash prize?

Taking inspiration from door peepholes, an everyday spying tool, & amplifying the idea to be used for a nationwide system of surveillance, The Observer creates a unique insight into the act of watching others.

Lee (21) says “At the beginning of the project I became fascinated by mystery, especially in the field of surveillance & spying. I am also very interested in exploring the edge of design & society, so The Observer grew naturally out of this desire to challenge these boundaries & create unique interactions with existing technologies”.

Using web camera & internet technology to bring the concept to life, Lee hopes that ultimately the entire system would be connected to the nations extensive network of CCTV cameras. Constructed from sheet steel & aluminium, The Observer's design has been inspired from classic science-fiction books & films such as Brave New World, 1984 & Brazil.

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITOR:

Lee Murray (21) is a digital product designer who is passionate about bringing original & humorous ideas to life through experimenting with aesthetics, electronics & software. His philosophy is to make exciting digital objects that create new cultural & social interactions. To see some of his other work, visit www.mrleemurray.co.uk.

Product Design Bsc. (Hons). University of Dundee

The Product Design course teaches its students to create fully functioning products, that work both inside & out. Through the core structure of FIND, PLAY, MAKE, TALK, students learn that making products around people is the key to a well rounded & meaningful project.

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Lee Murray

tel: +44 (0) 7909334601

email: lee@mrleemurray.co.uk

Press Photos

2010-04-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

If you want to see some of my press photos, visit my website:
www.mrleemurray.co.uk

Takin' Photos

2010-04-19T04:02:00.000-07:00

Pop Riveting!

2010-04-14T09:31:00.001-07:00

Attaching the shiney privacy cover to the main body.

The Book

2010-04-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

I'm also creating a book recording my work from start to finish - here are some sample pics of the contents...

Bits & Bobs

2010-04-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit busy to blog with tidying up some of the messy bits - new x & y knobs are being made with knurling & no line on top (it doesn't need it), fixing & attaching the coin slot door, polishing up the privacy cover, & making the coin slot a bit neater. Pics will be up soon to show the improvements!

The (Almost) Finished Model!

2010-04-05T05:56:00.001-07:00

Looking good! I just got some feedback from my lecturers & there are some little things I need to change, but I'm happy with it.

Installing The Screen

2010-04-05T05:54:00.000-07:00

Circuitry

2010-04-05T05:51:00.000-07:00

Here is the circuit board & the Arduino mounted together on one board & wired up.

The Body

2010-04-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the process of spraying the Observer body. The top right pic is the untouched, sandblasted body to the last pic of the finished article.

Sprayed

2010-04-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a while, but here are the small parts (coin box door & platform) sprayed up with the primer & graphite grey spray paint. With the help of Gus, we applied 4 coats of primer with around 4 coats of paint. Looks very nice!

Polishing The Metal

2010-03-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

To make the privacy cover match the other features on the body, I am polishing up the metal to a nice shiney finish. To do this, I need the following:

Emery cloth - coarse, medium & fine grit
Sanding sponges - medium, fine & very fine
Cellulose based thinnersFor some weird reason, the metal arrived with a dark surface coating, which is very tough to remove, so the first step is to use the coarsest emery cloth - 50 grit. I had to sand the whole thing by hand, which I haven't finished (so far it has taken two & a half hours, I'm going to have guns in the morning!).

Warning! You get incredibly dirty - as you can see I am covered in metal particles (which I am still trying to get rid of!).

After the surface coat has been removed, smoothing down the metal will be easier. After sanding the cover each time - gradually using a finer grain of sandpaper after each pass - it should end up lovely! & then I will remove any grease with the thinner.

The Hinges

2010-03-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

I've got the hinges ready to be welded on by engineering. They are SOLID!

Alterations

2010-03-28T09:46:00.001-07:00

I've handed in the body back into engineering because I accidentally missed out the hole for the front dial. I have also bought some load bearing steel hinges to be welded on. Hopefully it will be ready for spraying on Tuesday.

It's just the small things that need to be sorted now!

User Manual

2010-03-25T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am also trying to create a user manual to go along side the Observer, currently all I've got are the front cover & a diagram.

The Little Things

2010-03-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

Today, I've been focusing on the smaller parts of the project - fixing some holes that are slightly too small for the components, filling in any welding marks, etc. & it's slowly coming together! The next step is focusing on the bigger issues - spraying up the body (which will get done on Tuesday), attaching hinges to both the main body & cash box door, & the internal structure...

