The aim of this assignment is to engage the user in the prototype development process. Two user testing sessions have been conducted to gather information for the refinement of the high-fidelity prototype. The first user testing is on the usability of the low-fidelity digital prototype and the second user testing is on the beta-testing of refined high-fidelity digital prototype. Further details in regards of the user testing will be outlined in the User Feedback section.

These testing have followed through selected methods listed under the heading, User Testing Methodology.

A survey has then been conducted around the computer labs at QUT Kelvin Grove campus during day time. Results have been gathered and analysed to decide the functionalities and mechanics to refine.

The second part of this assignment consists of the further development of the digital prototype that are outlined throughout the document. Details have been included under the Prototyping section.

The Dancing Shoes is a dancing game designed to promote novel forms of playing and learning for teen adults, using a diversity of ambient and pervasive technologies. These kinds of interactive spaces to encourage aspects of playful learning.

The Dancing Shoes game involved groups of teen adults having to use the keyboard arrows as a means of movement to follow the instructions shown on the screen in a computer based context.

Dancing Shoes is an interactive device that engages user in musical environment. The purpose of the product is to educate and correct user’s dance steps by controlling user’s movements. The product is used for educational purposes, such as dance schools, interested participants, etc. The main focus of the product is to train user’s dance technique with continuous control.

The purpose of using flash is to demonstrate how the music and dance movements are synchronized. It provides a game interface, similar to Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution game, to interact and learn. The user will be able to interact with the flash game in a fun and entertaining environment. They will learn the dance steps through visual and audio aids in the flash game. There are four different types of dance styles to choose from in the low-fidelity prototype.

User Feedback

The defined audience group is considered as users. The users that will be selected to participate in the user testing session will range from 18 to 30 years old. A group of 20 people (aged 18~30) has been selected to participate in the user teting session. Their statistics include: (the target audience has been pre-determined in Assignment 2 – Low fidelity prototype, Needs Analysis).

• 10 users that does not dance with 5 that are computer literate and the others non-computer literate.
• 10 users that dance with 5 that are computer literate and the others non-computer literate.

The usability measurements are based on ISO 9241-11 standard "A system is usable when it allows the user to achieve his task with effectiveness, efficiency and statisfaction in a given context of use." (ISO 9241-11:1998, 1998). These measurements consists in measuring 3 variables:

1. Effectiveness: Check whether the objectives of the user are achieved.
2. Efficiency: Measure the resources required to achieve these goals, i.e., time
3. Satisfaction: Determine if the system is pleasant to use, i.e., number of negative remarks from users during the test.

Further evaluation include aspects of security and ease of learning. Security refers to the number of errors made by the user and the ease of correction of these errors. Ease of learning refers to the correct understanding of the operating mode and speed of learning.

User Feedback Methodology

The user test is the most effective method for evaluating usability (Usabilis, 2006). It allows the project team to directly observe the user interacting with the prototype. The problems identified are difficulties restraining user from effectively performing interactive activities with the prototype. This in turn allows the project team to have the opportunity to observe users interacting with the prototype and identify immediate issues that occur during the user testing process. The results collected can be used to develop a further refinement of the prototype. an essential protocol kept in mind of all project team is that they are not allowed to help the users interact the prototype as this may result in a skewed outcome. Therefore, in order to obtain accurate feedback, users are requested to record their immediate responses and interact in their own means.

Personal interview was used a part of a user testing method. The group of 20 people has been invited to a personal interview as the interviewer asks the questions face-to-face with the users. It has been conducted in front of the computer at one of the Kelvin Grove computer labs. The advantages of employing personal interview is to enable users to see, feel and hear the prototype (Creative Research Systems, 2003). However, the time-cost disadvantage of personal interview have been taken in consideration before utilizing this approach. Therefore a limited number of 20 people were asked to be intervieweed in such a short timeframe. A survey questionnaire have been prepared to use as a form of user feedback; incorporating John Brooke's System Usability Scale survey theory. A copy of the survey is in Appendix I. The reason why this survey theory has been chosen is because it is low-cost and a reliable usability scale that can be used for global assessmnets of system usability (Brooke, 1986). Although it is a Likert scale that has forced-choice questions with ratings from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). However, each questions are able to meet situational demands as each statements lead to extreme expressions of the attitude being captured. Given a large pool of statements, there will generally be some where there is a lot of agreement between users. In addition, SUS has proved to be a valuable evaluation tool in the case of testing usability of the low-fidelity prototype. A pre-test of the survey has been conducted within the team members before releasing the survey questionnaire to user testing groups.

