PART 1 : TANGIBLE MUSIC PLAYER

Introduction

• Team members: Iccha, Ruhie, Evette

• In this project, my role centered around ideation and conceptualization, where I contributed to the development of ideas. I also played a significant role in working on the physical elements and implementing visuals, which were subsequently integrated with the projector. Given the collaborative nature of the project, all team members, including myself, shared the workload equally. We fostered a cooperative environment, consistently offering assistance to one another throughout the project.

• DEFINITION: I would define a tangible interface as a user interface that is physical and can be touched or manipulated by users. It doesn’t rely on graphical elements displayed on screens that users interact with using input devices, tangible interfaces involve physical objects or materials that users can directly manipulate to interact with digital systems.

  • The goal of tangible interfaces is often to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds, making interactions more intuitive and engaging for users.
  • The main difference lies in the tactile and physical nature of interaction. Instead of clicking buttons on a screen or typing on a keyboard, users engage with tangible interfaces through touch, movement, or manipulation of physical objects. This approach aims to make the interaction more intuitive, engaging, and natural by leveraging the physical world as a means of communication with the digital realm.
  • Using a tangible interface has many advantages in scenarios where physicality, intuition, and engagement are paramount, tangible interfaces can provide a compelling and effective user experience.

• GOAL: The objective of the warm-up project is to explore and devise an innovative approach to a tangible music player. Drawing inspiration from both contemporary and historical modes of music consumption, the aim is to conceptualize a novel and tangible idea. The warm-up project serves as a preliminary exploration into employing physical objects to facilitate interactions that extend beyond conventional screen-based interfaces. This initiative seeks to transcend traditional boundaries by leveraging tangible elements to enhance the user experience and redefine the paradigm of music player interfaces.

Mental Models of Interaction

• A mental model of interaction is the internalized understanding users develop about how a system or interface works. It's their simplified cognitive representation based on past experiences, guiding their expectations and interactions. Good design aligns users' mental models with the actual system behavior for a more intuitive and satisfying user experience.

• Why is it helpful to be aware of a user’s pre-existing mental model of interaction? Especially when designing novel forms of interaction?

  • Knowing a user's existing mental model is crucial in design, especially when creating new ways of interaction. This understanding, emphasized by Don Norman in "The Design of Everyday Things," helps designers align their creations with what users already expect. When a novel interaction method fits with users' familiar mental models, it makes the system more intuitive and reduces confusion. By considering how users think things should work, designers can make new technologies easier to learn and adopt, improving the overall user experience.

• Vinyl Turntable Mental Model DIagram

Affordances, Constraints, Signifiers and Feedback

• In design, affordances are what actions seem possible, constraints limit those actions, signifiers indicate how to interact, and feedback shows the results of actions. Affordances, like a button for pressing, suggest what users can do. Constraints, whether physical or logical, prevent unintended actions. Signifiers, such as a door handle or a "Push" sign, guide users on how to interact. Feedback, immediate or delayed, informs users about the outcomes of their actions, helping them understand and navigate the system. Together, these concepts ensure that designs are intuitive, user-friendly, and provide clear communication between users and the designed environment.

This is an Affordance because it affords the user to move the button up or down to increase or decrease the Volume.

This is a Constraint because it is a simple action which limits the user from doing more than just Playing or Pausing the music. It is a restriction based on the design and function of the system.

This is a Signifier because it communicates the function of the button. It is a share button, and it is an indicator that also communicated the presence of the affordances and constraints. It would cause an action( the songs would be shared)