Successful parts
The concept we created for the project was clear enough to give a strong support to the purpose of the installation. The user presented a specific opportunity and the development of the project allowed us to discover and expand on different issues. We were able to think about different scenarios and how the installation could affect different people and users. The approach was successful in preventing the mishandling of shortcuts; therefore, creating a balance between local people and our users. Furthermore these reflections led us to potential applications in a real scenario: the knowledge of shortcuts could be traded for financial donations from the users towards the preservation of the city.
The prototype gives a good idea of how the user could move inside the sotoportego. User tests helped us define how the guide should move and react. For example we tested the distance between steps and the duration each step should have.
Overall we were successful in building a large working prototype for the experience we designed and a clear concept to back it up.
What didn’t go so well
We had problems programming the interaction of the fast user. Even if we were successful in programming it for the screen the interaction didn’t worked properly with the switches. Probably with some more time the problem could be solved but for the current state of the prototype we weren’t able to solve this problem.
With the mechanical projectors a big improvement could be the stability of the structure. We could make a stronger structure that could prevent the shaking of the tubes when they are moved. This way the projection would be more stable.
There were some details we couldn’t polish with the final prototype that we intended to do. The position could be more precise and the rotation of the steps could feel even more natural, the cracks between the masegni were meant to be cover with sand, the movement of the tubes shakes a little the projection to move a little. Due to time constrains and other priorities we weren’t able to do so.
What we could do different
There are many ways to show a shortcut. We created one that could be more complicated to carry out that just placing signs, but our installation gives another meaning to the city. The installation changes the space of a place by opening doors and inviting the user to explore. In order to take advantage of this aspect other moods could be applied to the installation. Using just a whistle as a guide the project could take another approach. A mysterious scenario could be develop and the user’s goal is to discover the shortcut by means of clues and acute observation. If local people don’t want absolutely anyone using the shortcuts the installation could scare off anyone who is not a local person.
Besides using this concept as an installation we have also argued that it could be applied to mobine services. For instance maps accessed from the cell phone could indicate the path, again just with sound or also visually.
Routes | Concept | Experience | Prototype | Technology | Code | Early Experiments |
Critical Reflection | Downloads | Credits