The method of which users will interact with the prototype is through the game play in the digital low-fidelity prototype (flash game). Then they will record their response accordingly on the survey questionnaire. Users were asked to record their immediate response to each item rather than thinking about items for a long time. The suitable method for recording user interaction has been weighted between video clips and photo series before a decision was made. Video recording is a very effective method for recording user interaction for later evaluation, however, it takes a long time searching through each sections and the presentation of the problems identified is inconsistent. Therefore photographing method has been sourced instead of video recording. It saves time, presents each event clearly in a still format with the ability to take clear imaging of the situation. As a result, the proposed method is suitable for recording user feedback is to have a copy of survey qusetionnaires for users to fill out with series of photographs detailing specific problems or enjoyments they have engaged throughout the process.

Discussion and Presentation of User Feedback

User testing of a low-fidelity digital prototype – Flash Game

The test aims at evaluating the prototype.

this development of the keyboard mechanics offers a simple challenge function [remember and follow the sequence]

the [user] interactive has become a TOY or [passive] participant interactive

why passive – no meaningful action or agency but basic engagement via challenge

EVALUATION

* usability – through SUS usability questionnaire
* fun factor – through personal interview
* refer to the methods – subjective evaluation asks the user how they FEEL.

USER = The task that is set for the user to look and achieve is to be educated on the dance steps through visal aids.

*ask if they would play again?
*observe through video, record the beta-testers.

Summary

Testing Groups

Representative panel of users

Objectives

(series of photo of user interaction with headings and notes)

User testing of a high-fidelity digital prototype – Flash Game

Our project team ran a number of trials with our client and beta-testers aging from 18-30 years, demonstrating that the young adults were able to become engrossed in playful learning.

Summary

Testing Groups

5 users are enough. J. Nielsen has shown that tests achieved with 5 ysers allow to raise at least 80% of the usability problems. In fact, increasing the number of users does not aid in identifying new issues. In addition, testing with a large number of users increase the cost of the test, which is no longer relevant to the results. (Nielsen and Landauer, 1993).

Objectives

(series of photo of user interaction with headings and notes)

Survey Results

Prototyping

Prototyping is the key event of iterative development. There are

decision two: 3 mechanics to test

1. Set timing acuracy as to when users should eliminate the keys

2. Moving Dance Partner back and forth like real-life situation

3. Step animation being portrayed in real-life scenario. mechanics that hold the interactive up

Design Response to User Feedback

The structure of design response to user feedback is structured based on two levels of prototyping distinguished by J. Nielsen. A horizontal prototype presents the visible interfaces of the prototype, whereby the main functionalities and mechanics are developed in a vertical prototype.

According to Usability First (2005) "Horizontal prototypes are appropriate for understanding relationships across a broad system and for showing the range of abilities of a system. Vertical prototypes are most appropriate when a certain complex feature of a system is poorly-understood and needs to be explored."

The user testing session resulted in identifying usability problems which is then elaborated with solutions. These solutions are implemented in the high-fidelity prototype which will be tested again for a beta-testing.

Further refinement of the 'in the box' protoype

Each one of these iterations of the concept takes a specific FUNCTIONALITY and explores it. It is an iterative methodology – a waterfall would examine stages in prototype development.

Reference

Brooke, J. 1986. SUS – A quick and dirty usability scale. UsabilityNet. www.usabilitynet.org/trump/documents/Suschapt.doc (accessed May 23, 2006).