The Results

2010-03-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Looks pretty sweet!

The Plates

2010-03-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

To put the details on to the dial, name plate & coin slot, I have done the following:

Polished the metal, using a fibre mop & bench motor.

Got rid of all grease on the surfaces by using thinners.

Sprayed two coats of primer.

Sprayed four coats of black spray paint.

Leave over night to dry properly.

Etch the information into the plates using a lasercutter - speed 35, power 100.

Rub off any remaining primer using steel wool.

Polish the metal using silver polish.

Done!

The Info

2010-03-24T07:10:00.000-07:00

After speaking to printmaking about acid etching details into some parts, I have decided to take the route of laser etching spray paint on to the surface of the metal. Currently I am applying primer to allow the paint to adhere to the surface better.

CCTV

2010-03-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

After talking to some guests on Monday, including Stefano Mirti, I have decided to focus the project on to using CCTV as public entertainment. This works much better with the style of the feeds (jumpy & grainy, like CCTV). I have been too busy trying to fit the rationale around the technology, rather than the content! Duh! So... The Observer is a product that critiques the invasive nature of CCTV, which tries to alter the use of it from function to entertainment. It takes advantage to the fact that CCTV is every aspect of our lives & it captures everybody's lives on a daily basis. It acts as a type of Big Brother, but for the public & the content, instead of being staged is real life.

More Parts

2010-03-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

Here's some pics of my big dial & some plates - I've been experimenting with surface finishes on the plates, using the sandblaster (top pic) & air sanders. I personally like the polished look!

So Close!

2010-03-19T06:39:00.001-07:00

Engineering have almost finished my product! They just need to fix a couple of bits on the main body, but apart from that it's perfect! They have given me most of the parts so I can start finishing them - I have began polishing the pieces of sheet metal so I can acid etch it with details. The one piece that is completely finished is the eyepiece. The lens & support fits perfectly!

Circuit Box (Part III)

2010-03-17T04:32:00.001-07:00

Done! I lasercut the plastic & glued it together. Works a treat!

Caution

2010-03-17T04:20:00.000-07:00

To get round the adult content & include it (because it is such an obvious subject regarding the internet), I have created a Caution page for premium users. Nothing will happen if you add ten quid, but it's a talking point.

T-Minus 3 Days Until Model Is Ready

2010-03-16T05:08:00.001-07:00

Circuit Box (Part II)

2010-03-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

I've milled out the box, but a little bit too shallow, so I'll make another layer with layer cut plastic. No problem!

Circuit Box

2010-03-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

To protect my circuit & to be able to mount it to the inside of the unit, I am constructing a box for it to sit in. Currently, it is ready to be milled out.

The Colour

2010-03-15T06:43:00.001-07:00

I have bought the spray paint for the Observer - a nice Ford Graphite Grey. It's a bit metallic, but I think it will look good after a few coats.

New Logo

2010-03-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

I've changed the United Networks logo as I thought the colours & the font were a bit overpowering for the object. It is now plain black & white with some simple text & slogan at the bottom. Fixed!

Boards

2010-03-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

As I'm thinking about entering my project into the D&AD competition (& just because it will prove useful later...), I have created two boards: The Concept & The Details. I still need to make The Rationale board, but due to the fact that I am me, there's still some rationale to be cleared up as usual!

Circuit Done!

2010-03-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

It took a while, but the circuit has been populated successfully & it works! Just need to fix a couple of loose connections, but that wont take long.

Looking Good!

2010-03-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

So far, so good!

Content Again

2010-03-13T06:10:00.000-08:00

I've decided to drop the "Adult" channels from my project as I just don't feel comfortable with using them & I don't think it will add anything to the experience of using the object.

After searching the web for feeds, I have used what I found to make the categories, which are above. Also, after showing one of the third years my prototype, he said he really liked the fact that the views were of really mundane, ordinary places, which makes me think that in my world of paying for content, would you pay for this? Why have these people set up these webcams if they are not making any money? Should we have this omniscience into everyday lives?

With Youtube & user created content common place, is being able to see someone sleep, get their hair cut, & watch TV classed as entertainment? Would you pay for this if it was the only content available to you online?

Test

2010-03-11T03:29:00.000-08:00

Status?

2010-03-10T03:18:00.000-08:00

I have decided on the font I will be using for the Observer status screen: Perfect DOS VGA 437 - a pixely sans font that looks really nice & clear to read.

Drilled!

