Why Entropy?
Entropy is the only quantity in the physical sciences (apart from certain rare interactions in particle physics) that requires a particular direction for time, sometimes called an arrow of time. As one goes "forward" in time, the second law of thermodynamics says, the entropy of an isolated system can increase, but not decrease. Hence, from one perspective, entropy measurement is a way of distinguishing the past from the future.
— Wikipedia
— Wikipedia
Name
For me Entropy in our ordinary life (life about getting milk in the supermarket and getting to work every 10am) represent that with every passing year every aspekt of our life getting more and more complex. Sure, we don't need to hunt anymore, but we are expected to know more or accomplish more than even 10 years ago.
For me Entropy in our ordinary life (life about getting milk in the supermarket and getting to work every 10am) represent that with every passing year every aspekt of our life getting more and more complex. Sure, we don't need to hunt anymore, but we are expected to know more or accomplish more than even 10 years ago.
Entropy was a bit hard for me to comprehend at first, but with time (Haha, time, you get it?) it became easier. In my opinion the best explanation is done by video 'What is Entropy' by Youtube Channel The Good Stuff
The theme is time
The theme for the project is time. I take it because of the reason that it was my biggest foe for the last 4 years. I want to do so much, but rarely my plans are becoming a reality.
Even now while writing this book and getting ready for my FMP submission I skipped gym for like a month. And I still writing this book like a day before the deadline for printing.
The one might say that it is from the poor time management. And one would be right. But it's not the whole truth. Most times I just cannot predict when should I do something. I spent a lot of my time just waiting. Waiting for the bus, In traffic jams or waiting to recive the task. A lot of those thing I could've avoid by knowing the right perspective.
So let's conclude to the fact that Time is a bitch.
The theme for the project is time. I take it because of the reason that it was my biggest foe for the last 4 years. I want to do so much, but rarely my plans are becoming a reality.
Even now while writing this book and getting ready for my FMP submission I skipped gym for like a month. And I still writing this book like a day before the deadline for printing.
The one might say that it is from the poor time management. And one would be right. But it's not the whole truth. Most times I just cannot predict when should I do something. I spent a lot of my time just waiting. Waiting for the bus, In traffic jams or waiting to recive the task. A lot of those thing I could've avoid by knowing the right perspective.
So let's conclude to the fact that Time is a bitch.
The project itself started from a silly thought:
Wall Clock Ticks, it drives me crazy. I hate wall clocks, but telling time is pretty important. What if we will make a wall clock, which doesn't tick? So let's use digital screens to make it silent. (I know, that there is silent analog clocks, but wheres the fun in that?)
The theme is time
So now we have another digital device which can show a lot of information besides time itself, but related to it nevertheless:
Schedule, important events, wether or even traffic jams and even news.
One of the most important things in this concept, that although device stays on all the time, there is almost no active interaction or in other words no 'interface'.
So the main challenge of this concept was to create a system of predictions which would show important for the person information based on time. And in the same time it should be relevant and not bothersome. Also it should show time (Duh).
So now we have another digital device which can show a lot of information besides time itself, but related to it nevertheless:
Schedule, important events, wether or even traffic jams and even news.
One of the most important things in this concept, that although device stays on all the time, there is almost no active interaction or in other words no 'interface'.
So the main challenge of this concept was to create a system of predictions which would show important for the person information based on time. And in the same time it should be relevant and not bothersome. Also it should show time (Duh).
My very first sketch. And no, I don't know what happen when the arrows will point dow
Proposal 1.5
Notice that it's not even my first proposal (not it the last one, but more on that later). At first I considered making 3 different projects but it didn't quite worked out.
Notice that it's not even my first proposal (not it the last one, but more on that later). At first I considered making 3 different projects but it didn't quite worked out.
BASICS
Research
The time itself
As my very first step I decided to gather some inspiration about the Time, the Universe and Everything so I read 3 pop-science books about, well, how the things work in our universe:
The Brief history of time by Stephen Hawking (1988)
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow (2013)
From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time by Sean M Carroll (2010)
From first glance those books seems irrelevant for the topic. They are, really. But first, it gave the name for my project (Entropy), I didn't know the term before. And second it just inspired me to an idea of personalised time, relative time if you may.