Creative Research Systems. 2003. Survey Design, Questionnaire Design Tips. http://www.surveysystem.com/sdesign.htm (accessed 4 May, 2006).

Usabilis. 2006. User testing (usabilis). http://www.usabilis.com/gb/usability_engineering/user_testing.htm (accessed May 24, 2006).

ISO 9241-11:1998. (1998). Ergonomic requirements for office work with visual display terminals (VDTs) – Part 11: Guidance on usability.

Nielsen, Jakob, and Landauer, Thomas K.: "A mathematical model of the finding of usability problems," Proceedings of ACM INTERCHI'93 Conference (Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 24-29 April 1993), pp. 206-213.

Usability First. 2005. Usibility glossary: horizontal and vertical prototypes.
http://www.usabilityfirst.com/glossary/term_363.txl (accessed 6 May, 2006)

DEFINE SECONDARY DATA:

Secondary data is data that already exists and has been gathered for different purposes from the clients'. If the secondary data is not satisfactory, the client must also obtain primary data by using primary research methods.

Desk research is the first researcher's task and has many advantages, e.g. lower costs and fast data availability.

Reference List

http://www.gfk.si/eng/3_1_desk.phpThe four most important sources of secondary data to be consulted is as follows:

The purpose of desk research is to raise the quality of marketing research and has two aspects:

• optimal technical quality of marketing research (standards) and
• optimal usefulness of the research in business decisions (client's needs).

It is conducted on the available data. Different bases for analysing secondary data can be used:

• basis of evaluating the potential and trends (size of the market, market shares, …)

Question 1

Secondary data source (why, what, how)

1. Private market researchers
Reference

Crawford, I.M. 1997. Marketing Research and Information Systems. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3241E/w3241e03.htm#external%20sources%20of%20secondary%20information

Published market research reports and other publications are available from a wide range of organisations which charge for their information. Typically, marketing people are interested in media statistics and consumer information which has been obtained from large scale consumer or farmer panels. The commercial organisation funds the collection of the data, which is wide ranging in its content, and hopes to make its money from selling this data to interested parties.

WHY - This is particularly important for Maxine because she wants to open a store for local Canberra residents. Therefore she needs to find out information and facts about these local residents, competitors and market trends.

It is helpful for comparison with the competition, to evaluate of market shares, prices, advertising, etc.
WHAT - a variety of commercial researchers compile their own databases of company and industry information, which can be purchased by prospective users. Performance benchmarks, industry and sectoral analyse, and company financial critiques.

HOW - Access http://www.amrsonline.com.au/ for local Canberra based Marketing Research Company. Or access Australian Business Directory via Yellowpages.com for local businesses around Canberra or Australia. There are also various private market researchers around the globe; they could be accessed through http://www.imriresearch.com/ for the International Market Research Information. They provide details of all the important sources of market research information and expertise, worldwide.
2. Universities and other tertiary institutions
WHY - for statistical basis to analyze available statistical data.
Reference

Timmons, J.A. 2002. New Venture Creation: Entrepreneurship for the 21st Century. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. p.97)

provide a source of new business opportunities – the work of many of their researchers often has potential commercial applications, and so can be the launchpad for a new enterepreneurial idea.

WHAT - Information has been independly referred (validated) by other researchers before publication, and therefore tends to have a more substantial basis in solid research than do popular magazines and business periodicals.

HOW - Some of the academic research publications and organizations includ:

Small enterprise Research: The Journal of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand. Asia-Percific International Journal of Marketing.

3. Telephone and Directories

WHY - These directories can offer data on company backgrounds, trading activities, business locations, office holders, staff size, and history. Useful to compile a list of competitors.

WHAT - The Yellow Pages and other similar telephone directories provide an often-overlooked source of basic, useful information. i.e. the number of firms working in a particular industry category, their location, and their product offerings. HOW - Online or paper phone book of Yellowpages.com, sensis.com.au which are all useful directories around Australia which are maintained by Telstra Corporation.