2010-03-10T03:15:00.000-08:00

That's the board ready for some populating (putting on the the components)!

Gettin' Made!

2010-03-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Went down to engineering today to see how they were getting on, & the progress is great! The main frame is almost complete (just needs the hole to be cut) & the eyepiece is currently being turned. Looking good!

Ready for a drillin'!

2010-03-09T06:24:00.001-08:00

This is what the board looks like after about two hours in the bath.

The Content

2010-03-09T05:35:00.001-08:00

After speaking with my lecturer about making the content either commercial (made by businesses) or home made (made by anyone), I have decided to make it home made. As the Observer is set in an age where the internet is not free, there would be a rise of entrepreneurs on the web, trying to make money any way possible. I think if the net was free or not, this Youtube culture would inevitably appear, but its a commercially viable Youtube.

In Production

2010-03-09T03:29:00.000-08:00

Currently my PCB board is soaking in a nice warm bath of ferric chloride! After about an hour, all of the unprotected copper will have been dissolved & only the tracks (protected with the spray paint) will be left.

Surrounding

2010-03-09T03:28:00.000-08:00

Just got these great led mounts in the post - they look very evil when turned on!

Ready!

2010-03-08T13:52:00.000-08:00

The PCB's are ready to go! The copper board has been given a coat of spray paint & is awaiting laser etched. The paint is used to prevent the circuit tracks from being dissolved in the ferric chloride, which will be the next step.

Hello Operator

2010-03-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

Since you wont really be able to tell what content will be on which channel, I have created a channel directory on channel 00. Right now there is only 50 channels, but that might be enough for an exhibition space. It is based on the index used in the old Teletext/Ceefax system.

Final Explosion!

2010-03-08T06:28:00.000-08:00

Done! It includes the locks & keys for the maintenance & cash box.

The Virtual Revolution

2010-03-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

A great documentary series about the way the internet has affected everyday life for the past 20 years. The third program of the series is the most appropriate for my project as it talks about what people actually "pay" for when they are getting free services from companies such as Google & Amazon. Just imagine what it would be like if the web was never free...

Information

2010-03-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

To make the Observer look like it has been mass manufactured, I have created an information plate (which will be located behind the cash box door) with data such as serial number, model, etc. I am thinking about somehow stamping the serial number into the body of the viewer, but this might prove to be too difficult.

The name...

2010-03-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

I have decided that I will simply call the viewer "Observer" as it allows people to watch different content without direct influence on it & that it is quite a frequently used word in the names of newspapers (which are being destroyed by the internet). Done!

Keyring

2010-03-06T07:47:00.000-08:00

To make the object more believable, I have made keyrings for the cash box & maintenance hatch locks. They would be on sets of keys that the observer engineers would use to empty the coin box & open the unit (for equipment testing & repairs) with. I lasercut the logo on to acrylic sheets, trying the design on both the glossy & matte sides - the glossy side worked better.

2010-03-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

Just a quick look of the product with the logo - I think it looks pretty good!

Research

2010-03-04T04:16:00.000-08:00

To back up my rationale of the viewer as a prop from an alternate reality where the internet was never free - I have done some research on the effect of the internet on traditional media, especially newspapers. News corporations have been gradually making more & more of a loss due to the fact that people nowadays expect everything online for free & will do anything to avoid paying for content.
Also the use of net neutrality means that all content is treated the same way, both by producers & consumers, means that people expect the news to be free, just like all the other content online.
This can also be applied to other media on the internet, such as video (which will be 90% of all web traffic by 2013), music & pictures - if the majority of people online will find a way round paying full price for this content, how (apart from advertising) can traditional media make money?

Constructions a gogo!

2010-03-04T04:13:00.000-08:00

I have delivered my material & plans to engineering & the building has commenced! It's out of my hands now...

More Renders

2010-03-01T12:15:00.000-08:00

So far so good

2010-03-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Today's been a good day! Just a couple of little adjustments - moving the hinges to the bottom due to lack of space & filleting some corners to allow for easier construction.

The only problem is the sheer weight of the steel & the strain it will put on the wall, but I've been told it will all be fine!

I'm a bit anxious getting the plans sent away to construct my viewer because it will be out of my hands, but I think its ready...

Le Dial

2010-03-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

Here is the form of the channel selector plate for the big dial. There are no numbers on it as they will be displayed on the status screen.