As my very first step I decided to gather some inspiration about the Time, the Universe and Everything so I read 3 pop-science books about, well, how the things work in our universe:
The Brief history of time by Stephen Hawking (1988)
The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow (2013)
From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time by Sean M Carroll (2010)
From first glance those books seems irrelevant for the topic. They are, really. But first, it gave the name for my project (Entropy), I didn't know the term before. And second it just inspired me to an idea of personalised time, relative time if you may.
Timekeeping
My project is about new view on timekeeping, so it's only logical to see, well, information about it:
How did people in the Middle Ages tell time? by Tim O'Neill
The History of Timekeeping: Clocks by Torgoen
My project is about new view on timekeeping, so it's only logical to see, well, information about it:
How did people in the Middle Ages tell time? by Tim O'Neill
The History of Timekeeping: Clocks by Torgoen
10 000 years clock
The evolution of the clock
It's interesting to see the different approaches to time telling. 10 000 years clock is just made to exist. Not to tell time. History about timekeeping was pretty relevant but still a bit difficult to understand. Again, saved the day a video from youtube, which tell a story of history of clocks fairly well.
It's interesting to see the different approaches to time telling. 10 000 years clock is just made to exist. Not to tell time. History about timekeeping was pretty relevant but still a bit difficult to understand. Again, saved the day a video from youtube, which tell a story of history of clocks fairly well.
A Brief History of Timekeeping by SciShow
Intriguingly what I found is that by the year of 2016 (oh boy, It would be funny to read 5 years from now) we can make extremely precise clock. But the concept of timekeeping have never really changed. It's always just more precise numbers, there is no 'time enhancing' solution. And what's most importantly technologies doesn't really do anything to enhance it.
Clocks which people use
The next logical step for me was getting to know what clocks exists around us. I looked at some time devices my friends use.
The selection of friends was really small. Like 2 or 3. It would be important later.
The next logical step for me was getting to know what clocks exists around us. I looked at some time devices my friends use.
The selection of friends was really small. Like 2 or 3. It would be important later.
Photos of my and my friends clocks
Clocks at stores
Then I looked at some clocks at shops. I was a bit suprised that the only place were I found clocks were Auchan and Ikea. Most of the clocks were ugly, or at least strange. Also I looked at some time indication.
Then I looked at some clocks at shops. I was a bit suprised that the only place were I found clocks were Auchan and Ikea. Most of the clocks were ugly, or at least strange. Also I looked at some time indication.
Photos of clocks I found at stores
Digital time related stuff
And of course I looked into some digital clock stuff. Some concepts, some already existing stuff. Nothing too exiting, but some of the pictures are pretty.
And of course I looked into some digital clock stuff. Some concepts, some already existing stuff. Nothing too exiting, but some of the pictures are pretty.
Strida
My Strida LT folded and unfolded
Wait, what? Why the hell do you researched a focking folding bicycle in a project which is all about time?
You ask that question and you would be wrong. It's not about the bicycle itself, but. I did bought it when I started the project. And it was a big inspiration to me due to the thought putted into it.
To the whole fact that I have this bicycle I should thank someone who did a MA in Arts and Design, and made HIS Final Major Project.
What so exacting about tit is isn't the fact that the person designed a isosceles triangle with wheels, above all it's the fact that the person designing this (Mark Sanders) outlined a problem (fast and easy commuting) and created the best solution possible based on already well established concept.
Sure, it's not the fastest bike, nor it the most convenient one, but it did the job which it suppose to do (commute for ~20 minutes and then travel with it in metro) better than any other bike.
It was the inspiration to the whole project. Yes I need to design a thing which tells time. But it should tell time in such a novel and interesting fashion to rise above all competition. And sure, it may not be the most precise clock nor the most beautiful one, but the most importunely it should be different.
And the design process for Strida is just gorgeous
To the whole fact that I have this bicycle I should thank someone who did a MA in Arts and Design, and made HIS Final Major Project.
