Best Hard Drives

Hey guys,

Here's the site for the portable hard drives we were discussing at breakfast....

http://oyendigital.com/

See you next week.

Thx

s

Week 11 - Special Topics

Hey class,

Here's a PDF of this week's lecture. Let me know if you have any questions and have a good turkey day!

-Scout

Week 10 - Emotional Design

Great job today!!

Sorry for the confusion kids. Refer to your Project and Individual Assignment PDFs for deadlines moving forward. However, I've outlined What's due below.

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SKETCHES

Sketch Themes For Next Week. Lets mix it up a bit:

Food:

Sketches relating to eating, restaurants, grocery shopping, cooking, baking, wait staff, food delivery, etc.

Shopping:

Sketches relating to buying stuff, purchasing, checkout, browsing, online shopping, cash, money, banking, customer service.

----------

Here's the PDF to this lecture.

ASSIGNMENTS

A3 - Due next week. As a little gift, I won't require the final sketching report. So A3 is your last individual assignment;

A3 - 1-Week Real World Field Deployment - Due 11/19 (END OF NEXT WEEK)

For this assignment, you will get a small taste of what it's like to do a real world deployment with someone. Although it will only be for 1 week, you will have the chance to design and execute a small "study" of a new device.

What to do?

Find a technological device around your home that you can live without for a few days. This could be an iPod, cell phone, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Wii console, Rock Band/Guitar Hero equipment, a pedometer, kitchen appliance, laptop, ebook reader, etc. Find 1 person who has never used this device, ever. This could be a friend, family member, roommate, etc. Design a very small study where you will give the device to one person for a couple of days and have them use it and give you feedback on its design, usefulness, and experience. You should plan on interviewing and/or surveying the person before and after the period to assess what they thought of the device. You could also have them keep a diary and answer questions every-time they use it (e.g., how long did you use it, what did you do with it, etc.).

After a few days of them using the device, write up a short report of the findings. Did the user's impression of the device change after using it (e.g., were they excited by it before and then bored by it afterwards, or vice versa?). What was the users' experience? How much did they use it? What did they use it for? Do they like it/ not like it? Would they buy one for themselves? Do you have suggestions for how it could be redesigned? etc.

What to turn in?

A single word document in .doc or .docx format containing your study design and findings, including interview and/or survey questions and diary if you chose to do it. This will probably be about 3-4 pages total. Upload to class folder.

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P7: Final Report & Presentation - Due Tuesday. 12/7/10

For this deliverable, you are to submit a final report that covers your entire project and prepare a presentation for the class. This report should be comprehensive, professional, and something you can include in your portfolios. The presentation will be given in class, and should cover the entire quarter's project. REFER TO THE PROJECT PDF FOR THE DETAILS. I'VE POSTED THE TEMPLATE AND TEMPLATE EXAMPLES BELOW FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Here's the Word template for the CHI Approved Abstract. The best way to use this template is to cut and paste your content into it OR just type directly into it. If you do the former, the text has to be unformatted. When I work with complicated templates, I'll do all my content creation in Word or even an email. Then, I'll copy all my content and paste into Text Editor (on every Mac) and strip the formatting using Shift + Command + T. Then, I'll copy that and paste into the template.

Here are 2 examples of abstracts I found online

Example One

Example Two

A little about CHI

Don Norman Video

Week 9 - Field Study Lecture

Here's the PDF for the Field Studies Lecture. Assignments and dates within.

Nice Resource!

Top 10 web tools for creating wire frames

Week 8 - Prototyping

Hey guys,

Here's a PDF of the lecture deck for Prototyping. All assignments, required reading and due dates are within.

If you have questions, my phone is always on (not really) or email me. I'm not always iChat available but "hoverpod" is my buddy name and "hoverblog" is my Skype handle. I'm also available for meetings over the weekend/Sat/Sun AM (7, 8 or 9). If you think you want to meet, email me sooner than later to ensure we can lock in a time.

Great job everyone.

-S

Week 7 - Wireframes

Great class today kid-os. Here's the lecture deck for Wireframing. There is no homework for next week other than required reading...I'll be taking a copy of the class folder to review over the weekend. Great work from everybody!!