Features, fonts

2010-03-01T01:53:00.000-08:00

To make the piece look more interesting & believable, I will incorporate little features into the design, such as info beside the coin slot & name plate. I also want to put humorous warning sides on it to make it look authoritative, but slightly bungled - like the government in Brazil.

I have also found these promotional posters for the Electric Clerk - the computer from Brazil. I think I'll have to make one or two of these...

Possible Logo...

2010-02-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

Here is the logo/brand I have created for my viewer. The style has been mostly stolen from the Central Services logo from Brazil. I wanted it to look semi-futuristic, established & powerful, somewhat monopolistic. I wanted the name to sound British, so I used "United" from United Kingdom & "Networks" to make it internet based & 90's futuristic.

Brazil

2010-02-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

Just finished watching Brazil, I was amazed by the amount of retro future objects & machines in it & the amount of detail to make the world seem real. The thing that appealed to my project the most was the fresh air kiosk, it just sums up the dystopian world in one object. I love the whole feel of the movie (especially the restaurant scene) , even though the story was quite hard to grasp first time! I need to incorporate some sort of humour into my project to make it seem more believable & approachable...

Exploded!

2010-02-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Here's the render of my unit exploded - it comprises of 19 components, not including the screen, Arduino board, PCB or potentionemters.

Licence

2010-02-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Some more evidence - I've mocked up a licence for premises to have the viewer & sell it's contents. It's pretty much the same as the weights & measures act for alcohol in pubs, but has been adapted for my story.

My Metal!

2010-02-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Yay! My aluminium rod & sheet steel have arrived, which means that I'm almost ready to build - just need to get the paperwork out of the way & make sure the design is perfect!

PCB Ready

2010-02-26T05:32:00.000-08:00

I've just completed drawing my printed circuit board on the free software Fritzing. It's a very simple circuit - just a middleman between the Arduino board & the components to stop the wires from coming loose. I'll hopefully get the board made on the laser cutter soon, with the help from Mike...

Some Ideas

2010-02-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

To support my current(!) rationale, I have made some calling card ads to give an idea of the content it could be used for as it will be used similarly to a payphone. So far all of the content is based on entertainment, most quite crude (but this seems to reflect quite a large portion of the publicly accessed entertainment on the web, which makes me question whether we would be better off with most of the internet switched off!).

Render (Part III)

2010-02-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

To make my viewer more intriguing & more professional, I have offset the eyepiece & made most of the features flush with the surface of the body. I am keeping the grey colour to make the viewer more public looking. I think it's almost ready for production - just waiting for the arrival of the metal.

Content

2010-02-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

After speaking with my lecturers yesterday, they told me that the current content - viewing nature & untouched place - was not right for the object. As the form of the viewer is almost perfect, I am not going to change it for the content. I will change the content.

I'm taking quite a backwards approach to the process - fitting a story to the project rather than creating a product around the story, but by the time the viewer is made the story will be perfecto!

They suggested that I look into Digital Britain - the government scheme to get everybody online - but with a twist: in the future, since the majority of the net is free, the Digital Britain's economy has flat-lined & the government has taken the decision to shut down public access to the internet & to privatise the rest of it. This means that only the wealthy can access the web & creating a split in the public - the internet rich & the internet poor.

This is where my viewer comes in. To let the general public still have some little access to web content, my viewer would be public & used like a payphone. People would pay to see certain content similar to a public phone - sex lines, horoscopes, etc.

I still have to figure this out....

Finished Coin Mechanism

2010-02-23T03:50:00.000-08:00

After finalising the dimensions of the coin mechanism, I made it out of wood - milling out the trench for the coin then gluing the three pieces together. After that I positioned my tactile switch, drilled the holes & screwed it on. Works a treat - here's the video to prove it!

Superstudio

2010-02-22T04:49:00.000-08:00

My lecturer told me about a 70's Italian design group called Superstudio - they mainly focus on cities of the future, creating collages, illustrations & films. I really like the feel of their drawings - I'm thinking that I should have a go at drawing my future city...

More Future Detail

2010-02-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

To back up the argument I'm making, I've done some research:

Around the year 2040, the world population will reach nine billion & oil supplies will begin to dwindle. This will result in a huge overcrowding in cities & only really wealthy will be able to take holidays abroad & see the few remaining places "untouched" by man. With the rising cost of fuel, most people will have to use public transport - which currently is quite dirty & crowded (so imagine what it would be in 30 years time!). This overcrowding & the inability to get away would increase everybody's stress so any & every release from it would be welcomed.

