Website discovery- Yugop

Following my last blog, simplicity in process appears to be a way in which to gain genuine charm. Users like to feel fundamental to the process that is occuring. Also understanding that process helps to reduce the feeling of alienation between man and machine. Sean Hall suggested the website of Yugop as an example of this. It shows a wave on screen which begins to move with the movement of the cursor. A simple interaction where using my process equilibrium theory the input versus output weighting is even. The more the user exerts and makes the cursor move the more movement occurs in the wave on screen. The user is able to relate to this and therefore understands themself as key in the process of interaction. This helps bring charm to the digital object.

5th December- Charm Survey

I conducted a survey with the objects shown. Asking every respondent to indicate which objects had emotional effect on them as well as, what items did they believe would they keep longer than 10 years.

The results were as i expected and the more basic the process behind the product the more effect the object had on the user. The objects were for this reason, in general, older. However, i eradicated any nostalgia sentiment for objects by asking all respondents to pass on any of the objects that they had previously owned. I am still a little skeptical because I am aware that people tend to warm towards older objects due to their richness of history. Having said this the reason for negativity towards current objects is only because of bad design creating no emotion with the user.

I believe relationships and value to build over time and the only way in which a user can gain time with an object is to feel emotional towards it and therefore, reluctant to throw it away. The most obvious way of gaining attachment is involvement and interaction with the object. The more interaction on the user's behalf the greater connection there can be between the object and user.

1st december- Gramaphone theory

Gramaphone test.



Whilst writing this week. I came up with an experiment to carry out regarding gramaphones and tape recording versus digital recording. I took two recordings of Louis Armstrongs 'What a Wonderful world' and recorded the tape version digitally and the digital version on tape. In theory this would capture the warmth of tape whilst keeping the purity of digital. The blend was not quite as hoped for! However, the layering of analogue and digital is interesting and the way in which analogue warmth can be 'captured' is making me wonder in which ways could i possibly try and bottle the 'warmth.'

22nd November- first mentor tutorial

I presented my territory once again and the response was similar. It seems hard for at present to find that core idea that all strands of new idea can be pulled back to. I haven't decided to drop the digital element of my project though it seemed to be suggested. I do however want to explore the process of maturing in different processes elsewhere before i begin to apply it to the digital medium. It still stands as the maturing process being the core of my project and all things must be drawn back to this when discussing on tangents. Charm and individualism are two by-products of the maturing process and therefore will need to be explored in that context.

Design Brief

Digital-Maturation
Deterioration and Maturation are ways in which objects evolve and are able to move both forwards and backwards. This is apparent in nature where growth and life cycles are inherent in order for landscapes to evolve and thrive. Deterioration can be seen in analogue objects where mechanisms are used in order for the objects to process. Where mechanisms are present there is room for deterioration and movement to take place. In the digital world there is a tendency for objects to decrease in value as soon as use takes place. There is a binary relationship that takes place in digital products. Products either are in a working mode or broken beyond workability. However, seen in analogue objects deterioration can lead to a mass produced item to gain charm and character.Individualism is brought to what firstly appears a bulk-produced product. This is intriguing and through this thought, the opportunity to bring this maturation process into the digital world is the aim of the project.
The designer should bring the idea of forward movement such as seen in nature into the digital world. The outcome of the project should help to make digital objects increase in value due to use, similar to instruments being used and therefore, increasing in value. The project is not about the retro and using older styling’s to create ‘hybrid’ objects but rather about creating a more charming digital medium. Charm will need to be explored as a by-product of the maturing and deteriorating process. What are the maturing processes that take place that create this ‘charm’ within an object?
Realise the project as trying to add maturing process into digital medium and then the idea of charm as a product of that maturation process

territories after thoughts

I did not feel that my presentation had gone badly nor had it gone superbly well. I had a lot of suggestions to take in from all three tutors.

• One of the main points that came through was whether i ought to be focusing in upon one analogue area or whether i should be trying to broaden my possibilities.
• Another point is the idea that rather than instruments and wine maturing the ultimate of that idea is the evolution within nature. Organic digital??
• Changing and evolving through use.
• Where does the idea of charm lay within processes?
• Look at branding and when a product is re-branded such as the mini automobile. The way in which the vibe and sense of the mini is still present even though the form has changed.

I think for me at the moment i need to realise my project as trying to add maturing process into digital medium and then the idea of charm is a product of that maturation process.

Territories

Territories
1. How do people alter the way they interact with objects as they deteriorate?
2. Show objects that i collected. Recognise the area of objects that i have collected as analogue/mechanical objects.
3. Examples of charm. Interfaces, Acousmonium.
4. Tests and experiments that were carried out. The Tyger as well as the photos that were taken.
5. Maturation v Deterioration. Realisation of deterioration as maturation. How this helps to turn the idea of adding deterioration into the digital as a positive thing.
Violin/cello and the idea of wine.
6. Thinking of the idea of inversing the value after sale within computers. Let them evolve into more beautiful objects.
7. This is not about creating hybrid objects and introducing retor stylings into digital format.
8. Drawings that i completed and how they helped me produce new ideas.
9. The helvetica experiment. The deteriorating typeface.
10. Acceptance of struggle to find ways in which to realise my ideas and experiments.
Thank you