What so exacting about tit is isn't the fact that the person designed a isosceles triangle with wheels, above all it's the fact that the person designing this (Mark Sanders) outlined a problem (fast and easy commuting) and created the best solution possible based on already well established concept.
Sure, it's not the fastest bike, nor it the most convenient one, but it did the job which it suppose to do (commute for ~20 minutes and then travel with it in metro) better than any other bike.
It was the inspiration to the whole project. Yes I need to design a thing which tells time. But it should tell time in such a novel and interesting fashion to rise above all competition. And sure, it may not be the most precise clock nor the most beautiful one, but the most importunely it should be different.
And the design process for Strida is just gorgeous
Wearables and smart devices
I well understood that with that idea I was making a smart-something. Because of that I started looking out into the hot topic at the moment: Smart Watches and other wearable computers
First of all of course work of Steve Mann. He created so much stuff which somehow enhance the live by digitally altering some parts of our body.
I well understood that with that idea I was making a smart-something. Because of that I started looking out into the hot topic at the moment: Smart Watches and other wearable computers
First of all of course work of Steve Mann. He created so much stuff which somehow enhance the live by digitally altering some parts of our body.
And then there are wearable computers.I tried Samsung Tizen and Android Wear for myself and also I looked at Apple Watch and Pebble Time.
Samsung Tizen
Samsung Gear2 running Tizen
Tizen was… Shit. It was a smartphone inside a watch. Even Watch faces were boring. And it didn't provide anything useful: to see a notification you needed to fiddle with menus for half a minute.
Android Wear
Samsung Gear2 running Android Wear
So when Tizen turned to be shit, so I flashed a watch (at least I didn't flashed the clock. AM I RIGHT? Anyone?..) to boot Android Wear
Android Wear was a bit better. I liked the fact that my phone was silent, and the ability to see notifications at my instant.
Also google now was sometimes OK, but I almost never saw any cards from it, probably because it's targeted to the US market and I'm in Russia.
Again, it wasn't device which actually helped me, it still felt like a inconvenient smartphone.
Android Wear was a bit better. I liked the fact that my phone was silent, and the ability to see notifications at my instant.
Also google now was sometimes OK, but I almost never saw any cards from it, probably because it's targeted to the US market and I'm in Russia.
Again, it wasn't device which actually helped me, it still felt like a inconvenient smartphone.
Pebble
Pebble Time advertising by Pebble
Don't know how it in operation, but I liked the idea of TIMELINE which be default shows present and important for present information, and by taps you can see the past and future events.
Also it seems to be more interesting than any smart watch because of the battery life and the fact that there is only 4 buttons for interaction — which means that a Watch should be really smart to show you only important information.
Also it seems to be more interesting than any smart watch because of the battery life and the fact that there is only 4 buttons for interaction — which means that a Watch should be really smart to show you only important information.
Apple Watch
Apple Watch Time Travel feature by Serenity Caldwell
Also don't know how it in operation. I liked the idea of time travel which showed a lot of stuff, too much for my taste. UI was better than Android Wear, still don't think that it a necessary device.
What? Dumb Smartwatches?
There is such a thing such a dumb smartwatch. There are bunch of them actually. It is very interesting concept. It is a smart watch with only one function, For example show events from your calendar as What Watch does, and that's it. What cool about it is how organic it places on the clock face. And also it provide a good perspective when something is. And important thing is because there is only one feature it is always shows what you want to see (just because it can't show anything else) without fiddling with menus. I considered to make appointments in the same fashion with my smart clock but then I decided, that it's will make too big of an emphasis on calendar events and thats it.
There is such a thing such a dumb smartwatch. There are bunch of them actually. It is very interesting concept. It is a smart watch with only one function, For example show events from your calendar as What Watch does, and that's it. What cool about it is how organic it places on the clock face. And also it provide a good perspective when something is. And important thing is because there is only one feature it is always shows what you want to see (just because it can't show anything else) without fiddling with menus. I considered to make appointments in the same fashion with my smart clock but then I decided, that it's will make too big of an emphasis on calendar events and thats it.