Everytime I think about this, Mega City One (from Judge Dredd) keeps popping into my head - maybe I should use that as a template for a British one...

Render (Part II)

2010-02-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a render of the viewer with a bit more detail. I have added a plate near the eyepiece for its name/slogan to be engraved on (not sure which yet), a surrounding for the LED & the lock for the coin box. It's starting to take shape, but I've still got so much more details to look at such as:

Inserting money instructions, logos, maintenance access, power, fonts, wall mounting, etc.

I like the colour in black, but I don't know if it looks a bit design wanky...

Render (Part I)

2010-02-21T07:58:00.001-08:00

After constructing the basic viewer on solidworks, I decided to see what it would actually look like made with the correct materials - it looks good, but I'm not sure about the blue now...

Eyepiece

2010-02-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a render of the eyepiece - it will come in four parts: the main body, the screw body, the lens & the lens support. The main body of the viewer will fit between in the groove - this is where the body & the screw meet.

I know the render is a bit over the top, but I just wanted to see the power of solidworks in action!

Sheet Steel

2010-02-18T06:59:00.001-08:00

After consulting engineering about making the viewer from sheet metal, they said that it can be done! I just need to provide the materials & technical drawings, then they can begin construction. I just need to finalise the design.

I was recommended that I should use 1.5mm thick, hot rolled sheet steel as it the strongest & easiest to work with.

I will also be using 3 inch round aluminium bar to make the eye piece & dials.

Progress!

Hertzian Tales

2010-02-18T06:44:00.000-08:00

With the rationale on the road to recovery, I found some more substance for it in the book 'Hertzian Tales' by Tony Dunne -

"...the designer to use his or her skills to visualise alternative future scenarios in ways that can be presented to the public, thus enabling democratic choices between the futures people actually want
...
all he or she can offer are the contents of his or her own head, where the internal imagination meets the external world of reality. Design is used as a strategy for linking these two worlds."

This is pretty much the foundations of my reasoning.

Aluminium

2010-02-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

Sean managed to waggle some sheets of spare aluminium from the print making department - although they are thin & not very strong, it allows me to make a aesthetic prototype, just to see how the viewer will look like made of metal & how it will look sprayed up. Nice!

Insert Coin - Operational!

2010-02-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

I made a quick rig to make sure that the coin mechanism works correctly... & it does! Here's a video of it an action.

Insert Coin

2010-02-17T04:26:00.000-08:00

As the viewer will be used in common indoor public places, such as cafes, pubs, phoneboxes, etc. it will be coin operated. This is because other forms of relaxation/entertainment in these environments - food, drinks, gambling - don't come for free. This form of escape would be very lucrative in the future, when the majority of people will not have left a city in their whole lives & will want something new & not man made.

A bit ironic as they will be seeing something completely natural through an artificial eye.

Anyway, I have received a piece of code allowing me to simulate the inserting money experience.
All I need to do now is make the mechanism & collection container to carry this function out.

Future Props

2010-02-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

After another lengthy discussion with two of my lecturers, I've discovered what I really want to do - creating props for possible futures & stories. I don't just want to make a product, I want to make a story around it. The product doesn't have to be commercially viable, but I want it to use it as a vehicle for the story, along with other, smaller props - to make it more believable.

The idea of the device so far is to use it as an escape from the dystopian world in the future, where everybody lives in ugly, utilitarian cities & don't have the ability to get away from it. The device would be situated in public places, such as cafes, pubs, teashops, etc. (the places could possibly need a licence to have the device)& would be coin operated.

The content would be of paradise - the perfect place, where the person will probably never get to see in real life, or will work their whole life for it. The person will get around 5-10mins for a pound.

The device blends the boundaries between public & private space, allowing the user to access very personal feelings & emotions in a public environment.

I will continue to build up a more detailed picture of the world, but this is only day one...

Where to go now...

2010-02-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

After speaking with my lecturer about the reason for my product to exist & some feedback from the crit, he suggested that the user could actually be seated to use the device - this was due to me providing a chair for the lecturers to use as the device was too low to use standing. He also liked the juxtaposition of the old chair against the modern & industrial viewer.

I have been contemplating changing the project into an outdoor viewer for linking landscapes together, but this would change my entire device, from materials to form & I'm not too sure about doing that so late in the game.

My lecturer said that I should think about why I am doing it, what I want to get out of it & what type of designer I want to be.

