Introduction

In our ‘Prototyping Interactive Systems’ class, we were asked to design an interactive physical prototype around the Internet of Things, which can be either tangible user interface or ambient information display. We had 2 weeks to conceptualize, build & evaluate the prototype.

NOTE: Though research is an quintessential phase in every design process, the focus here was more on learning + using a variety of the sketching and prototyping techniques from ideation to the implementation of a system/experience.

Problem Statement

How can we make an ordinary object into a personalized interactive device which displays electronic information in a real-world environment in a…

Prototyping as a tool has been around since before the mobile and the Internet. Prototyping helps users get closer to the final product by turning a conceptual goal into a practical reality. Designers create prototypes before creating the final product to make sure that it works as intended. It is the prototype which helps in understanding the real ‘experience’ behind ‘user experience’ of any product.

The main advantages of Prototypes are:

1. Showing is always better than telling. Prototyping helps in communicating the ideas to the stakeholders and other team members not just by concepts, but by action.
2. Prototyping saves time…

This week I learned about some commonly used techniques and methods for gathering data from the users. Data gathering is an essential step to creating any product/service as it will be the basis on which the product will be built. This data is useful for understanding the way users interact with the product and why they do what they do. There are several steps for several different techniques to accomplish a certain goal. The choice of the methods and techniques must always be made according to the situation and the people involved.

There are 5 important questions we need to…

Recently I went on a one week solo trip to Uttrakhand. The idea came to me during my final exams, I didn’t plan too much just packed a bag and booked a ticket to Delhi. People think that solo travel will be boring, no fun and weird. But Solo travelling turned out to be very alluring for me. Here’s why :

1. You never have to adjust. You make your own timetable. You get ready at your own pace and leave for the day. You learn about the world since you’re alone. No one is there to help you, not…