Hunt statement

Identify the relationship between cell phones and urban users in order to propose, design and develop solutions of cell phone module to promote quality of life and well-being in users.

Research Objectives

We seek to expose opportunities for the development of cell phone applications that promote quality of life and well-being in users. We will investigate two main realm:

i. How people interact with cell phone: cell phone usage, activities and environments of cell phone users.

ii. How people relax, relieve, and promote well being.

Base on these query described above, we'll look into more detail:

1. How do urban people promote quality of life and well-being? Specify all the rituals, tools, environment, and people involved in.

2. What do urban people currently do to relax and unwind? Identify daily operations towards this goal i.e., go to gym, yoga, dance, chat, etc. Identify any ritual, environment, tech or non-tech devices used.

3. What kind of situation is specified for one to relax? and what kind of situation is inconvenient or inappropriate for one to relax? what are the barriers?

4. What kind of cell phone usage makes users uncomfortable? why?

Research Methods

To accomplish our research objectives we will investigate and document users’ cell phone experiences at home, at work and during transition periods, i.e. walking or commuting, outdoors, on the subway, etc. We will use the following research methods:

• Shadowing
  
• Interview
  
• Questionnaire
  
• Phone Diary
  
• Stress/ Relax Diary
  

These methods are described below:

1. Shadowing

a. objective

i. observe how people deal with their life when the feel stress.

ii. observe how they relax themselves.

iii. observe what specific place or situation make people stress.

b. procedure

i. immerse in user’s daily life and photograph/ video taping the activities related to communication, relaxation, and burden.

ii. take notes of the users activities, having started with certain specific points that as observers we will be aware of looking for

2. Interviews

a. objective

i. query about previous activities that we might not be able to observe

ii. opinion of cell phones, learn about their interaction with other type of technology, sources of stress in their life, and ways of coping with stress

b. procedure

i. introduction and explanation of project to have people cooperate

ii. recording or taping if the person agrees on it

iii. group interviews to have more of a dialogue and not a one on one

3. Questionnaire

a. objective

i. to give us a broad opinion of the personal view of the uses and behaviors around cell phone users

b. procedure

i. write a questionnaire that would be sent electronically out to a specific number of people, and this data would be tabulated and analyzed

4. Phone Diary

a. objective

i. how much the user knows about the functions that are included in their phone

ii. learn how they use the functions of their cell phone

b. procedure

i. explain to user they need to show and tell us about their phone, how they use it, and what they use and what they don’t

ii. let the user speak and we takes notes

5. Stress/ Relax Diary

a. objective

i. observe the users environments for clues about activities that could provide important information for us

b. procedure

i. observation and pictures


Research subjects

Our research subjects are urban people, especially in big city. We are particularly interested in busy or stressed individuals who might be interested in using mobile modules to relax or enhance mood. For this reason, these modules might incentivize non-users to acquire this technology. Some of our research subjects will include:

1. Individuals with routine schedules, i.e. homemakers and moms

2. Individuals in high-stressed jobs, i.e. stockbrokers

3. Heavy text messengers, i.e. students

4. People who don’t have a cell phone

5. Cell phone application designer/ programmer

6. People who chase for new cell phone every month

7. Commuters --individuals in airports, trains, cars and street walkers

Logistics

Challenges:

1. It’s hard to find the right person to interview with.

2. User-testing

3. Coordinating activities to get useful information

4. Too much information

Experts

Linda Stone | Author, Continuous Partial Attention

Technologist with interest and expertise on the impacts of technology on health and well-being

Clay Shirky | Social software researcher

Expert on social interactions within online communities and the effects on real-world social networks

Shawn Van Every | Mobile media applications expert

Dennis Crowley | Dodgeball.com

Michael Sharon | Mobile applications expert