1. Problems and solutions in
interdisciplinary research
Experiences from ROMAS
ROMAS-slotevent Tim Van Lier – IBBT-SMIT
3 december 2008 Benny Daems - EDM
Introduction
ROMAS
User-oriented
Living lab
g
Interdisciplinary approach
Industry/ SME / Research Institutes
Role of partners
User research
Technical research
Content providers
Goal
in search of a dialogue between user research and applications
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2. ROMAS approach
GEONOTES
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Idea generation
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3. SMIT- User exploration of city practices
Idea generation with prospectus of relevant
and user-oriented wireless city applications
through researching city practices
By Archetype user research
‘Tuning in’ - via ethnographic research – to a
categorisation oriented at the practice of ‘going
into town’ by inhabitants
Research results translated and integrated
in scenario’s as input for technical partners
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SMIT- User exploration of city practices
• Interdependency of several
dimensions that influence the
city visit
• Dynamic typology of city
visitors
•From planner to explorer
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4. SMIT- User exploration of city practices
A city visit is dynamic
Need to think in flows
of people
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SMIT - Uncovering Urban Practices
City is a place of places where people have several activities and different
rythms
We have tried to discover these practices to translate for mobile
app cat o s
applications
Need-based Practice-based
Person Community/ group
Cartography on street level Islands/landmarks/regions
Task oriented Goal oriented
Rational Tacit knowledge
Substituting Complementing/supporting/
enhancing
= new vision on ICT’s to provide for an ‘enriched’ city experience
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5. EDM – Technical approach
Requirements
Devices
Operating system
O ti t
Content
Functionality
Network
Context
Applications:
City services (city guide,…)
Mobile news
EDM – Technical approach
Study:
City maps
Network, platform
N t k l tf
Interactivity
Video, Audio, Text
MCQ, Drag & Drop
Photo task
Dynamic content
Location based Services
Features
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6. EDM – Technical approach
Prototype:
Generic application
Multi-layer
Extendable
Adaptable
Authoring environment
Evaluation
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Reflection on Collaboration
Every partner had his own separate track
Not enough collaboration from the start
First attempt to collaborate through workshop
SMIT created scenario’s to communicate results and
bring partners together
Prototypes of mobile services from EDM/Concentra
Start of a closer collaboration on GEONOTES
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7. (Concept) Development
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Geo-notes
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8. Geo-notes
Logging information
Note types
Time based
Location based
Groups
Personalization
Filters
Nicknames
Interactivity
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SMIT – User Behavior
Evaluating user behavior of the mobile
application, GEONOTES
What are the affordances of these mobile
applications with the city practices in mind?
Focus groups, diaries, logging, … in a
living lab environment
Scenario’s adapted by introducing persona’s
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9. SMIT – User Behavior
Main affordance of GEONOTES is leaving self-made
notes linked to a location.
Possible functions discovered by respondents
City Guide (practical function in ‘going into town’ or
informing function)
Aggregation of functions and applications
Fun channel
Practice based Way finding (
y g (ATM, Parkings)
, g )
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SMIT – User Behavior
People have own interpretation of the city
Interface (map) need to be adapted to the flow of the
person
There are many contexts but now it shows only one
People are defining the context (the city) and people are
living in communities
Information of the collective can be stimulating
A community layer to share with your peers
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10. Reflection on Collaboration
Close collaboration on GEONOTES
Several Iterations and adaptations of the mobile
application
Second workshop
for integrating and validating the research results en
mobile applications.
Creating persona’s to communicate the results and
make th scenario’s more richer
k the i ’ i h
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Timing User research
Technical
research
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11. Q&A
Thank you!
Tim Van Lier
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (SMIT)
tivlier@vub.ac.be
Benny Daems
y
Universiteit Hasselt (EDM)
benny.daems@uhasselt.be
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