Timekeeping ad by What Watch
On SmartWatches in general
Wearing a SmartWatches for myself gave me a lot of useful insights. Most important one was that although smart watches are really fun in paper, it doesn't really provide any benefits nor for the connected life, nor to the timekeeping perspective (it's even make it worse than regular watches, because a smartwatch needed to be charged Daily)
Notifications were another pain in the ass. I liked the fact, that my phone was completely silent, but bloody hell! I was distracted every 5 minutes by taps on we wrist because some dumbass liked my picture in instagram.
What I really liked was the ability of using small apps such as timers or Gym notebooks. It could've been even better if you wouldn't need to open it every time. What was strange is the fact, that almost every watch face tried to show me what wether is right now. It was useful in the morning, but after that not so much. Smart watches should know what they should tell me and not the other way around.
Wearing a SmartWatches for myself gave me a lot of useful insights. Most important one was that although smart watches are really fun in paper, it doesn't really provide any benefits nor for the connected life, nor to the timekeeping perspective (it's even make it worse than regular watches, because a smartwatch needed to be charged Daily)
Notifications were another pain in the ass. I liked the fact, that my phone was completely silent, but bloody hell! I was distracted every 5 minutes by taps on we wrist because some dumbass liked my picture in instagram.
What I really liked was the ability of using small apps such as timers or Gym notebooks. It could've been even better if you wouldn't need to open it every time. What was strange is the fact, that almost every watch face tried to show me what wether is right now. It was useful in the morning, but after that not so much. Smart watches should know what they should tell me and not the other way around.
Other smart stuff
Smart Watches are great in a sense that I actually could've wear one and see the experience from the first hands. That being said, what's more appropriate for my project (at for a step I writing now) are home smart devices.
Smart Watches are great in a sense that I actually could've wear one and see the experience from the first hands. That being said, what's more appropriate for my project (at for a step I writing now) are home smart devices.
My Bathroom Mirror Is Smarter Than Yours by Max Braun
That's what I call an inspiration. It was mostly the idea what I had, I just wanted to make it even smarter. I thought that it lacked one important feature. It showed almost everything at once. What I thought should be done is smart algorithm which shows only the most important stuff. But still, for a home project it is amazing. Pictures looks just stellar. It is the level of presentation I need to look into.
And here is a guide how to make something similar to the 'Bathroom Mirror'. I considered it as one of the ways of making my clock. But then I thought:
'My project is a clock. Not a Mirror'
Also I considered a name for my project MirrorMirror. But after this article I understood how lame it was.
A fun and simple project. Which combines connectivity features and real life interactions.
Even if it's not that smart, I like how simple it is. It just works. And that is the great thing about it. Even though it isn't rich in features, it is still fun and cool. Probably I shouldn't overcomplicate things.
Even if it's not that smart, I like how simple it is. It just works. And that is the great thing about it. Even though it isn't rich in features, it is still fun and cool. Probably I shouldn't overcomplicate things.
Digital Assystants
In the end, my project is just another take on digital assistants as Google Now or Siri, but with the greater amount of automation and less interactions with the user side and greater emphasis in time.
So it's only logical to actually research into assistants market. There are only a few competitors:
Google Now, Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, Amazon Alexa and Hound by SoundHound
In the end, my project is just another take on digital assistants as Google Now or Siri, but with the greater amount of automation and less interactions with the user side and greater emphasis in time.
So it's only logical to actually research into assistants market. There are only a few competitors:
Google Now, Apple Siri, Microsoft Cortana, Amazon Alexa and Hound by SoundHound
Google Now by Googleblog
A very good service, it's has the same concept, which I want to use — 'Showing only relevant information NOW'. it still not THE FUTURE but it's pretty damn close. The sad thing is it doesn't really show anything useful.
All the Cards of Google Now
It's important to understand what's already possible with the technologies, and google now cards provide this knowledge.
