February 7, 2011
February 3, 2011
The Laws Of Simplicity
1 & 2
The first law claimed by Maeda is the law to reduce. With the problem being how to properly balance how complex an object can be with how simple it appears or functions. Maeda introduces the idea of shrink, hide & embody (SHE) as a way to regulate this in our complex demanding marketplace. Shrinking is described as a way to lower expectations and instill pity towards an object. Hiding is shown as a way to get rid of complexity until it is needed. Embody is Maeda's way of saying that an object so great designed too simple may lose its sense of value. This is the counterbalancing factor between shrinking and hiding. Law two is organize because organization is an easy way to make a complex system seem more simple. His method to organization is broken down into sorting, labeling, integrating & prioritizing (SLIP). Grouping and blurring the lines between individual elements is a powerful tool to make a system appear more simple.
3 & 4
In the third law we go over the use of time in technology and design. Maeda makes the argument that saving time equals simplicity, where as waiting for things adds to complexity. A good example discussed was the development of barcodes as a design to save time and simplify things for retailers. Also, the emerging of progress bars in technology as a more deceptive way of making users feel like they are saving time. He talks about the trade off between a shorter wait time & making the wait more tolerable. In the fourth law of learn it is said that repetition helps us simplify our understandings of what we learn. He talks about his relationship between relate, translate, surprise as a mechanism to help someone understand or identify themselves with a product or idea.
5 & 6
The fifth law of differences points out that without complexity, there would be no understanding of simplicity. With our market becoming more and more complex, a simpler product is more apt to stand out amongst the mass amount of bright, eye catching, overly designed products. The chapter goes on to discuss this principle beyond the ideas of just business or design. A lot like the fifth law, law six context goes over the role of white space, stating "nothing is something too," because when there is less, we appreciate everything much more. A good example was the idea of a colorful plate of sushi in a simple white room. He then relates the relationship of being lost or found with complexity and simplicity. This explains the concept of a product that may be new and unfamiliar but familiar enough to understand and use easily.
- Shawn's reading responses
January 31, 2011
CATWOE
C = Costumers
Who’s on the receiving end?
- People who are technologically aware.
- Everyone can benefit
- All commercial places that want to promote with us.
What problem do they have now?
- There’s no one resource for all free things.
- Spending too much money / don’t have enough money.
- Unfamiliar with the area.
- Bored in general.
How will they react to what you are proposing?
- They will be very happy that they have a new way to get free stuff.
Who are the winners and losers.
Winners
- People who love free things.
- People looking for deals.
- People bored looking for new things to do in their area.
Losers
- The people who are being exploited by being featured on the application.
- The people who enjoyed the private free things that only they knew about.
A = Actors
Who are the actors who will ‘do the ding’, carrying out your solution?
- The customers are the actors. Because they are always suggesting new things. They are both the givers and receivers of our product.
- The commercial people are also promoting their products by giving free deals as well.
What is the impact on them?
- They have to give to receive. Our users cannot benefit without giving back to the community. Everyone will run out of free things.
- The commercial people will bring in business through their free promotions.
How might they react?
- Some users may not give back to the community.
- Users may suggest bad things.
- Users may suggest good things.
T = Transformation Process
What is the process for transforming inputs into outputs?
- We take user suggestions and give them back to the user.
What are the inputs? Where do they come from?
- Inputs are free things. They come from user suggestions and commercial promotions.
What are the outputs? Where do they go to?
- Outputs are free things. They first go to moderators then to the database of free stuff.
What are the steps in between?
- The free things go to moderators before they are made public to ensure quality and to prevent abuse.
W = World View
What is the bigger picture in which the situation fits?
- There are many free things in local areas that people do not take advantage of.
What is the real problem you are working on?
- We are trying to show people where free things and things to do are.
What is the wider impact of any solution?
- People stay busy and support the community.
- More free things become available due to increased popular demand.
O = Owner
Who is the real owner or owners of the process or situation you are changing?
- Owners of the free things that are featured on the application.
Can they help you or stop you?
- They can both help and stop us. They can help us by continuing to give out free things. They stop us by refusing to give away free things.
What would cause them to get in your way?
- They become exploited.
- If they don’t approve of us telling people about their free product or service.
What would lead them to help you?
- They receive business from the promotion on the application.
- They want to give back to the community.
E = Environmental constraints
What are the broader constraints that act on the situation and your idea?
- Too many people showing up to one free thing.
- Not enough free stuff in the area.
- Users give weak suggestions.
What are the ethical limits, the laws, financial constraints, limited resources? Regulations and so on?
- Exploiting the products of businesses, locations, events, activities, etc.
- Running out of free thing(s) to do in the area while still being promoted.
- Lying about free things and end up promoting stealing.
- Promote free things in sketchy / unsafe areas. BITCH!
How might these constrain your solution? How can you get around them?
- We get around the constraints by warning users by Terms of Use. Free at own risk.
- We will moderate what comes in to the best of our ability. If there is reason to believe something is unsafe a user can request that a post be removed.
Who’s on the receiving end?