Australia on Disc, Kompass, Connect 4, which provides Australian company information (www.connect4.com.au)

4.Virtual communities
WHY -Such feedback is free and can usually be obtained quickly. Being able to consult local residents for their comments, assess the feasibility of opening asurfing, sports and or clothing goods shop for local Canberra residents.

WHAT - forums in which people with a common interest in a particular topic interct electronically to discuss issues, share ideas and pass on information.
HOW -Access a chat froom via msn.com taht are dedicated to alternative business opportunities and brainstorm your ideas for a newstore you wish to develop.

The theme of family has been portrayed through these cultural symbols, which I have related to zodiacs, Chinese characters and recognizable images. The form and style of my work is based on the zodiacs and various manipulations of found images. My intention was to express my family members through symbols and words.

My artwork towards an investigation on the names of my family onto the meaning of their names then their star signs. The idea has been further developed into a mix of zodiacs and Taiwanese naming culture. Each person will be represented by one of their zodiacs and the meaning of their names will be presented through the painting and a scenario.

I’ve been constantly exploring ways of representing my family members through the use of symbols and signs of different cultures. The zodiacs originates from Greek and three star signs have been represented. Aquarius and Sagittarius. Each painting has its own Chinese character. The snow, a character from my mom’s name. This character meaning golden yellow blossom is a character from my sister’s name; and the light from my name. From these visual outcomes, I hope the theme can be interpreted as an exploration and search to understand my family members.

These three paintings portray the life story in my family. These stories have been presented through my point of view – that I have experienced and remembered from my childhood memory. I have implicitly drawn various events throughout time. Some are the memory that I have obtained during childhood and some are current events that occurred. These intersecting events have been cross layered and finally presented in the final form. These paintings represent the thoughts of my own about the life experiences I've had amongst my family members. 

The interpretation of my childhood memories comes from various information from my relatives, my family and photographs. Comments from relatives have been used to outline the framework of the art piece. Some similarities and differences between the three of us. 

The first layer of the painting suggests my childhood memory.  

You will prepare and submit a narrative, or a number of narratives, which explore personal experience and memory – your own or someone else’s. You are expected to move back and forth between the lived experiences, the thoughts on and interpretations of these events, and to shape these for an audience. 

**************

 Reflective commentary

Intended audience for my autobiographical art piece is

The application of this mode of narrative expression is chosen because…

generic conventions 

Description: You will prepare and submit a narrative, or a number of narratives, which explore personal experience and memory – your own or someone else’s. You are expected to move back and forth between the lived experiences, the thoughts on and interpretations of these events, and to shape these for an audience. You may submit this in a narrative mode of your choice within the resources available to you. In the case of non-print modes of presentation, resource implications must be discussed with your tutor. Acceptable formats for submission of work include printed document, VHS video tape, CD Rom, computer discs, photographs of art work or live performance (in negotiation with tutor). There is no expectation that you use video formats.

COMMENTARY: Your narrative must be accompanied by a 300 to 500 word commentary. This commentary must clearly state what and with whom you are intending to communicate with this narrative. You should also briefly explain why you have chosen this particular narrative mode and how you have used this mode to exploit relevant narrative and generic conventions.

CREATIVE PIECE: Length: 1500 words or equivalent (e.g. performance work up to 5 minutes)
Relates to Objectives 3, 4 & 5

DUE TIME AND DATE: 5:00 pm, Friday 2 June 2006
(Live performances will be assessed in Week 13 by arrangement with your tutor)

Criteria for Assessment 3

Marks will be awarded for

▪ Clarity and effectiveness of communication reflecting an awareness of the intended audience

You have clearly communicated your narrative/s, creatively and powerfully exploring the lived experiences, thoughts and interpretations of personal memory and reflecting a sensitive awareness of the intended audience as identified in your commentary.