What I don't like about this service, although it Kinda 'predicts' what I want to read, the algorithm isn't the smartest. It asked me 'Do I want to travel to cemetery?' when I was near it. Also It notify me about the fact that Metro is going to close soon. Like 4 minutes before it will close. Probably, Google just afraid to turn on sophisticated prediction algorithm because people would freak out.
What I really liked is the fact, that it communicate with 3d party services.
All the Cards of Google Now
It's important to understand what's already possible with the technologies, and google now cards provide this knowledge.
What I don't like about this service, although it Kinda 'predicts' what I want to read, the algorithm isn't the smartest. It asked me 'Do I want to travel to cemetery?' when I was near it. Also It notify me about the fact that Metro is going to close soon. Like 4 minutes before it will close. Probably, Google just afraid to turn on sophisticated prediction algorithm because people would freak out.
What I really liked is the fact, that it communicate with 3d party services.
Siri by Peta Pachal on Mashable
Siri use completely different concept to Google Now — it utilise content on demand.
What I don't like about Siri is that It works only on the phone and also you cound't type what you want. I'm not that comfortable with talking to my phone and besides, I just can't do it in a meeteng or in metro. It seems more freingly though.
All Siri commands
What I don't like about Siri is that It works only on the phone and also you cound't type what you want. I'm not that comfortable with talking to my phone and besides, I just can't do it in a meeteng or in metro. It seems more freingly though.
All Siri commands
Cortana on Windows 10 by Wayne William
What I especially liked about Cortana — it is everywhere, on Xbox, Windows Phones or desktop computers. It's important to be universal. Also it doen't restrickted to only voice. Thats 2 reasons why Siri never clicked to me. Sadly, I do not own any microsoft product, so I cannot really test it. But looking on the commands Cortana has, it is pretty similiar to Google Now and Siri.
All Cortana commands
All Cortana commands
About Digital Assistants in general
Even though it most of them are pretty useful, I don't think that any of them is ready to be great. The problem I have with every assistant is that it is pretty restrictive. In most cases it's only Google stuff for you and doesn't do much more. What worse is, mostly it's only activated by voice. And it's great to communicate to your phone using only your voice, but it's not always applicable. In meeting it is next to impossible — you will attract too much attention to yourself. In very noise rooms mic just won't pick up what you are saying. And I don't talk about that now talking to your phone to remind you to buy Condoms is just weird.
I think now is important to take a stepp back and refine what exactly my project is?
What my project is?
Right now I see my project as a physical always on device, which provide better perspective on timekeeping and also allow you to be more productive.
Why would anyone want such a thing?
1. To get the right perspective on time, to know how much time you have to sleep, when you need to leave to catch that bus and so on.
2. Not to be late every time.
3. To improve ones digital live.
4. To sleep better.
How does it work?
The clock reads your social media, as well the information from the phone. It's already knows where you work, where you live and when you get to work, so it shouldn't be such a hard task.
Features of the clock may include:
Smart Alarm which wake you up in a perfect timing to get to work with traffic jams
Automatic schedule when you live and when you return home
Relative perspective to time — it doesn't tell you exact time, but rather tell you, that you need to leave in 15 minutes
Notification display
Smart Widgets which show information such as daily pictures, what happend on that day and shows important memories.
Even though it most of them are pretty useful, I don't think that any of them is ready to be great. The problem I have with every assistant is that it is pretty restrictive. In most cases it's only Google stuff for you and doesn't do much more. What worse is, mostly it's only activated by voice. And it's great to communicate to your phone using only your voice, but it's not always applicable. In meeting it is next to impossible — you will attract too much attention to yourself. In very noise rooms mic just won't pick up what you are saying. And I don't talk about that now talking to your phone to remind you to buy Condoms is just weird.
I think now is important to take a stepp back and refine what exactly my project is?
What my project is?
Right now I see my project as a physical always on device, which provide better perspective on timekeeping and also allow you to be more productive.
Why would anyone want such a thing?
1. To get the right perspective on time, to know how much time you have to sleep, when you need to leave to catch that bus and so on.
2. Not to be late every time.
3. To improve ones digital live.
4. To sleep better.
How does it work?
