Dadakuriball's Blog

For this week personal research, I have been out from my home quite a lot so I have made an observation research to gain ideas for our group electric antidote.

Hm.. Our group have brainstorm on ideas to make our target users or the rushing people to slow down and appreciate the life around us. Its hard for us to not rush due to stiff competition as we are striving to get a higher education or goals than others.

The considerations to note of before making an antidote:

• needs to be attractive
• fun and entertain
• to be recognize
• appreciate
• Engaging
• creative

During the days I went out, I have made an observation at the arcade since its a place to have a lot of fun. Well there are machines that allow the user to be interacted with the machine and have fun at the same time.

Below are some of the games that inspires me for brainstorm ideas for the antidote:

• Para para Dance Machine
• Guitar Hero
• Dance Machine

These machines have one thing in common – to make the user interact or engage fully into the game.  Thus from here, maybe there is a way we can slow the rushing down.. From there, I have been thinking of ideas to be added on into my teamates ideas.

What do you [I]  desire?

More interactions,  Less words

What does technology gives and take from us?

In my opinion, technology have given us many priviliges such as allowing us to explore more facts, learning about the past history of the world or ourr own country and many more. In our term of uses, we are able to communicate towards one another using a broad communication system like Messenger. This allows us to chat with people even from the other side of the world. By using the webcam via Messenger, we are able to view the person onthe other side without much effort.

However, this has taken away the experience of us the connectionor bond between two or towards the person we are talking to face to face either as friends, close friends, bestfriends or something special.

True that technology helps us cuts time and burden such as meeting someone afar, emailing the notes without using letters and posting them traditionally except for posting puzzles.

Why do people in such a rush? Even today, people are always in a hurry without even care of the beautiful surroundings or music played by some street musicians.

These are some of the reasons of why people rush all the time : -

- an early bird

- wishes to be on time

- peak hour*

- overcrowded*

After much research, the most common reason of why people rush is due to transportation. An example of this will be the MRT. At peak hours usually in the morning and in the late afternoon, theses areas will always be overcrowded and packed with people usually workers. Throughout the whole world, every country have this same problem.

Thus people tend to rush in order to get to the transportation before the peak hour has started. As once it reaches peak hour, every public transportation will tend to be overcrowded with people until it gradually decreased in number once the day turns dark [according to my experience].

Day : Tuesday

Time : 12 – 2 pm

Date : 27 Oct 2009

Location : AMK HUB NTUC

My group members have went to the supermarket to make and observe for our research. The method we have chosen is “Fly on the wall”. Below are some of the images taken at the place.

Image [1]

Image [2]

From our observations when we first arrived, firstly mostly adults and elderlys were found shopping at the area. Besides that, our age group “teenagers” and also the younger childrens such as “primary schooler” were not to be seen throughout the whole observation. Mainly the reason behind this is because it is still during school hours. At most, at least toddlers are seen with either mother or caretaker.

It seems that [according to my observations] shoppers tend to use their credits or NETS when purchasing a lot of items when shoppers purchasing a few will use cash instead. Since its during morning/lunch hour, shoppers especially the elderly and mothers, were seen buying groceries such as food, greens and meat for morning cooking for the family. Thus many shoppers are seen crowded in poultry/meat/dairy/fruit & vegetables section that time unlike all the sections.

As we go inside, we have come across some elderly shoppers shopping for some vegetables. We observed they search the cheapest price among the pack, followed by quality. Its seems different shoppers have their own ways choosing the items before purchasing them.

An interactive and imaginative artist.

This is Einstein. His works usually come from imaginations and thus make it come to life by using items around him or doodle them.

A video inspiration.

FunTheory is a group of creative people that helps us to change our behavior by making someting that is boring into something that is fun, interactive and enjoyable [like the video].

I have narrow some of the most common social problem that the public have and have some thoughts to it. Below is one of them.

Cigarette butts been seen thrown everywhere by smokers.

My thoughts :

There are a lot of smokers out there puffing away. To my own observation when I’m outside, I have seen people [smokers] flick their cigarette butts either on the floor as they walk, in the drains or practically in most places except for “No Smoking” premises.

My possible solution for this :

Well I have not thought of the possible solution yet however, I have selected this as one of the target objective for our group. If it is a success project, it will help towards the environment at a tremendous rate [making the environment clean, change their behaviour and help reduce littering.]

Lists of stuff I always do: -

• Listening to music via computer and MP3
• Gaming
• Surf the web
• Drawing
• Watching television
• Illustrating/Photoshopping
• Takes MRT and bus to school
• Going out with my friends and family members

Lists of stuff that people most people do: -

• Flushing the toilet after use
• Switch off the lights/electric plug after use
• Littering
• Taking elevators/lifts instead of stairs which maybe nearby the area
• Taking  buses and MRT even when travel short distance
• Smoking in no smoking zone
• People everywhere takes in more fast food than healthy food
• Throwing cigarette buds everywhere after smoking [ classified under Littering ]

Possible reasons for the above actions : -

• Ignorance
• Lazy
• Impatience
• Forgetful
• Inconsiderate
• Have no manners
• Does not pay attention to signs