- People who are technologically aware.
- Everyone can benefit
- All commercial places that want to promote with us.
What problem do they have now?
- There’s no one resource for all free things.
- Spending too much money / don’t have enough money.
- Unfamiliar with the area.
- Bored in general.
How will they react to what you are proposing?
- They will be very happy that they have a new way to get free stuff.
Who are the winners and losers.
Winners
- People who love free things.
- People looking for deals.
- People bored looking for new things to do in their area.
Losers
- The people who are being exploited by being featured on the application.
- The people who enjoyed the private free things that only they knew about.
A = Actors
Who are the actors who will ‘do the ding’, carrying out your solution?
- The customers are the actors. Because they are always suggesting new things. They are both the givers and receivers of our product.
- The commercial people are also promoting their products by giving free deals as well.
What is the impact on them?
- They have to give to receive. Our users cannot benefit without giving back to the community. Everyone will run out of free things.
- The commercial people will bring in business through their free promotions.
How might they react?
- Some users may not give back to the community.
- Users may suggest bad things.
- Users may suggest good things.
T = Transformation Process
What is the process for transforming inputs into outputs?
- We take user suggestions and give them back to the user.
What are the inputs? Where do they come from?
- Inputs are free things. They come from user suggestions and commercial promotions.
What are the outputs? Where do they go to?
- Outputs are free things. They first go to moderators then to the database of free stuff.
What are the steps in between?
- The free things go to moderators before they are made public to ensure quality and to prevent abuse.
W = World View
What is the bigger picture in which the situation fits?
- There are many free things in local areas that people do not take advantage of.
What is the real problem you are working on?
- We are trying to show people where free things and things to do are.
What is the wider impact of any solution?
- People stay busy and support the community.
- More free things become available due to increased popular demand.
O = Owner
Who is the real owner or owners of the process or situation you are changing?
- Owners of the free things that are featured on the application.
Can they help you or stop you?
- They can both help and stop us. They can help us by continuing to give out free things. They stop us by refusing to give away free things.
What would cause them to get in your way?
- They become exploited.
- If they don’t approve of us telling people about their free product or service.
What would lead them to help you?
- They receive business from the promotion on the application.
- They want to give back to the community.
E = Environmental constraints
What are the broader constraints that act on the situation and your idea?
- Too many people showing up to one free thing.
- Not enough free stuff in the area.
- Users give weak suggestions.
What are the ethical limits, the laws, financial constraints, limited resources? Regulations and so on?
- Exploiting the products of businesses, locations, events, activities, etc.
- Running out of free thing(s) to do in the area while still being promoted.
- Lying about free things and end up promoting stealing.
- Promote free things in sketchy / unsafe areas. BITCH!
How might these constrain your solution? How can you get around them?
- We get around the constraints by warning users by Terms of Use. Free at own risk.
- We will moderate what comes in to the best of our ability. If there is reason to believe something is unsafe a user can request that a post be removed.
January 27, 2011
January 20, 2011
Concept_ PINC
IDEA: Provide information about free/cheap entertainment near the user.
POSITIVES:
- Everyone likes free things.
- Save money.
- Keep yourself busy.
- Get more familiar with your area.
- Get familiar with a new area.
- Promotion opportunities (businesses, local economy growth)
NEGATIVES:
- User trust.
- Creation logistics
- Attract to many people to a certain free option.
- Quality of product.
- Take advantage of suppliers (exploitation).
INTRIGUING:
- Free stuff.
- Community building.
- Making new friends/connections.
- Social networking options (Facebook places/ Foursquare).
- Making lists of what to try.
- What’s nearby you that may have been hidden?
- Limiting who can see the free options by how close they are to it.
- User submissions.
- New things everyday.
CONCERNING:
- What happens if you run out of free options?
- What happens if the option available runs out before you get there?
- User submission reviews (bad options need to be cut).
- Free stuff advertised that was never meant to be free (i.e. open bars).
- What if there isn’t new stuff every day? Or repetitions.
- Business plan, feasible way to make money, give it away or charge?
POSITIVES:
- Everyone likes free things.
- Save money.
- Keep yourself busy.
- Get more familiar with your area.
- Get familiar with a new area.
- Promotion opportunities (businesses, local economy growth)
NEGATIVES:
- User trust.
- Creation logistics
- Attract to many people to a certain free option.
- Quality of product.
- Take advantage of suppliers (exploitation).
INTRIGUING:
- Free stuff.
- Community building.
- Making new friends/connections.
- Social networking options (Facebook places/ Foursquare).
- Making lists of what to try.
- What’s nearby you that may have been hidden?
- Limiting who can see the free options by how close they are to it.
- User submissions.
- New things everyday.
CONCERNING:
- What happens if you run out of free options?
- What happens if the option available runs out before you get there?
- User submission reviews (bad options need to be cut).
- Free stuff advertised that was never meant to be free (i.e. open bars).
- What if there isn’t new stuff every day? Or repetitions.
- Business plan, feasible way to make money, give it away or charge?
January 17, 2011
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