The clock reads your social media, as well the information from the phone. It's already knows where you work, where you live and when you get to work, so it shouldn't be such a hard task.
Features of the clock may include:
Smart Alarm which wake you up in a perfect timing to get to work with traffic jams
Automatic schedule when you live and when you return home
Relative perspective to time — it doesn't tell you exact time, but rather tell you, that you need to leave in 15 minutes
Notification display
Smart Widgets which show information such as daily pictures, what happend on that day and shows important memories.
Technologies for a smart clock
So I want to create a prototype of a smart wall clock, remember? I asked myself :
So I want to create a prototype of a smart wall clock, remember? I asked myself :
'How should I made it?'.
First I thought that to be a good clock and be more interesting it should be round. Or octagonal and be rounded by bezels. It should be discrete in order to be a good clock — it shouldn't glow in the dark when one watching a movie or just sleeps. That's puts a restriction on a technology from which It could be made:
B&W E-INK display on Yotaphone2. E-Ink Doesn't require backlight to be visible.
E-ink or AMOLED would be perfect. But I wanted to build prototype so any circular screen would be good. What I learned is that consumer can't buy a Circular display bigger than 2". A shame. There is no square displays either. The closest thing I found is 17" LCD panels with 5:4 ratio. It could easily be obtained by buying the old LCD monitor.
Used 5X4 monitor on Avito
Squarish LCD panel put some restrictions on the design: rectengular smart clock will just look as any screen on the wall. That's why it's important to make it rounder by besels sich in this ikea clock.
Rectengular Ikea clock
Chronology of the work
My project is all about time, but as you can probably see, not all of my content is in chronological order.
Now, you are probably all thinking
My project is all about time, but as you can probably see, not all of my content is in chronological order.
Now, you are probably all thinking
'What the fork, you can't even decide with the theme of your own project?'
Well, my project isn't as much about time, but rather about the perspective of time and time keeping. Numbers, chronology and time itself is pretty useless. We, as human beings try to create perfectly ordered system (or in other words lower entropy level) , but quite frankly, it's not always the best choice. And my project is all about that. So that's why I put my content in order which actually make sense, rather than chronological one. So some things you I did earlier, some a bit later.
Sketches of a smart clock
So it was the time to do some design. I did sketches, outlined the key features I wanted to show, some small user case scenario. But when I showed my sketches to people nobody was exited at all. Something didn't felt right.
So it was the time to do some design. I did sketches, outlined the key features I wanted to show, some small user case scenario. But when I showed my sketches to people nobody was exited at all. Something didn't felt right.
Skecketches
Smart wall clock mock-up
More sketches
Automatic gathering of information
So, in the core of my idea about wall clock is automatically gathering of information. Which means that you, as a user don't set up our clock beforehand. You just live. And after a while, via your phone and social media.
What's important about it, It might know, what you don't want to tell.
For example. By contract your working day starts at 10am, but you are never there in time, most probably you walk in somewhere around 10:20-10:40. Would you tell your clock at a set-up process that you are always late to work?
Also, in my experience, even if the products with manual input of information might have bigger feature list, people generally dislike using those just because it's not something they want to do, if they aren't motivated enough.
So, in the core of my idea about wall clock is automatically gathering of information. Which means that you, as a user don't set up our clock beforehand. You just live. And after a while, via your phone and social media.
What's important about it, It might know, what you don't want to tell.
For example. By contract your working day starts at 10am, but you are never there in time, most probably you walk in somewhere around 10:20-10:40. Would you tell your clock at a set-up process that you are always late to work?
Also, in my experience, even if the products with manual input of information might have bigger feature list, people generally dislike using those just because it's not something they want to do, if they aren't motivated enough.
Personas
I thought my project felt dull due to the fact that it had really strange use cases, so I decided to make several personas and give them appropriate use case scenarios.
I thought my project felt dull due to the fact that it had really strange use cases, so I decided to make several personas and give them appropriate use case scenarios.
A Survey
To make the use cases more believable I decided to convey a survey how people use clocks and track their time. And there was a big problem. To my surprise, almost no one used the wall clock, or even wristwatches. 10 of 15 people I surveyed were only using phones and computers as their only source of information about. And as little as 3 people actually had a wall clock and all of them didn't really cared that much about it.
