Mementoys - Usability in product design - SUPA
- Venue:
- Microsoft Scotland, Waverley Gate, 2-4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG
- Date:
- Wed 27 Jan 2010
- Cost:
- To be confirmed
- Booking Details:
- To register for this event please go to: http://scottishupa.org.uk/events.php/mementoys-usability-in-product-design
Toys capture information while they are being used, and then recount their stories many years later. Each story would give the owner a flashback to a particular period of time in their life; connecting these flashbacks together provides an even greater story of their past. The toys use a wide range of embedded sensors that capture information digitally. Using GPS, a toy could capture geographic position and recount the tale of past journeys. Using tiny, wireless cameras and other sensors, the toy could also record audio and visual information, presenting the owner with context cues that would trigger different memories. We experiment with different materials, especially those with good patina such as leather and textiles, as they provide the best visual indication of age. Elements that have a strong possibility of tearing off after a certain period of time, such as buttons are encouraged. The toys would have a valuation model that would prioritize the importance of its captured memories. A long geographic move, or the moment when a new discovery happens during play, would be placed at the top of the memory hierarchy.