▪ Application of narrative mode selected

The narrative/s were effectively shaped by the choice of narrative mode/s and by a sophisticated application of elements of these mode/s

▪ Application of narrative and generic conventions

You have innovatively employed and exploited a range of relevant narrative and generic conventions (as identified in your commentary and revealed in your narrative/s) to enhance the communication of personal experiences and memories.

PDF Creator

http://sector7g.wurzel6.de/pdfcreator/index_en.htm

Aodheen O’Donnell is a Lecturer in Communication and
Advertising at the School of Communication, University of Ulster,
Newtownabbey, UK.

ABSTRACT

For some time, researchers at the marketing/entrepreneurship interface have employed the concepts of networks and business”. More recently, attempts have been made to show how the process of networking contributes to small firmmarketing. The overall research study on which this paper is based aimed to show how networking contributes to marketing. This paper focuses on a specific objective of the overall research study, namely an understanding of the process of small firm networking. It reviews previous research into the concept of networking and demonstrates how the process of networking can be captured as a number of dimensions along which entrepreneurial networking may vary. The paper then explains that while previous research has allowed a conceptual framework of small firm networking to be developed, further empirical research is merited and an entirely appropriate type of research is of a qualitative nature.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is vailable at www.emeraldinsight.com/1352-2752.htm

Introduction

Put Barley in a pot. Add in water and bring to boil. Lower fire and simmer for one hour. Add sugar to taste. Strain in a jug and serve hot or cold.

For variation, you may add in some lemon juice for extra flavour. 

SUS Survey Doc

Gavin Sade’s Presentation Notes

http://www.desphilosophy.com/dpp/dpp_journal/paper3/dpp_paper3.html

KEEP all of your DOCUMENTATION carefully – this will be an aspect of assignment 4

stuff to cover:

1. documentation [ass 4]
2. low-fi TO hi-fi – the table model for iterative project methodologies
3. HCI – user evaluation techniques
4. subjective evaluation techniques – fun or no fun?
5. participant and performance interactives – welcome to the war!

from last week:

prototype driven development: Reducing risk by embracing change and finding the fun earlier. This technique focuses on reducing overall design risk. [lost garden]

time to EMBRACE FAILURE – during the early stages!

homer demonstrates how things can go wrong if there has been no prototyping and no audience evaluation [wmv]

and dilbert shows how a prototype can work just as it is in low-fi

before we start: documentation

the timelines, schedules etc you produced for assignment 2 will form an important basis for assignment FOUR:

you should be COLLATING this documentation as you go from NOW

if you don't have one already, i recommend a BLOG – you could even use QUT's student e-portfolio space

[furious steals]don't end up drowning in paper![brazil]

 a return to assignment 3 – further development phase

prototyping is a long process:

from BC to 2000AD – don't expect to produce a finished work!

DO expect to produce an evaluated prototype as an aspect of ITERATIVE DESIGN PROCESS

gameinnovation.org – a taxonomy of developments

more on [further] prototyping: moving from very low- fi to a bit higher fi

notice the expectation is NOT a completed interactve but rather an IN-DEPTH exploration of functionality [sans bugs!]

bug free in this context would imply that the poor old evaluator does not need to have the miracle explained …

User test of a low-fidelity paper prototype of a website

User test of a high-fidelity paper prototype of a homepage

[from nielsen norman group training video stills]

oh … where to start!!

ingredients:

• low-fi prototype
• audience

decision one: audience definition – users, reader-viewer-listeners – participants – performers [?]

decision two: which mechanics to test? eg which mechanics hold the interactive up?

start with the documentation: – evaluation data MUST BE FORMALISED

• do you need ETHICAL CLEARANCE [example] [QUT ethics docs]
• prepare a BETA questionnaire – start with an introduction – overview
• do you need audience statistics – demographics etc [check your needs analysis - you probably predicted this]

have you ever written a survey before: check out survey design

developing prototypes: FOCUS on functional ASPECTS

another cooking metaphor: the table model or two levels of prototyping – basically, this describes what types of capabilities are implemented in a prototype:

J. Nielsen distinguishes two levels of prototyping according to the level of interaction provided by the prototype [Nielsen 93]:

• The horizontal prototype is actually only the man-machine interface (MMI). It could even be a sketch on paper.
• The vertical prototype implements some of the functionalities of the application allowing to more interaction

Horizontal prototypes are appropriate for understanding relationships across a broad system and for showing the range of abilities of a system.

