Discussing the Brief: "Inside Four Walls"

Assignment #2

Inside four walls: How tech can enhance communication between people who share the same space?

After discussing the brief in our group, we came up with some ideas for objects that help communication between people who know each other and share the same space.

Idea #1: VOCAL "POST IT"

The vocal post it is similar to the paper post it by the fact that it is visually salient. We thought to enhance this quality by using lights and sensors, so the post it will shine when it identifies movement near it. The vocal post it are based on recording messages' instead of writing' so it is much easier and faster, and even for children who can't read yet.

Idea #2: A "SMART" DOG COLLAR

That idea is about the communication between a person and it's dog. The collar will be able to identify (with sensors) the dog's physiological condition and interpret them to help the dog owner to understand his condition and will.

Idea #3: INTERACTIVE PICTURE

A picture that is changing by the atmosphere and human dynamic in the room. The picture will be able to sense the lightning, volume and amount of speaking, and will change accordingly. It can help people be aware to the way they communicate and improve it.

idea #4: BRAINSTORMING/MEETINGS TABLE

The table is used to improve discussions and conversations between a number of people. It is actually a visual representation of the conversation. Each person taking part in the discussion has a different color that represents him on the table. When a person talks' his color becoming dominant on the table, when he stops talking and someone else responses, a line is being starched between them. That enables them to see who talks the most' who never talks, when someone is talking to much and all this while they are talking. That helps the, to be aware to their own and other people role in the conversation' and improve it.

**We decided to continue with idea #4.

Important questions regarding our idea:

• Who will use it?

Staff members who work together.

• why do they use it?

To improve meetings and brainstorming, in a way that everyone will donate and take part.

• what does it do?

It shows the place in the conversation of each participant how much time they talk, for how long, with who the talk, who talks the most, who doesn't talk. All that information is shown at the time of the conversation (real-time feedback) so people can change and improve the way they behave in the conversation.

• where will it be used?

Mostly officers and conference rooms.