Maybe I should look back at the Mass Observation Project, but not make it about obsessions, make it more of a tool in a future scenario for archiving daily life.

Something I Saw

2010-02-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

While looking through the feeds on my viewer, I noticed on the Aruba feed that people were watching the webcam & trying to communicate with friends or family on the other end. This made me feel a bit awkward as I felt like I was eavesdropping, but there's not much privacy on the web anymore...

For some privacy, I have pixelated the peoples faces & messages, but you get the idea.

What Have I Done?!

2010-02-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

I've created something that has no reason to exist yet!

Over Thinking It...

2010-02-11T07:04:00.000-08:00

After the Play critique on Monday, I left feeling a little down. Although the lecturers said the prototype was really good & the interaction was compelling, the part that let me down was the rationale - I've been too busy concentrating on creating the technology & making it work that I've forgotten what I've made it for. I've tried to justify it by attempting to plow as much "meaning" into the project as possible (which I know consider to be a big pile of wank!) & totally lost track of what made me choose the idea in the first place.

I want to make a product that appeals to people's sense of curiosity, imagination, mystery & discovery, not for some half-arsed idea of spying for creeps! That was the whole point of the door with the pile of peepholes - to discover places they never thought existed, or couldn't afford to go & wonder where they are & stir their emotions. Essentially a window to the World.

During the crit, my lecturers told me that I should look into using the viewer as a type of public telescope - allowing anyone to use it to see other parts of the World. To add to this, Nat added that I could make the viewer location specific e.g. If the viewer was pointing towards the Tay Bridge, then all of the web feeds available would be of other Bridges across the Earth. This makes the content more appropriate as the user would be in the right mood & environment for watching other bridges.
This could be applied to any subject - skyscrapers, beaches, monuments, mountain tops, streets, countrysides - anywhere that evokes an emotion.

Just need to develop it now...

Observer Prototype

2010-02-06T04:34:00.000-08:00

The final form will be cylindrical, but to make construction easier I made the body octagonal. It is just to show the size of the object.

Instructions...

2010-02-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

Product Render

2010-02-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

Looks very graphic novel-esque, but I like it!

Quick Interaction

2010-02-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Just a couple of photos showing my classmate using the unit. The real product would be positioned higher on the wall - the piece of wood I had available limited the height.

Getting It On (Part IV)

2010-02-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

Here are the photos for the (almost) finished final prototype of the observation unit. I laser cut some details to make the whole design a little bit more convincing.

Chain Pen Switch Fail

2010-02-04T11:54:00.000-08:00

After playing around with lifting the pen to activate the unit, I realised that it made the whole experience of using the unit, very clunky. The user would have to try to turn the dials while having both hands full - one with the pen (to keep the unit on) & one with the notebook.

In summary, I think I'll just stick with the pen simply hanging & a toggle switch to turn off & on the unit.

Getting It On (Part III)

2010-02-04T08:40:00.001-08:00

After building a more accurate housing & constantly tweaking the height of the screen, I screwed on the Arduino board & bread board to make the whole setup more secure. The next step is to make a more accurate frame - Peep Rig Mk. VI

findplayMAKEtalk

User Testing Repsonses: Dr. Kenneth Scott-Brown

User testing Responses: Charles Farrier

User testing Responses: Olga

The Final Video

Hits

Video Style

In The Paper

Test Video

Websites!

Some more pics

The Book

User Testing...

Press Release

Press Photos

Takin' Photos

Pop Riveting!

The Book

Bits & Bobs

The (Almost) Finished Model!

Installing The Screen

Circuitry

The Body

Sprayed

Polishing The Metal

The Hinges

Alterations

User Manual

The Little Things

The Results

The Plates

The Info

CCTV

More Parts

So Close!

Circuit Box (Part III)

Caution

T-Minus 3 Days Until Model Is Ready

Circuit Box (Part II)

Circuit Box

The Colour

New Logo

Boards

Circuit Done!

Looking Good!

Content Again

Test

Status?

Drilled!

More Content

Gettin' Made!

Ready for a drillin'!

The Content

In Production

Surrounding

Ready!

Hello Operator

Final Explosion!

The Virtual Revolution

Information

The name...

Keyring

Ad

Research

Constructions a gogo!

More Renders

So far so good

Le Dial

Features, fonts

Possible Logo...

Brazil

Exploded!

Licence

My Metal!

PCB Ready

Some Ideas

Render (Part III)

Content

Finished Coin Mechanism

Superstudio