This document outlines the methodology for a thesis research project. It discusses researching collective intelligence and how mobile technologies can enable collaboration. It presents initial research questions and reviews similar projects involving citizen sensors, crowd-sourcing, and social networking. An initial tip jar prototype aimed to encourage idea sharing but was not very successful, highlighting lessons about needing incentives and specific goals. The document proposes designing cultural probes and a next prototype involving documenting tasks in a city to further the research.

1. THESIS RESEARCH
Module1: Methodology
oylum boran / 09.21.2011

2. Very first days of the semester…

4. Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know
what I’m doing.
- Werner Von Braun

5. Gardenista
BACK TO YEAR 2011
Home Post Events Market My Gardens
Mobil Technologies - Social Networking

6. Idea Mapping
physical Involvement
Sustainability Environment Health Location-based
Smart Devices
MOBILITY
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Timeless
City/Citizenship
Collective Intelligence
Sharing
Team motivation
SOCIAL NETWORKING COLLABORATION
Incentives
Increased Combined forces Crowd-sourcing
Connectedness
Common Interests communication

7. Research questions
What are the ways to create collective knowledge/intelligence? What is collective
intelligence?
How to engage people in crowd-sourcing utilizing existing social connections?
What do mobile technologies offer us in terms of collaboration, physical engagement and
enhanced communication? What is the role of communication methods in collaborative
activities?
What are the incentives behind collaborative activities?
What is the overall outcome of such an involvement?

8. Research questions
What are the ways to create collective knowledge/intelligence? What is collective
intelligence?
How to engage people in crowd-sourcing utilizing existing social connections?
What do mobile technologies offer us in terms of collaboration, physical engagement and
enhanced communication? What is the role of communication methods in collaborative
activities?
What are the incentives behind collaborative activities?
What is the overall outcome of such an involvement?

9. Research questions
What are the ways to create collective knowledge/intelligence? What is collective
intelligence?
How to engage people in crowd-sourcing utilizing existing social connections?
What do mobile technologies offer us in terms of collaboration, physical engagement and
enhanced communication? What is the role of communication methods in collaborative
activities?
What are the incentives behind collaborative activities?
What is the overall outcome of such an involvement?

10. Research questions
What are the ways to create collective knowledge/intelligence? What is collective
intelligence?
How to engage people in crowd-sourcing utilizing existing social connections?
What do mobile technologies offer us in terms of collaboration, physical engagement and
enhanced communication? What is the role of communication methods in collaborative
activities?
What are the incentives behind collaborative activities?
What is the overall outcome of such an involvement?

11. Research questions
What are the ways to create collective knowledge/intelligence? What is collective
intelligence?
How to engage people in crowd-sourcing utilizing existing social connections?
What do mobile technologies offer us in terms of collaboration, physical engagement and
enhanced communication? What is the role of communication methods in collaborative
activities?
What are the incentives behind collaborative activities?
What is the overall outcome of such an involvement?

12. Literature Review

13. Citizen Sensor
http://thesis.jmsaavedra.com/
Project Noah
Nokia Eco Sensor Concept
www.projectnoah.com
www.nokia.com/environment
Extraordinaries
Give a Minute
Temptd
www.sparked.com
http://giveaminute.info/
http://www.mobilewillpower.com/

14. What is it that makes them unique?

15. What is it that makes them unique?
What makes them not necessarily successful but at least
noticeable?

16. What is it that makes them unique?
What makes them not necessarily successful but at least
noticeable?
How do they achieve public participation?

17. Tip Jar Prototype
Objective
Encourage people to share advice, ideas and tips with the winner of the Open Hardware
Summit Scholarship.
Questions to be answered
How people will react to the idea? How many of them will be interested?
Does a physical interface add to the overall success?
How does the group dynamic affect the behavior pattern?
PS. Proposed Twitter addition never happened.

18. Tip Jar Prototype
Results
ª No quantitative data. Very limited interest.
ª Cultural connotations of an object plays an important role. (Tip jar = Money)
² Physical artifact itself is very important. Should look good and encourage interaction.
(Blinking eyes? This is so lame…)

19. Tip Jar Prototype
Results
ª People are not willing to share ideas with no return.
ª Not being specific leads to vagueness and discourage people from contributing.
(oh well, I don’t have any idea in mind now. Can I think of something and come back later?)
ª Competition can kill collaborative spirit.
(I’m competing for the scholarship. Why would I share my ideas with the winner if I’m not the
winner.)

20. Lessons Learnt
Incentive

21. Lessons Learnt
Incentive
Need to get something out of it – mutual value

22. Lessons Learnt
Incentive
Need to get something out of it – mutual value
Specified goals – specific questions

23. Lessons Learnt
Incentive
Need to get something out of it – mutual value
Specified goals – specific questions
Competition? Good or bad?

24. Design Ethnography
Cultural Probes: Personal diaries on specified subjects
– Materials
• Diary/Notes
• Voice recording
• Video/photo
– Method
• Record
• Collect
• Submit
• View

25. Next Prototype
4 people with 4 tasks:
- Document at least 5 wrong things about Parsons buildings.
Physical, mental, behavioral etc.
- Document at least 5 things you see wrong in the city.
Noise, pollution, homeless, lack of service etc.
- Document at least 5 inspirations you see in the city.
Art work, show, food, anything inspirational…
- Document at least 5 things you find crazy funny in the city.
Everybody needs to laugh…

26. More Literature Review
• Social Media Theories
• Collective Intelligence
– Incentive
– Process
• Activism
• Informal Learning

27. Thank you!