To make the use cases more believable I decided to convey a survey how people use clocks and track their time. And there was a big problem. To my surprise, almost no one used the wall clock, or even wristwatches. 10 of 15 people I surveyed were only using phones and computers as their only source of information about. And as little as 3 people actually had a wall clock and all of them didn't really cared that much about it.
Survey
WHAT TO DO?
Now, that is something which I clearly failed. I myself use a digital clock, but only at night, just to see how much time I have to sleep. Probably, I should've conveyed my survey at the very beginning of the project.
Now, that is something which I clearly failed. I myself use a digital clock, but only at night, just to see how much time I have to sleep. Probably, I should've conveyed my survey at the very beginning of the project.
All the devices for telling time
Well, what's done that's done. But the survey got me thinking:
There is no point of making just one device which should be used as a timekeeping device, we have a whole variety of devices we use to track time. That's why it's important that on every device would be the same information. And then it striked me. I don't need to make any clock at all. It should be just a system. A system which can be applicable for any device because we don't use any particular devices as our main source of information about time.
I rewritten my proposal after it
Proposal 2.0
Thankfully all my research and my hypothesis felt right at home with my newly acquired conception.
There is no point of making just one device which should be used as a timekeeping device, we have a whole variety of devices we use to track time. That's why it's important that on every device would be the same information. And then it striked me. I don't need to make any clock at all. It should be just a system. A system which can be applicable for any device because we don't use any particular devices as our main source of information about time.
I rewritten my proposal after it
Proposal 2.0
Thankfully all my research and my hypothesis felt right at home with my newly acquired conception.
Design Proccess
Features
I decided to focus my design on such features as
Smart notifications
A person doesn't need to see a full notification about like or a comment. It can be collapsed to take less space.
Important notifications are still visible
Tips on what to do now
Your device tip what should you focus on now to be in time.
Connectivity
All of your devices should sync with one another to show you the same information everywhere.
Automatic Schedule
Most of the daily activities are picked up by the phone. Phone nows where you live, where you work, when you leace your home, etc.
Natural Language interactions
In order to be easy to use, all the interaction can be made by typing what you want Siri-style
I decided to focus my design on such features as
Smart notifications
A person doesn't need to see a full notification about like or a comment. It can be collapsed to take less space.
Important notifications are still visible
Tips on what to do now
Your device tip what should you focus on now to be in time.
Connectivity
All of your devices should sync with one another to show you the same information everywhere.
Automatic Schedule
Most of the daily activities are picked up by the phone. Phone nows where you live, where you work, when you leace your home, etc.
Natural Language interactions
In order to be easy to use, all the interaction can be made by typing what you want Siri-style
Some sketches and renders
The big company
I was thinking can be my concept made in reality.
I checked everything, and the technologies are there. Hoewer, I can't do it. Neither a small startup can. It too big of a project. There is big data, machine learning and syncing. It's all way to big to all but biggest companies.
that only handful of companies are able to create something like this. And I can point out only Apple, Google, Amazon, Yandex.
So because I made my design in iOS for me it was only logical to mimicry to Apple. And I tried to make my project as Apple Time.
I was thinking can be my concept made in reality.
I checked everything, and the technologies are there. Hoewer, I can't do it. Neither a small startup can. It too big of a project. There is big data, machine learning and syncing. It's all way to big to all but biggest companies.
that only handful of companies are able to create something like this. And I can point out only Apple, Google, Amazon, Yandex.
So because I made my design in iOS for me it was only logical to mimicry to Apple. And I tried to make my project as Apple Time.
Apple Time
So I tried to make my project an Apple time (link)
So I tried to make my project an Apple time (link)
Thankfully, I talked with my tutor (Hi, Sebastian!) and he pointed out, that just making which might've look like Apple but not really isn't that cool.
So how should I name it? (Well, you know already)
Thankfully, I talked with my tutor (Hi, Sebastian!) and he pointed out, that just making which might've look like Apple but not really isn't that cool.
