COURSE PROJECT
Human Wheel
Designing Fun Interactive Installation
CHAPTER 0: PROJECT OVERVIEW
For this project, my team wanted to make an interactive installation that blurs the line between virtual world and the physical world. The goal was to build an interactive installation that is fun & engaging. Our team built an interactive parallel world of hamsters - Human Wheel 🔗. The idea was to experience ‘How Hamster Wheel in Reverse would feel like?‘
My Role: Interaction Designer, Programmer, Team: 3 people
Contribution: Concept Development, Interaction Design, System Level Programming
Duration: 4 weeks (Dec 2021)
Problem of Focus
CHAPTER 1: PROBLEM DISCOVERY
“How might we design an interactive experience that is fun, memorable and engaging for the users?”
Concept Sketching
CHAPTER 2: INITIAL DESIGN
For the proof of concept, we designed a virtual space with 4 different electric appliance that can be powered by crank shaft rotation by the user. Essentially user actions are used to power the appliances in the hamster house.
Brainstorming Interaction Design Ideas
Play Testing
CHAPTER 3: USER TESTING
To user test, we made a rough prototype of crank shafts with cardboard and figma prototype screens.
Key Insights from Usability Test
1. Crank shaft rotation provides a very rewarding experience.
2. Need to add unexpected behavior of hamster to make interaction engaging for longer time.
3. What if hamster had free will sometimes or it gave cues for user actions.
4. Having only one hamster in the house gives a personal experience.
Designing an Engaging Experience
CHAPTER 4: FINAL SOLUTION
The idea is 'Humans act as the Reverse Hamsters’ and interact with the Hamster House interface to trigger different hamster actions. Thus, creating their own story. This piece is inspired from Neil Mendoza’s Disruptive Devices.
Product Demo
Virtual Space Animation
User Interactions
1. Learnt using storytelling arc to keep the user engaged.
2. Learnt designing for a narrative. (The Mood, sound, colors, interaction affordances.)
What I learnt ?
CHAPTER 5: KEY TAKEAWAYS
If I had more time …
PARTING WAYS
1. I would add the SURPRISE factor by randomizing the hamster behavior on user inputs.
2. I would add the WOW factor, such that not only the users control ‘random’ actions in the hamster house, but also the hamster gives cues to user to perform different actions.
3. I would increase the comic time and relatability by adding real-life responses.