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W4 - TRANSLATING AFFORDANCES
This week’s project is to translate digital interfacing into physical interfacing, in another word, to bring back those old days of physical interfacing from our digital device screen.
I really like the idea of this project because it made me think of the days when I was a teenager. When we head out to school, we have to pack our bag with all the textbooks, keys, a wallet, and a heavy Nokia phone. Nowadays, when we head to school, we only have to bring our phones and a computer/iPad. Most of the physical items have merged into our devices. You can use your phone to unlock your apartment door, pay for meals, and so on.. It changes so many interactions in our daily life.
The idea I have in my mind is to bring the Cube escape game by Rusty Lake into life. It is a 2D classic puzzle kind of game in which you have to find resources inside the room in order to get out of the room. And you can interact with the objects inside the room.
Then I start to think, how can I translate it from 2D to 3D included the interaction part?
How can I improve it?
DESIGN PROCESS
I decide to use the leftover recycled materials from the last assignment.
I have this big shipping box that is the perfect shape for creating the room.
Then I start to set up where to place all the interactive items
Thoughts for interaction
Imagine this is a completely dark room. I first set up the spotlight with a password to turn it on. Then write the password on the opposite side of the room. Then setting up a closet. Using cardboard stripe as password typer like luggage so user can adjust.
On the other side of the room, set up a table with a book on. The password for the spotlight is written in the book.
On the other corner, setting up a pen hanging. Users have to use a lighter to burn the rope.
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For the spotlight assets, I was going to cut out from the white shipping foam, until I see this tomato container. I think It's perfect for the password asset.
The password for the closet is written on the opposite side of the wall where the spotlight is facing.
The Assembly table with the book has a password written inside on paper cardboard.
For fun, I also include a 'painting' behind it just to interrupt users.
Then I started to play with the password part on the closet. First I cut out the stripe and draw out different shapes as password. Then cut out 2 opening on a bigger piece of cardboard to create the lock. Then I the ink got mess up, which is not good.
So I decide to use a tape to wrap it around in order to avoid the mess. The closet itself I uses a take out boxes from a food order. I think the shape itself look perfectly for a closet.
Setting up the lighters and the pen.
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ASSEMBLYING
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After assemblying I think everything looks pretty much good. So I show it to my friend for user experience feedback. After discuss with my friend, I got the feedback:
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There's no symbolize start point, where user didn't know how to start.
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How do I control / play? The interactive parts are not obvious.
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​The exit is also not obvious. ​​
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Those are very valuable advise because I've played the game before, so I know how this game works. For people who haven't play there's no way they can understand.
So I started to improve.
For improving, I first choose my cute Lego Darth Vader to emphasize user inside the map. Then I create the exit door with the lock showed. For some interaction part, I add 'i' icon for hint, and instead of writing hint, I think it's more fun to draw it out.
After making those improvement, I feel like there still one thing to improve. Inside the game itself, users use arrow located on different corner of the phone in order to move, which I think it's kind of inconvenience and boring. So for my 3D version, I decide to bring a controller where user can move around free.
The controller is all direction free with a button that user can press for interaction. It's easy for user to understand how to control. I use this left over head from my sprayer because you can press it! Just like a button. And then I assemble it with bottle of the coconut water to create the controller.
PROJECT DISPLAY
User start
Controlling character to move
Pressing button to get hint!
Following the hint to find the book, press button to read the password
Drawing password..
Reading password..
Pressing the button to enter password..
Get the key!
YOU WIN!
Reflection
I'm having a great time working on this project. Creating the map by using recycle materials again is fun. Different from last time, when I look at materials, I pay more attention on its original shape and what it can be. I think it's fun to find out what else these recycle material can be. And for the interaction part, it's fun to bring 2D interaction into real world, it is more interesting. Thankfully I did a very simple user experience research with my friend in order to make the interaction part better. Afterall, I'm satisfy with this project created in a limited time.
I'm think to bring the controller to this game is also an improvement. The idea comes out when I'm playing the game on my phone. By using the controller, user can view the room freely in order to get resources they need. And also, I think it's more convenience and more fun.
However, if there's no time & tools consuming, I think interaction part could be better. There's more and more fun interaction in the game, but it's challenging to bring them to physical world. However, it's a fun experience. It helps me to know better about interaction, and challenges me on bring interaction digitally into physically. It helps me to think more about what I'm designing and how I can improve it.
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