Feixing Tuang HCI/d 2009

Reusable furniture was thrown away

Our consumption pattern now is very different. This picture shows furniture that was thrown away by apartment residents and destroyed in rain.

ConsumerismsWe live in the culture of consumerism. We buy and dispose stuff quickly.

The rapid change in lifestyles in recent years has raised the questions of sustainability

How interactive media may contribute as one of the agents to make sustainable consumption to be more natural actions in everyday life again?

Connect People and People

Rapidly update information

Simplify everyday life

Submerged in modern lifestyles

This project discusses how interactive media, having the power to connect people and people, update information rapidly, and make some process easier, as well as being already submerged to the modern lifestyles, may contribute as one of the agents to make sustainable consumption and lifestyles to be more natural actions in everyday life again.

Initial StudiesCollected green

brochures and magazines

Observed public Interaction

Studied exemplars

Generated Concepts

In the initial research studies, I collected green informational brochures and magazine to understand what people currently concern about sustainability and what actions have been taken. I observed people’s natural interaction in public space to generate design inspirations, studied exemplars and brainstormed for what technologies can do.

Insights from initial studiesDesign for people’s needs so that they would use the green design even if they don’t care about sustainability

An article from 7X7 Guide San Francisco

This food guide makes farmers market very appealing and invites readers to explore the market for fresh and delicious foods. We can design so that people will get engaged into sustainable behaviors even though they don’t care about now. Getting people into green behavior is the first hurdle. After they are in the motion, they could learn the value more easily later.

Help people to see what they were not able to see to change the way that they consume

Picture retrieved under creative commons license on May 8, 2009: aquistbe http://www.flickr.com/photos/aquistbe/98276101/

Things one does not need may be useful for another person. Reuse could reduce the demand for manufacturing new items. Community-based reuse has an interesting space because people are able to exchange conveniently within their neighborhood. They can see it in person before buying it. People have certain trust and closeness with their neighbors

Unstructured interviews

Concept exploration with users on wireframes

Design critique on mock-up

What do people need?

Compared existing services: Community Bulletin Board, Mailing List, Craigslist, Garage Sale

Picture from Yujia

 

Help remember forgotten items

Picture retrieved under creative commons license on May 13, 2009: njhdiver. http://www.flickr.com/photos/njhdiver/2394010032/sizes/m/

Exchanging unused items for desired items

“A lot of time, we may not be interested in selling out our stuff, even when we do not use it at all. We do not mind keeping it at home; we do not need to get rid of it; we like to possess things. However, when it is to exchange for something that we desire, we may very much be interested to do it, especially it involves little to none extra money to get the things that we want. “ – user study

Increase exchange opportunities

People usually have many items to post

Buyers want to see pictures and good descriptions

-Make posting easy

-Help sellers to set price and give good item descriptions

A lot of time, we may not be interested in selling out our stuff, even when we do not use it at all. We do not mind keeping it at home; we do not need to get rid of it; we like

to possess things. However, when it is to exchange for something that we desire, we may very much be interested to do it, especially when it involves little to none extra

money to get the things that we want.

Jen found some old stuff that she bought for her children in a corner

Design Concept

Children have grown up. But, these stuff are still in good condition.

including a DVD + R that she mistakenly bought yesterday that could not be used with her computer.

She takes a picture of the items

Login to EASY RENT to post and sell your items

“I feel like I am helping my neighbor when I am able to provide her with an item on her wishlist.” – user study

There is also a wish list that sellers can use to find items in the community. People who browsed Jen’s selling items will see her wish list. In our concept evaluation, our subject expressed that being able to find items for my neighbor’s wish list feels like I helped her.

Jen send the post and included a tweet. The post is automatically post to a twitter accounts. Dan who lives down the street reads the tweet

Furniture

The Jet Set Lounge Chair retrieve on May 6th, 2009 (www.househacker.com).

Include the elements of community and social interactions to enhance the reuse experience

Implementation and Scalability

Public display in lobby and community centers to increase visibility

Mobile app

Scalable to other types of communities such as churches, academic departments, and social groups.

Business Strategy

Service charge when buyers decided to pay online for convenience or getting the items before it is sold to other people

Promotion to front page

Revenue from local ads

THANK YOU