Thx

ss

Adobe Survey

Here's an example of a user survey that Adobe's doing...right up our alley...

Week 6 - Scenarios & Storyboards

Hey guys,

I'm ahead of schedule...here's next week's deck...lots of good examples, etc. Please review before next Saturday's lab...then we can review together and address questions, etc.

For anyone who needs to update their project blog with sketches..please do so. I'll be reviewing them over the next week.

Thanks and here's the Lecture Deck.

Here's a .zip of some sample Scripts and Storyboards for various videos and interactive projects.

-Scout

Storyboarding Lecture

Hey guys,

Fun class today...love sketching..especially when someone else is going it....

Per our discussion, due to class conflict this coming week, I'll post the storyboarding lecture this weekend and we'll meet on Saturday from 2-3 on the 16th to review, catch up and solidify storyboarding so you can finish your A2.

I'll bring pizza.

Thanks,

Scout

Really Funny!

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_changes

Week 5 - Sketching Continued

Welcome to week 5!!

Today, we're going to talk a bit more about sketching and review your own sketching/project sites.

Following is what's on the deck for this week and next week and the following week. Being we don't have class next week, I'll be posting the Lecture on the day we don't meet (or sooner) which you'll need to do A2. We'll also review in class tomorrow.

On Deck:

• Read Truong 2006 (posted last week) & Buxton, PP 152-173 (this week)

• P3: Personas & Scenarios, (due this week)

• A1 Grades Given (emailed)

• A2 & P4 Due (2 weeks from today) - will discuss further in class

• Read Buxton, PP 174-225 (2 weeks from today)

Lecture Deck

T_2006_Required Reading PDF

Week 4 - Sketching

Announcements:

Read: Buxton, PP 102-152 - this week

P2: User Research, (due this week)

P3: Personas & Scenarios, (due next week)

Read Truong 2006 (posted) & Buxton, PP 152-173 (next week)

I’ll be giving grades back for assignments this week. How do you

want them delivered?

Class Lecture Deck

Persona Template (InDesign)

Week 3 - Personas

Here's the lecture deck from week 3.

For next week:

Sketching discussion & Critique

Read: Buxton, PP 102-152 - next week

P2: User Research, (due next week)

Time Lapse Video Tutorials

http://www.timelapsevideos.net/?gclid=CN-s74yEl6QCFZJ95QodgVmSLA

§http://www.macworld.com/article/53805/2006/11/decembercreate.html

Week 2

Great discussion today. Sorry for the delay at the beginning of the class.

Just to reiterate:

1. Establish your groups and fill out your form

2. Create a group blog and post your form (pick your project)

3. Also, take pictures or scans of your sketches and post to your group project

4. Send me the link

5. Get your book and do the required reading

• Read: Buxton, PP 6-39 - this week

• Read Interaction Design, Ch 7 - this week (posted)

Once you have your form complete, that takes care of P1. But you still have your assignment (A1) due next week:

A1 - Look, Learn,Ask,Try - Due 9/21

Understanding users, their activities, the contexts in which their tasks are carried out, and their experiences and attitudes is crucial to designing good products and technologies. However, there is no one single way to understand users. Each situation is different, each user group is different, and each project is different. In addition, resources such as time and budget may also play a role in determining which methods to use for understanding users.

Typically, designers use a variety of methods to understand users, and almost always use more than one method for any given project. Using multiple methods to help understand users is called triangulation. The designers at IDEO have come up with a set of 51 different methods across four different areas that they use to understand users. These areas are:

• Ask them how to help • Look at what they do • Learn from the facts you gather • Try it yourself To help designers remember all of these ideas, they created a set of Method Cards, modeled after a deck of playing cards (with the four method areas each being a “suit”). Thus, users can scan through the deck of cards for ideas on which methods might be useful in any given situation.

What to do?

Familiarize yourself with IDEOʼs 51 method cards. Each card lists what to do, why to do it, and an example of when it was useful for IDEO. Think about how the 51 methods could be applied to a design problem. Thinking hypothetically, choose at least 1 method from each of the four categories that would beappropriate in each the following design situations.

