Reflecting on ExperiencesThesis Research Design 5200Shelby Daugherty

THESIS STATEMENT

Using an interactive, immersive, and gestural experience my exhibit and application will empower individuals to creatively explore their memories.

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

Qualitative SurveyI sent out two online surveys with over 50 responses to get a mass overview and understanding of people that reflect, and how they experience their memories.

- People are creative in some way when it comes to reflecting on their memories.

- Many reflective thinkers are visual thinkers, and can experience things more fully if they can see it.

- Most people like to reflect on memories because they feel that ideas and experiences are fleeting, and must be appreciated.

Sharing memories and experiences are very personal and individual to each and every one of us, which geared my research methods to focus on understanding people’s thoughts and emotions around the subject.

Secondary ResearchI researched several secondary sources to better un-derstand the health and technological capabilities and benefits brought to people by reflecting on their mem-ories often.

- Reflection can lead to a higher sense of self, allowing the individual to make connections in their own mind, leading them to better understanding and self actualization.

- The human brain can only contain so many memories at a time, and triggers often play a high role in calling forth the most important memories.

InterviewsI conducted several one-on-one conversations about people’s experiences in reflecting on memories to understand better what is most effective when remembering things.

- Having physical reminders of the event, video, sound recording, or memorabilia, really enables the individual to remember much better.

BenchmarkingBy researching technologies out there already on this topic I was able to better understand what is needed, and what needs improved upon.

- Artificial intelligence is very close to an automatic memory recording process, allowing for recall, though no visual platform has been developed yet.

PEOPLE

students/kids

parents/adults

creatives

visualizers

bloggers

anyone

bad/good memory

TECH/TRENDS

EEG

screen-shots

hashtags

youtube/vimeo

VR/AR

timehop

lifestream

fi ling cabinets

FB memories

inFORM

PLACES

home

emotional places

anywhere

travel/vacation

exhibition

happy place

abroad

university

DEPENDENCIES

digital screen

personal connection

sensory memory

experiences

network

exhibition space

fi lters/categories/org

ECOSYSTEM

This exercise allowed me to understand where my prototype would stem from. What would my prototype need to depend on in order to succeed in todays world? My solutions are bolded below.

EXPERIENCE ATTRIBUTES

immersivereflectivenostalgicstimulatedreminiscent

These experience attributes will immerse the individual, allow them to reflect, stimulate their memories and senses, and enable nostalgia and reminiscence.

PERSONA

MARK, 22

PAIN POINTS GOALS

• Ohio State student-athlete

• Varsity Swimming

• Spends up to six hours a day in swim practices, along with taking 18 credit hours

• Majoring in Exercise Science and minoring in Business

• Enjoys creative writing, spending quality time with friends, being around animals, and listening to podcasts.

• Doesn’t have much time to spend with friends or family.

• Rigorous practice and meet schedules makes it so he misses out on opportunities abroad, weekend free-time, family vacations and visiting his new, out-of-state niece.

• He sometimes loses his focus on and motivation on swimming.

• Training for the Olympics

• Get into grad school

• Find his happy place

• Participate in triathlons

• Travel the world

• Be an all-star uncle

• Reconnect with old friends

MY SOLUTION

APPLICATION + EXHIBITION

Watch Mark go through this application using the “How do I feel today” feature to guide his exhibition experience.

This application will also have capabilities to categorize, synthesize, and recall any data fed into it.

Using the exhibition as a larger than life, surrounding, gestural experience, Mark is able to completely immerse himself in his memories. Using scale, drag, and other controls Mark can customize his memory experience within this exhibition. Mark is even able to share his memories with individuals if he wants to, making this a truly unique experience.

MY SOLUTION

https://youtu.be/H4A5I9nNVQE

Learn more about Mark’s journey with his memory reflections at the link below.

BENEFITS

Something that we as a human race constantly ask ourselves is “What makes life worth living?” Is it having things to fi ll out our lives with, is it having experiences that make us feel the most fulfi lled, or is it having people in our lives to share those things and experiences with? Depending on who you ask you will most likely get diff erent answers, but more often than not most individuals resonate more with experiences. What if there was a way to relive those precious moments that make our lives the most full?

Now there can be. You can interact, immerse, and even share your memories using my proposal. Whether you need extra motivation like Mark, or want to relive your study abroad, or see your favorite dog again, you can truly experience what makes your life amazing and unique through this solution.

NEXT STEPSNEXT STEPS

1. Create a visual identity

2. Explore touch interfaces & exhibition spaces

3. Decide how will the app function with the exhibition

4. Perhaps include a physical memorabilia piece