ExperienceLab

Innovation in public service design and delivery - a roundtable

A couple of weeks ago we were very privileged to host senior officers from local authorities and Serco at ExperienceLab's offices in Holborn. The discussion, hosted by LGC editor Emma Maier, focussed on the issue of innovation in service design and delivery.

A number of exciting ideas for future exploration were discussed such as the importance of moving from data to insight, of uncovering the unspoken needs and desires of users, and the possibilities of playful design in service delivery.

Read the full article "Ten Steps to Transformation" at the LGC website. 

 

 

 

PEGI iPhone App: Age Ratings for Video Games

A free PEGI app for the iPhone was recently released which allows prospective game buyers to browse a database of video games to learn about age ratings and content. The PEGI app provides information on over 14,000 games across different platforms. The app is being targeted at parents as a way for them to make informed choices via their smartphone.

As active game players and games researchers we were intrigued by the app and were happy to take a closer look. Read on to find out what we thought. 

Halo Reach Beta Trial - Our Gameplay Feedback

As dedicated players of the Halo games we have been giving the beta version of Halo Reach a workout.

Halo Reach is the next installment in the Halo saga, and according to some surveys one of the most anticipated game releases of 2010. 

The fact that Microsoft and Bungie are conducting a beta trial of such hot property on a wide scale is good news in itself. Already over a million gamers have signed up for the trial, ourselves included.

So what do we make of it? Read on to find out what we think works, and what might not be quite the step forward the developers were hoping for.

Are 'casual' interactions something to aspire to?

Recently the notion of 'casual' games has gained prominence in the video game industry. Casual games are big business and in many ways ideally suited to mobile gaming devices and mobile phones. The player is offered an experience that they can pick up quickly and play in short bursts. This is perfect for the commute or as a way to use those few minutes waiting at a train station or bus stop. Casual games are also said to be a way to reach a wider audience that is not experienced at playing more complex and expansive games. 

Apple's iPad Tablet - Take Two

Well earlier this week I was speculating about the price of the Apple tablet, hoping that it would be somewhere between iPhone and Macbook pricing. Well it looks like it will be reasonable value after all. Or will it?

Apple Tablet - a difficult pill to swallow?

In a few hours Apple are likely to announce a new category of product - the iTablet. Or iSlate or iPad depending on who you believe.  Whatever the name the device is generating a lot of excitement even before any announcement. Lots of commentators are speculating about the likely design and the potential functionality. Will it be a media player, an internet browser, an e-reader, a games machine or all of these things. What kind of screen will it have, LED or OLED? How big will it be? Will there be a range with several models available?

This is all very interesting but I am beginning to worry about one detail in particular. The price. You see if the rumors of a $1,000 price point are true, and let's face it that could mean £1,000 in the UK, then I think there is problem. It seems to me that the acceptable pricing range is defined by two other types of Apple device already on the market - the iPhone and the Macbook laptops. In the UK the iPhone 3GS can be purchased for about £400 and the Macbooks start at around £800. I would expect the tablet to cost more than an iPhone but I would also hope that it does not cost more than the available Macbooks. If the price is close to or even more than the fully-functional (and portable) laptops Apple also sells then the value of the tablet device could be difficult to get across to potential buyers.

As I say it is a worry however I will still want one because I have that certain Apple / Mac illness and there is no known cure.

Touching designs

I recently bought a new lamp (like the one in the picture) that might have been inspired by the latest generation of touch control interfaces.

You see there is a very easy way to turn the lamp on – you simply touch the base. In fact, repeated touches allow the brightness to be changed and the lamp to be turned on and off.

I like the simplicity of this. A lot. I also wonder what other types of products and devices in our lives could respond to touch. Instead of using switches and fumbling over buttons perhaps we could change the way we interact with a range of things so that they respond to touch and gestures?

What about remote controls and televisions? Hi-fi equipment? Kitchen appliances? Which devices could lose the buttons? Alternatively are there devices that need to keep the buttons? Let us know.

Technology is really powered by magical beings!

During a recent conversation between my sons on the merits of different camera phones, various technical pros and cons were discussed. Much of the teenagers discussion centered on the value of a three versus a five megapixel camera. At which point my eight year old daughter asked what a ‘mega pixie’ was.  Now this perfectly reasonable question has got me thinking. What if technology products are, in fact, powered by little magical beings like pixies? 

I suppose that having five pixies inside a camera will allow more detailed pictures to be created than if just three are on duty. Though they must all be pretty good at painting pictures to warrant the title ‘mega’!

And what of other devices? What fantastical creatures might lie within, waiting for us to turn on the power button? If you reckon you know how your favourite gadgets really work let us know.

Product ‘mash ups’: an interesting way forward?

Some recent product releases and announcements have been of interest. Not because they represent completely new ideas but because they seem to present an interesting blending of two or more product elements into a new product.

Take the recently announced nook e-reader from Barnes and Noble. The new device features an e-ink screen for reading text plus a touch sensitive colour screen at the bottom. The colour screen allows a user to flow through book covers using gestures and touch. If you were to blend elements of standard e-readers with the iPhone or iPod Touch the nook could well be the result.

In a previous blog we have expressed doubts about e-readers. In the case of the nook it is possible that the colour screen might detract from the experience of becoming ‘lost’ in a good book, however the combined functionality does seem intriguing.

This also makes me wonder what other products and design elements could be ‘mashed up’ to produce something new. Ideas on an electronic post card please!

'Naked Streets’ - an example of when less is more

Recent trials in the UK and in Holland have shown that a street with fewer lights, signs and road markings can actually make crowded roads safer. These so-called 'Naked Streets' allow traffic to flow freely (and slowly) while drivers seem to take extra care and give more consideration to other road users. 

It seems counter-intuitive that removing traffic lights would cause drivers to slow down, negotiate junctions more carefully and look out for pedestrians more diligently. But that is exactly what happens when the lights at a junction are faulty - everyone takes more care. The 'Naked Streets’ initiatives capitalise on this by deliberately taking things away. The result? Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are more likely to make eye contact and afford each other more space and respect as a result.

I also wonder if by removing some of the street furniture we might make our environments simpler to understand at a glance. As experience designers we know that every element within range of our senses competes for our attention. Each aspect that needs to be processed and understood takes time, time that might otherwise be spent on looking out for the unexpected. Indeed all of this reminds me of the old saying that a design is complete when there is nothing else (superfluous) left to take away.