1.Designing a new communication system for air traffic controllers 2.Designing an educational math software program for kids in Grades 1-5 3.Designing a system for long-distance bicyclists to find restaurants and

amenities 4.Re-designing a retirement account system that is friendly to seniors For each of the above design situations, list the four (or more) methods you would choose to help understand the potential users and the design problem. For each method you list, write a short paragraph about why you think that given method would work in this situation. Write an additional paragraph stating any methods from the 51 Method Cards would not work in this situation. Your assignment should be approximately 1 page of text for each of the 4 design scenarios above, for a total of 4 pages of size 11 Times New Roman w/ 1” margins.

What to turn in?

Your written document in .doc or .docx format, uploaded to the class folder.

Lecture Deck PDF

Required Reading: Interaction Design

Email with questions and great job today!

-S

UX Diagrams

Very informative and useful post...does a nice job of complimenting what we're going to be learning over the next few months..

http://www.uxbooth.com/blog/8-must-see-ux-diagrams/

IDEO Method Cards for Iphone...

These are much cheaper...if you have an iphone, this might be a good way to go...although, I like the tactile quality of the cards myself...

ideo-method-cards iphone app

Useful Tools & Links

Here's a running list of useful resources, tools and links:

IDEO Method Cards - where to buy the method cards if you want them

IDEO "Deep Dive" video - 20 minute video showing how teams at IDEO work on new design projects

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Pulse LiveScribe - Pen that records your interviews and allows you to link notes with audio

Cooper - Another design firm that focuses more on interactive technologies

Balsamiq Mockups - Quick and dirty prototyping tool

Axure - Another tool for prototypes, mockups, and wireframs - free for students

Full list of a number of GUI prototyping tools

Krygz Personas - by Cynthia Putnam

Prototyping with Powerpoint - tips and tricks for creating an interactive prototype with PowerPoint

OK/Cancel - Web Comic about Usability and User Experience Design

iPhone Prototype Photoshop Template - Use this to create realistic looking iPhone prototypes in photoshop

Android Prototype Photoshop Template

Comic Life - Software for helping to create comics - free 30 day trial

Weebly - Online Site building tool

Gliffy - Flowcharting & Wire Framing Tool

Week 1 - Course Intro & Welcome!

Welcome to the first Experience Design Class at CFA!!

There will copious posts and artifacts coming to this blog but for now, here's a list of a few of the most important ones:

Syllabus

Class 1 Lecture Deck PDF

Schedule

Individual Assignments

Semester Project

Required for this course:

- Buxton, B. Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design

- Sketchbook

- IDEO Method Cards

Welcome- Useful Information

Welcome to the class. Throughout the entire class, we'll be using this blog as a repository, communication and feedback tool. I'll be posting all my lecture decks, assignments, resources, guest lecture bios as well as answering any comments or questions that get posted. I encourage everyone to bookmark this and use it as much as possible.

Below is some useful information that's been given to me from administration and the computer lab staff:

1. The CFA Computer Lab now sells foamcore boards of different sizes.
The price of the 20" x 30" foamcore board that we sell is $5.00. These
foamcore boards can either be purchased as part of a print job request
at the CFA Computer Lab or individually without a print job request.

2. There is a new printer, the Epson Stylus Pro 7800, which can accommodate 20" x 30" poster prints. With
two wide-format professional inkjet printers now available to print
these 20" x 30" posters, we now have the ability to complete multiple
print job requests of these types much quicker than in the past. Of
course, since the 7800 is a newer printer using the latest in ink
technology, pricing is slightly higher on this printer.

3. "Lab assistant" will likely be replaced with the new title
"technology consultant" for those students staffing the Computer Lab
Help Desk. This title change reflects the change that took place at the
beginning of this academic year where all members of my team now have
joint responsibility of serving customers in both the CFA Computer Lab
and outside of the CFA Computer Lab for technology support to faculty,
staff and student employees instead of one or the other as was the case
in the past. This change is reflective of the growing technology needs
and demands of the entire CFA community and how changes to the knowledge
base of my team within the CFA Information Technology Office were
required to adapt.

