SIMPLEINTERFACES

Workshop Fall, 2011

PARSONSMFA DESIGN +TECHNOLOGY

MEMOTE

Oylum Basak Boran

Nidhi Malhotra

Hirumi Nanayakkara

PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces

CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

Retrieve | Relive | Remember

MEMOTE is a whimsical exploration of a remote as a tool to access memory archives. It allows time travelers to cycle through various decades of TV show memories or their personal memories. The MEMOTE conceptually respects the broad arc of media literacy of an ageing person, spanning many decades and trends. It also aims to create empathy between generations by offering a tool for sharing memories together while celebrating the similarities and differences.

MEMOTEAbstract

Memote , p.1PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces. CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

Memote, p.2PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces. CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

INSPIRATION & IMPLEMENTATION

In human history, shared experiences between families have centered on story-telling; from fireside story-telling to radio broadcasts to television shows, and most recently sharing everyday moments through digital media.

While younger generations have grown up with digital and online storage of media, today’s aging population has a media literacy that spans many decades. From physical artifacts such as photos and home videos, to older television shows that have been removed from syndication, the memories of the elderly are attached to a much broader spectrum of media.

The future of personal media storage and access is an important area of exploration as seen in Facebook’s newly introduced Timeline feature. This tool serves as a visual timeline of a person’s life, and addresses the growing trends in media archiving explorations.

In designing MEMOTE, it was important for us to create an experience that not only maintained shared experiences between family members, but provided a tool for both the young and old to access memories from their lives through one device.

Memote, p.3PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces. CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

INSPIRATION & IMPLEMENTATION

In order to create a time traveling device that embodies the past, present,

and future, we looked towards the timeless aesthetic of vintage wooden

radios. The physicality of knobs and toggles, paired with metal finishes,

creates an object that serves as the missing link between generations. The

rounded corners and book-like shape affords the user to grasp the device

with both hands, highlighting the personal, sacred, and cherished content

memote controls.

The intuitive interface of the iPod inspired the controls of MEMOTE. The

reoccurance of circular physicality in MEMOTE reflects the continuous and

elastic nature of traveling through time. The knobs represent the ability to

move forward and backward with no clear beginning or end.

Memote, p.4PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces. CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

INSPIRATION & IMPLEMENTATION

With MEMOTE, users have the ability to travel through time and cycle through various

decades of their life. When the toggle on the remote is set to ME, time travelers can access

their own memories from their lifetime. When the toggle is set to TV, travelers can revisit

iconic shows in television history that may have played a large role in their own family

experiences.

A web enabled television with custom media archive software supplements the MEMOTE.

For personal memories, physical artifacts such photographs and videos, are digitally

translated and stored into a virtual timeline and exists alongside old television shows.

Additionally, retrieving old television shows offers a unique opportunity in accessing

syndicated television shows. These artifacts of television history can be repackaged and

redistributed in a way that is more meaningful and accessible to the audience it was initially

created for.

First sketch Cardboard Prototype Plywood Prototype 3D Mockup

SPECIFICATIONS & DIMENSIONS

toggle between personal or TV memories

power on/off

scroll through decades of content

flip through content in each decade

dimensions: 6.5” x 4.5” x 1.5”dimensions: 6.5” x 4.5” x 1.5”

Memote , p.5PARSONS - CONFIDENTIAL - PSAM 5550 D 6797 Collab: Simple Interfaces. CARROLL, LIEBERMAN, PITARU

USER SCENARIO

MEMOTE

The volume of content accrued by family members is now easily accessible. Different generations of family members can relive and share milestones with each other.

Users can curate

their own history by

exploring television

shows that have

shaped their past, or

retrieving artifacts

of their own

memories.

User scrolling through content

http://vimeo.com/33911053

password: carroll

USER SCENARIO

APPENDIX

Arduino Uno MicroController2 x XBee 2mW Chip Antenna Series 2XBee Explorer USBBreakout Board for XBee Module2 x Rotary EncoderBreakout BoardPush ButtonSwitch Toggle2xAA Batteries

Hidden beneath the wooden exterior is a collection of electronics that make this technology possible. The remote controls an internet-enabled television with an Arduino Uno microcontroller which is linked to a pair of wireless xBee radios and various inputs on the exterior, such as power on/off, toggle, and rotary knob. The microcontroller runs a custom software which is programmed to toggle between personal media archives and television content.