Vertical prototypes are most appropriate when a certain complex feature of a system is poorly-understood and needs to be explored, e.g. as a proof-of-concept
.[usability first]

notice: the horizontal – vertical model is actually designed for a TRADITIONAL project methodology – in an iterative innovative project, it probably won't stand up!

 methods of evaluation

There are a variety of approaches to usability evaluation that you may choose to take.

The methodologies can be divided into two broad categories:

[usability first glossary]

usabillity first: methods table

notice how all of these established methods assume a USER interactive

Usability and context

Usability is not a quality that exists in any real or absolute sense. Perhaps it can be best summed up as being a general quality of the appropriateness to a purpose of any particular artefact. This notion is neatly summed up by Terry Pratchett in his novel "Moving Pictures": "

'Well, at least he keeps himself fit,' said the Archchancellor nastily. 'Not like the rest of you fellows. I went into the Uncommon Room this morning and it was full of chaps snoring!'

'That would be the senior masters, Master,' said the Bursar. 'I would say they are supremely fit, myself.'

'Fit? The Dean looks like a man who's swallered a bed!'

'Ah, but Master,' said the Bursar, smiling indulgently, 'the word "fit", as I understand it, means "appropriate to a purpose", and I would say that the body of the Dean is supremely appropriate to the purpose of sitting around all day and eating big heavy meals.' The Dean permitted himself a little smile. " [Pratchett, 1990]

[john brooke - SUS - a quick and dirty scale]

SO: always CHOOSE your evaluation group appropriately to your prototype goal!

[the hunting of the snark from equator]

prototype testing for users

try the CSUQ – computer system usability questionnaire

users – the interface is designed to be invisible in order for the user to enact the TASK

a principle is 'ask and observe' – lots of usability questionnaires [usability.net]

further development [?]

• [piano]
• [piano and music]
• [piano game]

piano – develops the VISUALS a little and makes key functionality more adult

piano and music ENHANCES this specific functionality by showing the musical notation

the piano game explores the potential of the MIMICRY function

simon says – turning the mimicry function into a TOY by introducing CHALLENGE

evaluating participant interactives

this development of the keyboard mechanics offers a simple challenge function [remember and follow the sequence]

the [user] interactive has become a TOY or [passive] participant interactive

why passive – no meaningful action or agency but basic engagement via challenge

HOW TO EVALUATE THIS ?

WHAT exactly is being evaluated:

• usability – use usability questionnaire
• fun factor

time for some SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION – subjective evaluation asks the user – player how they FEEL

Needs and Pleasures

Design is a way to ask questions. Design research, when it occurs through the practice of design itself, is a way to ask larger questions beyond the limited scope of a particular design problem.

When design research is integrated into the design process, new and unexpected questions emerge directly from the act of design.
[eric zimmerman - iterative design]

evaluating and documenting FUN factors:

• ask!!
• give the person some options – would you play again?
• observe – video
• video – cued recall: record the participation and ask the player questions with the video as aide memoire

Test; analyze; refine. And repeat ……

Because the experience of a viewer/user/player/etc cannot ever be completely predicted, in an iterative process design decisions are based on the experience of the prototype in progress.

The prototype is tested, revisions are made, and the project is tested once more.