4. Other local third-party vendors that do print posters include FedEx /
Kinko's, Staples and Copy Copy. Based on a phone survey that we
conducted in October 2006, the CFA Computer Lab now has the lowest
prices available when it comes to printing these posters. Depending on
the DPI level chosen (720, 1440 or 2880), prices range from $4.00 to
$11.25 per square foot on any of up to four paper type options. FedEx /
Kinko's charges $10.00 to $12.00 per square foot on limited paper type
options. Staples charges $4.20 per square foot on limited paper type
options. CopyCop charges $7.00 to $12.00 per square foot on limited
paper type options.

5. At the CFA Information Technology Office, our goal is to have the CFA
community of students, faculty and staff utilize competitively-priced
in-house printing and copying resources and services that we offer since
all of the revenues generated from these activities go directly back
into funding technology improvements in the CFA Computer Lab - including
computer, printer and copier maintenance and upgrades, software
upgrades, facility improvements, and staffing at the Help Desk. With
these continuous improvements, the quality of our primary purpose of
educating students improves both at the College level as well as the
University level.

6. All BU IDs for those students registered for this class, should work. If not, see a lab assistant.

7. Summer 07 Lab Schedule: See handouts at desk.

8. Please remember that no food or drinks are allowed in the CFA Computer
Lab. Food or drinks should remain out-of-view in a bag, and not on the
floor. Otherwise, food or drinks should be placed on the shelf next to
the front entrance to the CFA Computer Lab. Computer equipment can
become inoperable and very costly to replace because of any accidents
that may occur.

9. Your shared class folders have been setup for Fall 2007. Here are directions for logging in:
----------------------
user name: ar581
password: Stevenson
(case sensitive)
----------------------
NOTE: The instructions below will assist you with logging into your shared class folder where you will be able to place files to be shared amongst your instructor and classmates. The shared class folder is not intended as a substitute for storage of your personal data. It is strongly recommended that all customers keep backup copies of their files with them at all times.

1. Sit down at any computer in the CFA Computer Lab.

2. Login with your assigned username and personal password to access your personal CFA Computer Lab network account. If you do not have a CFA Computer Lab network account, please see a staff member at the CFA Computer Lab Help Desk.

3. Click on the “Go” menu.

4. Select “Connect to Server …”

5. At the window, you can either select “cfa-2050.bu.edu” from the list of available servers OR you can type in the IP address of the CFA Computer Lab server, which is 128.197.107.28. Click on “Connect” to proceed.

6. At the login window prompt, type the following to access your shared class folder (this information is provided by your instructor):

Username: _______________
Password: _______________

Click on “Connect” to proceed.

7. Upon successful authentication, you will be presented with a window containing a list of available shares. For your class, select: _______________. Click on “Ok” to proceed. The share is now mounted as an icon on your desktop and a window for that share will appear on your screen.

If you have any questions or problems regarding access to the shared class folder, please see a staff member at the CFA Computer Lab Help Desk.

------------------------------------------------------------

10. Click here to download directions for connecting to the class folder. Similar instructions can also be found on the CFA Computer Lab
web site (http://cfaito.bu.edu/lab) or at the CFA Computer Lab Help Desk
as well. The lab team is also ready to assist any students with any access
issues that they may have.

11. As the number of technology services and resources continue to increase
for students, faculty and staff, we are continuing to offer overview
sessions for classes held in the CFA Computer Lab. Within the past
month, we purchased two additional professional Epson inkjet printers -
the Epson Stylus Professional 3800 and Epson Stylus Professional 7800
prinetrs - bringing the total number of printer / copier output devices
available in the CFA Computer Lab to twelve from just five four years
ago.
--------------------------------
If you have any questions or comments, then please let me know. We are
always looking for feedback from faculty and students as to how we can
improve their experience in the CFA Computer Lab with the resources and
services that we provide.

Thank you.

Stephen Lau
Senior Systems Administrator
CFA Information Technology Office (ITO)
College of Fine Arts @ Boston University
855 Commonwealth Avenue, #206
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
slau@bu.edu
TEL: 617-353-3333
FAX: 617-353-5331