Team Project
There are two basic options for this project;
designing a new tool
or doing a
research-oriented policy report.
If you have an idea for a team
project that doesn't seem to fit either, please see me.
Teams should be 4-5 students.
All teams need to submit a document which identifies the roll and
responsibilities of each student in the team, and how they met
those responsibilities.
All teams will give a 15-20 minute PowerPoint presentation about their
project.
For the tools, you will need to show what it will allow users to do,
how it will allow them to do these things, and why your design makes
sense.
For the policy report, you will present your topic and its main issues,
and focus on the key points of your policy proposal.
Designing a New Tool
In this assignment option you will work in teams of 4-5.
Each team will have clearly-stated design goals.
The following are some examples, but other options can be proposed.
- Digital Camera of the Future: This camera will not just take
pictures, but also be able to perform things such as automatic
(and error-free) settings adjustments, post processing operations,
and direct online publishing and archiving. What exact tasks
should it support - that's one of the things you need to determine.
In the end, you need to have a 3D paper and cardboard prototype,
along with a user's manual.
- Digital Editing Tool of the Future: This is a software challenge.
Current tools tend to have multitudes of features and options
which make use difficult. At the same time, many are missing
the tools that people really want. You need to find out what people
really wish they could do, and then prepare paper prototypes of the
interface, and storyboards showing how your software would be used to
meet those desires.
- Photo Collections of the Future: This may be software, or a
combination of software and hardware that people can use with
their current digital cameras and available technology.
You need to discover how people want to build collections and
search collections and then prepare prototypes showing how your
system will look and how it will be used both by people creating
collections as well as those who are searching through collections
(not necessarily collections they built).
For each team, the objective will be to:
- Identify who the target users will be. You need to identify populations
who are not currently happy with what is currently available.
- Determine what tasks this user base will want to accomplish. You need
to encourage your participants to think "big" - detailed task scenarios can
help push the boundaries of current technologies.
- Create low-fidelity prototypes to flesh out ideas. Do not limit yourself
based on costs or current technologies - this is a paper prototype where the
goal is to say what we should have.
- Submit a written report / design portfolio to the Vice President
of Development at your company detailing your work and results.
This report/portfolio will contain things such as:
- a list describing expected users of the system and their work contexts
- a list of actual, representative tasks that people are expected to do
- a prioritized list of system requirements
- a low fidelity prototype
- a task-centered walkthrough of the prototype
Some goals of this exercise are that you will gain experience in:
articulating good task descriptions
using task scenario descriptions to decide upon system requirements
brainstorming low fidelity prototypes based on the above
evaluating various design ideas and prototypes through
task-centered walk-throughs
Research-oriented Policy Report
In this assignment option you will work in teams of 4-5.
Each team will have a clearly-stated topic and will need to research the
background and existing information on the topic, perform some type of
original research (probably in the form of interviews), and write a report
that provides an overview of the topic as well as
The following are examples, but other proposals are welcomed.
- License Plate Scanning
Police are scanning license plates to do things such as determine whether
to give parking tickets or locate stolen vehicles. How else is this
information beign used? For how long is it being kept? What are the
potential consequences of this technology and what policies should be
put in place which would be consistent with existing laws regarding things
such as search or privacy?
- Cameraphone Usage
Many cellphones have cameras built into them. What policies and laws
exist regarding where these phones may and may not be taken or used to
take photos. What new policies might be needed to address the prevalence
of these devices?
For each team, the objective will be to:
- Identify the populations who are effected by the current technology
and policies.
- Determine what tasks are being performed using the technology and
what new uses might be on the horizon or risk being on the horizon (you
should think "big" and think about how the boundaries of current technologies
and their uses might be pushed).
- Create a policy statement that defines both acceptable uses as
well as limits of use of the technology in the domain.
- Submit a written report to a local politician or policy maker detailing
your research and policy recommendations.
This report will contain things such as:
- a list describing how the technology is currently being used
- a list of possible ways it could be used in the future
- any worst-case scenarios of unintended uses
- an overall policy statement designed to make sure the technology
is only used as it was intended to or even make recommendations
against the current uses
Some goals of this exercise are that you will gain experience in:
identifying uses of technology that impact society
considering the ways technologies can be misused
talking to citizens about the use of technology
talking to officials regarding the use of technology
writing and supporting policy proposals
Submitting
Send me your PowerPoint presentation at
egolubUMD@gmail.com
by December 5th at 8:00pm.
Be prepared to bring your reports and low fidelity prototypes to
class on December 6th. Presentation schedule TBA.
If you have any questions - please see me in office hours, or
send me e-mail at
egolubUMD@gmail.com
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