Week+5

Bodystorming is the process of designing or acting out a technique/product that would enable the user to better use the product that normally would be hard to use. Bodystorming also known as “embodied storming”, works with people acting out technological scenarios to better the use of an idea. Bodystorming allows users to physically experience problems to create ideas to fix the problem. Bodystorming creates a physical performance with experiential awareness. Bodystorming not only tries to test out the experience of the “users” but also tries to understand the problems that could be faced by ideal users and the future problems that could occur. Bodystorming has been used for three different reasons. One of them is working in the space (testing out the product by the user/designer) where the product will ideally be used. The next body storming method is “strong prototyping”, which is testing out the product at the place where it will ideally be used. The third method is “use-case theater”, is where testing out the idea/product with a “user” (usually an actor that impersonates a person who would ideally use the product) at the place where the product would be used.
 * Tutorial # 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)**

- The first and foremost important information that should be known to the designer of the “bodystorming” product is who the user going to be. In this case, we are designing a product for a 80 year old woman who is arthritic, partially blind and partially deaf. Our design of the medication bottle included large brail font. This way, the lady could easily feel the letter (since she is partially blind) and know that this is the right medicine. - Also for her to be able to get the medication easily from the bottle we created a bottle with a push down motion, where she could push the button of the bottle down easily without much force to get the tablets.An arthritic person wouldn't be able to squeeze the bottle, therefore the push down button would allow them to leave their fists open and push the button down. The button is also sensitive allowing the person to press it down easily.
 * 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. It is helpful to keep this method in mind as you work to design your group project. 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)**
 * Kugaluxan Skandarajah (Discussed with Blake Lipson)**

- Since we were creating this prototype for someone who is in the later stages of life, she may have bad memory. For this problem we created a “pager” like machine to buzz/vibrate to remind her to take the medication. She could clip the machine onto her clothing to get the notice. The “machine” also has loud beeping noise to remind her if she doesn’t have the pager clipped onto her. - We also thought of an automatic notification to the drug store when the medication at the lady’s house is low. This allows the store to deliver the new medication before it runs out. Our purposes of the design weren't too technical since if the design had too much to do with technology, the lady wouldn't be able to operate it. Bibliography http://cct333-w11.wikispaces.com/file/view/Bodystorming_as_Embodied_Design.pdf