The SuperFlyer 5000 Visits the Library in the Cloud

1

2

Our submission consists of 2 concepts, “Library in the Clouds” and “The SuperFlyer 5000.”

A multi-disciplinary group of 9 participants of Hot designers and friends gathered on Friday, Sept 25th. At 2pm we reviewed the research material, and at 3:15pm we divided into 2 groups to brainstorm concepts. We reconvened at 4:00pm (ish), and quickly sketched, photographed, and typed up our concepts.

We had beer, we had fun, and if we’re being honest, we ran a little over the allotted time. Blame the beer.

Thanks for giving us an excuse!The Hot Studio & Friends Design Challenge Team

The Future of ReadingCore77 & Portigal Consulting 1-hour Design Challenge

3

The concept is to support an ecosystem around borrowing and sharing reading materials, in any mode and in any context. The idea of reading is not really about the end device or medium through which it is consumed, it is about what, how, and where. Given this, we chose to not focus only on redesigning the book into a digital device, but rather to support the multiple behaviors that exist in reading, and to show how reading via a digital network can enhance the sharing and consumption of reading materials.

Library in the Cloud

4 Library in the Cloud: Concept map

Library in the Cloud is a centralized networked virtual hub of digital reading materials from which members can borrow access to those reading materials for a given amount of time.

Brick and mortar libraries have the following attributes:

• Check out books for free

• Check out books for a limited amount of time

• Renew books if you can't finish in the limited amount of time

• Pay overdue fees for overdue books

• Support community with public programs and reading clubs

5

The Library in the Cloud would borrow from this model:

• Check out (access) digital materials for free

• Access digital materials for a limited amount of time

• Pay to add access time

• Pay the author or publisher for your own digital copy

• Pay the author or publisher for an on-demand print version of the material

• Membership levels: single, family

• Support community through group discussions, educational programs

6

Devices and interactions that support the Library:

• PDA, with touch screen UI and gestural capabilities, and audio

• TV as a main screen or hub for group activities, and audio

• Laptop/computer reading capabilities, and audio

• Tablets for drawing and comping

• The Superflyer (patent pending)

7

Scenario One: Chris reading for work8

Chris reads for work, and to improve his coding skills. He is a member of the Library, and frequently accesses materials that he uses to support his work environment. He commutes to work on Bart, and tends to use his laptop as his primary device to read on Bart. He sometimes switches to audio mode when the train is really crowded, to drown out the noise. At his destination Bart stop there is a permanent Library in the Cloud kiosk that sends an update to his account, telling him that there are new materials in the Library that are related to his current selection. His PDA buzzes in his pocket, he checks it and sees the alert. At work, he turns on his computer, also getting the alert on his laptop. He goes to the Library site, checks out the recommendations, and decides to check out one of the new materials. He now has two items checked out from the library.

9

Scenario One: Chris reading for work

Scenario Two: Tracy reading with her kids10

One of Tracy’s kids is using her reading tablet for a homework assignment in reading. She sees the passage to read as well pictures of the other students and her teacher. Suddenly, she has a question about the assignment. Who is really the main character of the story, she wonders. She flicks the question up on the TV screen. Her friend from school sees the question and responds via video. They discuss the story. When finished the kid speaks her answer to the tablet. Later on, Tracy checks the work on the main home screen.

11

Scenario Two: Tracy reading with her kids

12

Scenario Three: Julie’s book club

13

Julie signs into her book club account on the Cloud Library site. She sees her book show-off-case, to-read list, recommendations, reading friends network, and calendar of reading events.

She goes to the event planning area to browse books, themes, and reading guides. She picks a book and publishes an event page. She uses the calendar and invite tools to invite friends to the event. Julie makes the event public and lists it under community events on the Cloud Library site. Several friends RSVP. The first two get access to the book via the library licenses. Others can purchase the book.

Scenario Three: Julie’s book club (1 of 3)

Club members gather -- some at Julie's house, and some remotely. Attendees discover the event on the public events listings or via the event recommendations in their copy of the book. The meeting agenda is displayed Julie’s flat panel LCD and the Superflyers. People can attend remotely with AV streaming, which can also be recorded for friends who were unable to attend.

14

Scenario Three: Julie’s book club (2 of 3)

15

The SuperFlyer is made up of a special e-fabric that displays reading material on two sides. It folds up to fit into a pocket, but then it pops open to a "pamphlet" in the default mode.

These SuperFlyers also transform back to a flexible cloth which attaches to almost anything for reading convenience: refrigerator, T-shirt, scarf, wall, table, toilet paper.

SuperFlyers have a chameleon mode which adapts to the color of its background, and also a stiff braille mode. Readers can also share materials by bumping SuperFlyers to share reads.

The SuperFlyer 5000

16

Transfer texts from one SuperFlyer to another

17

Tactile-mode supports Braille publishing

18

High-res display on any surface

19

Read from surface or from hand-held document

20

Information where you need it

21

Shared time, without commercials

22

Audio books, with follow-along text display

23

Most important of all...

24

Language translationNote takingSharingDictionarySearchingPassage comparisonsSavingBookmarkRead modes for disabilities

Modes for Info TypesTouch screenAudioEmbedded animationCross-referenceWeb SearchesEye trackingSpeed read mode

23

Other features of The SuperFlyer (not pictured)

Thank you! Hot Studio Inc.585 Howard Street, 1st FloorSan Francisco, California 94105415.284.7250

52 Walker Street, 4th FloorNew York, New York 10013212.242.1082

25

hotstudio.comhottub.hotstudio.comtwitter.com/hotstudiofacebook.com/hotstudio