In this way, the project develops through an ongoing dialogue between the designers, the design, and the testing audience.
[eric zimmerman - iterative design]

adding more participant mechanics

piano maestro – single and two player

be the piano meastro! play against the computer [single player] or against your friends, rock out to the music of the masters of the keyboard from history, challenge all comers!

inspiration – rocking out to iron man [wmv]

evaluation

good gameplay has become the ulitimate goal pursued by anyone who wishes to remain in the business of game design [HCI & Game Design By Zhan Ye]

the ye brothers argue that there are two distinct aspects to the concept of good gameplay

• playability – this involves all the classic USABILITY checks and guidelines
• FUN [challenge, entertainment] – this is the subjective data collected from PLAYTESTING

play turns out to be a very problematic concept: the ambiguity of play by brian sutton-smith

but it aint as problematic as NARRATIVE …..

viewer [listener] – reader audience prototype development and evaluation

remember the viewer [listener] – reader category [?]

VIEWERS: are people who seek entertainment. They want to be surprised, seduced, led along a path. their goal is the journey, not the end result.

READERS: those who seek the same kind of interaction they get from a novel or a film – narrative experience

253 a novel for the Internet about London Underground in seven cars and a crash

idea one: piano in the wood – a musical literary work …
idea two: play the narrative

the concept here is based on the actual life of 'frere jacque' – set in the 11C, the reader can explore the tale of mystery and intrigue in any order but following the notes of the song will lead them thru' on a direct path

similar works: Milorad Pavic – Landscape Painted With Tea, Italo Calvino – If On A Winter's Night, A Traveller…

evaluation

usability … a return to point and click indeed BUT here, the pleasure is the experience [of reading, comprehending the plot - unpacking the mystery]

i can see it as the new da vinci code

subjective:

this is NARRATIVE interaction – can narrative be seen as a performing art?

some say even LINEAR READING is interactive – in the sense that to understand the text, the reader suspends disbelief and becomes involved in the story – reader response theory – there are many variants on this theory:

reader response – various positions

the problem in evaluating READING as an interactive event is that you have to get inside the reader's head some of lecture three explored these possibilities

BUT ::::::::

NON-LINEAR READING – welcome to ERGODIC texts

This phenomenon I call ergodic, using a term appropriated from physics that derives from the Greek words ergon and hodos, meaning "work" and "path." In ergodic literature, nontrivial effort is required to allow the reader to traverse the text.

If ergodic literature is to make sense as a concept, there must also be nonergodic literature, where the effort to traverse the text is trivial, with no extranoematic responsibilities placed on the reader except (for example) eye movement and the periodic or arbitrary turning of pages. [espen aarseth - cybertext]

computer games can be interpreted as ergodic texts: play zork online [from infocom adventures]

the argument is that NON-TRIVIAL EFFORT provides AGENCY and therfore defies NARRATIVE

games exist in a formal/algorithmic domain, stories in a domain of interpretation, and this means that games resist the evocative themes of stories, because they cannot be formalised.
[jesper juul 2000]

in this view, the AGENCY is the thing – the narrative is secondary to the ACTIVITY

WELCOME TO THE WAR

evaluation – from this perspective is a simple matter of discovering whether or not the LUDOS [gameplay mechanics] are EFFECTIVE

BUT …….

there remains the embedded narrative issue … the manner in which gameplay and FUN is constructed by the manner in which the participant is EMOTIONEERED

read on

adding emotion …

physical space – we have you surrounded exploited physical design space to create the claustrophobia of the original fort

genevieve moved from still images to physical embodiment

the fully participant work DOOM3 calls on cinematic techniques of film noire and constructs emotion via lighting – or lack of it

doom3 trailer [wmv] and the effects: [wmv]

AUDIO is of course THE most powerful emotioneering medium

trailer for ghost recon 3 [wmv]

try this [wmv]
what about this: [wmv]
and this: [wmv]

and the original [wmv]

evaluating : user and subjective data

things you should be doing:

• start by re-examining your low – fi prototype – which functionality will you explore into a hi-fi iteration?
• work on the chosen aspect
• design your evaluation methodology – TEST IT
• then test new vertical prototype with actual people
• ensure your data is collected systematically
• breathe – review and REPEAT

evaluaton – design – iteration cycle

we will cover other methods of evaluation and user study in subsequent lectures but a word of advice:

if you haven't had fun making it, it is really very likely that it won't be fun to play [anonymous]

end of chapter