Figure 6.5: Panoramic view of playroom
6.3 Non-functional MMR Prototypes - Proof
Figure 6.6: Overview of Aalto MMR running on N900 mobile phone
6.3.1 MR Outdoor Navigation
The first proof of concept is based on presenting MR view of any outside surroundings by displaying information tags containing weather forecast (see Figure 6.9), real time traffic for any destination, outside temperature (see Figure 6.8), current headlines of a newspaper and displaying name of any building (see Figure 6.10). A short video of 1.12 minutes is shown. During the user research, I found that users are very much interesting in knowing about the facts that I shown in the video. Several users have mentioned that currently they face many problems in accessing information related to their surrounding like - “ Helsinki Sonamat is so thick who has time to read each and everything, I would love if someone can put important headlines in front of me (female 31, focus group 3)” ,“ Everyday in the morning, I need to search for weather forecast before leaving for office, Can MMR show me this kind of information as a information cloud? (female 33, focus group 3)”
and “ Real time traffic information is given by radio stations but I often do not find traffic related information when I am really in need for it (male 23, focus group 2)”
Based on these facts, I designed this prototype, displaying MR content in outside surroundings. This kind of information supplements the users existing knowledge and information space. Furthermore, it is a one stop source of information for MMR users.
Figure 6.7: Overview of Aalto MMR running on N900 mobile phone
6.3.2 MMR bridges Language Barrier
In the second proof of concept, participant is introduced to an idea as “ How MMR can potentially solve the language barrier problem” using a short video of 23 seconds of duration. The video contains different sight scenes in china particularly reflecting market and street view having large hoardings written in Chinese language. The video displayed the translated English content tagged to those hoardings in form of information tags (see Figure 6.11 and 6.12). My goal is to give users a basic understanding as how they can use future MMR applications in viewing displayed content in a language that they can fairly read and understand.
6.3.3 MR Indoor Navigation
Third proof of concept is based on the idea of “ making users aware about their surroundings inside any building by displaying MR information tags”
using a short video of 49 seconds duration (see Figure 6.13 and 6.14). The video contains different scenes from inside view of a building. Video dis-plays different information tags that make any user aware about important happenings taking place at his or her location. Examples of the shown con-tent are namely - “ summer course starting next week so register yourself at second floor room number A221”, “ course on technical writing going on at T1 room”, “ cloud computing group discussion at progress” and so on.
These kinds of information can potentially be useful for a MMR user as it supplements users’ existing knowledge about its physical surroundings.
Figure 6.8: Information tag containing atmospheric temperature and traffic information
Furthermore it eases users’ cognitive load. Through this proof of concept, I aimed at providing potential MMR users an understanding on how MMR can enhance users’ existing knowledge about the current and future happening of a particular place or location.
6.3.4 Playfulness in MMR
The fourth proof of concept is based on the idea of having playfulness in MMR application. Concept of virtual pet is introduced in order to motivate MMR users so that they can share information and make use of MMR as a utility in their daily life. Powerpoint presentation containing four slides is used to describe the whole concept while I read the textual description of this proof of concept written on a piece of paper for each participant during experiment. Virtual pet can be described as a concept where MMR users either select one of the virtual pets shown by the MMR device or they can create their own virtual pet. Based on their activity on MMR application referring to the amount of time spent, information shared and service used, participants can earn points which can be used for buying food for their pets.
In order to enhance the sporting experience of the MMR users, concept of earning weapons for virtual pets is introduced (see Figure 6.15). MMR users can challenge their fellow friends who also own such virtual pets. The earned pointed as also be used for buying weapons for their pets. MMR users can also interact with their virtual pet using MMR application (see Figure 6.16).
The concept of virtual pet supports social experience as MMR users have 24
Figure 6.9: Information tag displaying weather forecast x 7 virtual pet that is present anywhere and anytime.
6.3.5 MMR Interaction
Fifth proof of concept is based on the idea of making users aware on how they can interact with different physical objects using MMR through information tags. Powerpoint presentation containing three slides is used to describe the whole concept while I read the textual description of this proof of concept written on a piece of paper for each participant during experiment.
First slide presents a scenario where people can be tagged with informa-tion tags containing their name and designainforma-tion (see Figure 6.17). These tags are namely - “ Aino, Student at Aalto University”,“ Juha, Scientist at Aalto University” and “ Jarno, Manager at Nordea”. This tagged information can be viewed through a MMR application. At conferences and other social gath-ering, it often happens that people find it difficult to find others who meet their taste and interest. Furthermore, people experience cognitive load as they have to remember others with their names and designation. Keeping these two facts in mind, I designed this scenario as it helps MMR users in tackling with the above listed problems. Second slide presents a scenario where two MMR users i.e. “ Aino and Juha” are sitting inside a restaurant and chatting with someone who is standing outside that restaurant (see Fig-ure 6.18). MMR facilitates such interactions when a MMR user can interact with other MMR users who are unknown and there do not exist any pre-vious relationship. During the user research phase, several interesting facts related to interaction in social settings are found. For example, some test
Figure 6.10: Information tag displaying newspaper headlines and building names
participants mentioned that they are interested in taking with even strangers when they feel boredom and alone but they face difficulties in approaching others for conversations. Furthermore, some participants mentioned that it would be nice if through MMR application they can create information tag on their own head displaying“ Hey I am feeling bore, anyone here for giving me company?” This will help them in notifying other MMR users about their wish and hence they can initiate conversation.
Apart from this, some participants mentioned that they always want to know information such as “ What kind of food is served (female 42, focus group 4)”, “ How is environment inside the restaurant (male 26, focus group 1)” and “ What is the usual service time of this restaurant without going inside (male 28, focus group 2)”. Some participants mentioned it would be nice if MMR application provides some kind of chat functionality where someone standing outside a restaurant can chat with anyone inside and get all the required information.
Keeping the above mentioned facts in mind, I designed this scenario where anyone sitting inside a restaurant can chat with someone on the street using MMR application. Third slide presents a scenario where MMR users can tag different ratings to physical places and objects like restaurants, parks, and cinema (see Figure 6.19). Users can share their ratings with their friends who are also using MMR application. In the scenario,“ a Mac Donald restaurant is given two stars”, “ Opera is given four stars” and “ Memphis restaurant is tagged with five stars”. During the user study, it is found that participants like to see rating and recommendations for places they are or will be visiting.
Figure 6.11: A large Chinese hoarding containing translated English content in form of information tags
I created this scenario keeping in this mind users’ expectations and needs from MMR application.