Lab+5


 * As part of 'Experience Prototyping', bodystorming has been developed as a method of enquiry for interactive design. Research the definition of 'bodystorming', and write three paragraphs describing its characteristics. (3 paragraphs) **

Bodystorming is used as a method of participatory design. Bodystorming is when a designer acts out their design which they plan to implement and finds how it would function within the real world. There are three different types of ways to use bodystorming. Which are used in different types of designs. They are: working place or space, strong prototyping and use-case theatre.

The first type of bodystorming is “working the space or place in which the product you are designing” will eventually be used. This puts the designer into a real life situation where they can experience a real world environment. For example if a designer was asked to improve the flow of customers through a store, the designer would put them self in the actual store. This would allow the designer to see all real life situations and factors. This would increase the chances of the design working out.

“The second type of bodystorming is called strong prototyping in the space of place which is product or service will be used”. In this type of bodystorming you create a replica of the design to test out or create a simulation of the situation. For example if you were designing a children’s playground you would create the playground out of cardboard and test to see if there was enough space between the jungle gyms so the children wouldn’t hurt themselves.

The last type of bodystorming is use-case theatre. “This involves prototyping the space and place of your product’s use by employing living personas or actors and props.” In this type of bodystorming actors and props create the environment the product would be in to see how it would work. For example if you were designing a walker for elderly people, you would create the place this walker may be used like in a washroom. By using props and actors such as the walker, toilet paper dispenser and an elderly person in a washroom you would research the products functionality within the environment.


 * With a partner, develop a use-case theater scenario and describe how you would use bodystorming and video to help you analyze the design of an artifact. This artifact is a medicine bottle for a woman who is 80 years old, arthritic, partially blind and partially deaf, and the system to design is the system whereby she finds and takes her medicine. **


 * On this section of the tutorial, include both names for marking. Use a pen and paper to develop your use-case theater scenario as a mind map. You can scan and upload this diagram to your wikispace tutorial page as part of your answer, if you would like. (25 minutes, 2 names, 4 paragraphs, one diagram) **

In order to design a medicine bottle for a woman who is 80 years old, arthritic, partially blind and partially deaf, and the system to design is the system whereby she finds and takes her medicine my partner and I will use the use-case theater bodystorming technique. The actor we would use would be someone playing an 80 year old women with restraints put on her hands and legs to re-enact arthritics. They will also have a cloth put over their eyes. The cloth does not completely block their vision, it will allow for the outline of objects to be seen as someone that is partially blind.

The medicine bottle will be designed to accommodate arthritic and partially deaf elderly people. The medicine bottle has been incorporated into a storage device so it can be easily located. It is a medium size box that can be placed on a counter top or table. The box is stable so it cannot fall over and large so it can be seen. The pill is automatically dispensed in a timely fashion when it is time to take the medication.

During the theatre re-enactment the actor will be wearing a water proof alerting device which vibrates when it is time to take the medication. This alerting device will prompt the medicine storage device release a pill into a bowl which is incorporated into the top of the medicine storage device. The actor will then make their way to the storage device. This storage device will be placed in a spot where it is familiar to the elderly women. The pill can then be easily scooped out the top of the medicine storage device.

The use-case scenario will take place in a house where the actor can play out the entire situation. From when the altering device vibrates, accessing the medicine storage box and taking the medication. Other players in the scene will be watching to provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve the design. It can also be video taped and watched again.