So how should I name it? (Well, you know already)
ENTROPY
I was thinking about how to call my project. I thought about it for a week. And then it striked me. Those 3 books which I read at the begining of the project! Entropy! It will be ideal name. It sounds cool
I was thinking about how to call my project. I thought about it for a week. And then it striked me. Those 3 books which I read at the begining of the project! Entropy! It will be ideal name. It sounds cool
How to present it?
So my biggest concern now was that although I have a concept I like, it is a UI design. It's a daily UI design. It just doesn't feels that exiting. What can I do to improve it?
Landing page
I tried to make several versions of a landing page, but it still felt dull.
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I wanted to walk the user through a day of use for my persona, which is Ivan the Startuper. I even drew him for a landing page. But when I started constructing the page itself. It felt boring. Even I didn't wanted to read it. And I'm the creator of the project. If I don't want to put my time into reading this so nobody will.
I tried to make several versions of a landing page, but it still felt dull.
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2
3
I wanted to walk the user through a day of use for my persona, which is Ivan the Startuper. I even drew him for a landing page. But when I started constructing the page itself. It felt boring. Even I didn't wanted to read it. And I'm the creator of the project. If I don't want to put my time into reading this so nobody will.
Animations
Then I decided to take a step back and return to the web-page later. I tried to make an animation prototype which would show how it will work in relation to time. I also tried to show how it's applicable to every device by changing the devices. Still felt a bit boring.
You can check all my attempts at animations here
After that I understood. It's a principle. A concept which extends to every kind of screen. So it's only logical to show my concept on the screen at the whole screen without devices. Also I showed main kinds of interaction with animation.
The video became even better when I added the music to it. This time a decided to be civil and I searched for something with Creative Commons rights. I found it at Vimeo Store.
Then I decided to take a step back and return to the web-page later. I tried to make an animation prototype which would show how it will work in relation to time. I also tried to show how it's applicable to every device by changing the devices. Still felt a bit boring.
You can check all my attempts at animations here
After that I understood. It's a principle. A concept which extends to every kind of screen. So it's only logical to show my concept on the screen at the whole screen without devices. Also I showed main kinds of interaction with animation.
The video became even better when I added the music to it. This time a decided to be civil and I searched for something with Creative Commons rights. I found it at Vimeo Store.
What instruments I used for this project:
Rational
Entropy. System of notifications for better time management.
Time. Time is the most precious resource of people. Unfortunately, managing time is a hard task. The perception of time is strongly dependent on our tasks and psychological stimulus. How many times have you noticed that started to get dressed at the same time when you already had to go?
Modern technologies in most cases not only do not help at better time tracking, but even make it worse. Entropy tries to eliminate distractions and make time perception easier. Entropy is a new system of showing time and notifications, It is a new concept of better time tracking for digital devices. Entropy is based on the fact, that people don't really care about the number on the clock as long they manage everything in time.
Evaluation
This was my most challenging project yet. I think it's only logical, it's a Final Major Project after all.
The theme I took was very complicated and a bit too broad, but thankfully I quickly find an interesting niche I wanted to explore. Change the concept of time and it's perception is a very difficult task. We already have a lot of well established conceptions we afraid to change. It is exiting to thing, that the best telling time for a specific person might be the telling of wrong time.
Also it's funny how technologies improve some aspects of our life but not the other. Although a lot of concepts have changed . I dared to challenge thing which remained the same for hundreds of years. Because of that some might say my project is a bit naive. But I think the return was pretty good.
In the very beginning I get too ambitious. I was thinking of something like launching Kickstarter for a completely new digital device you can't live without. Reality was drastically different. After dew surveys I understood that nobody wants such a devise. At that moment I was really afraid, it felt like I failed the FMP. Of course it wasn't true. What's important I didn't even needed to do more research, all my ideas and hypothesis felt right at
home with the new concept. I'm completely satisfied with the result. Everything looks quite professional. And what's important it's exiting to look at and read about it. From the very beginning I wanted to make something memorable to other people. It feels like I accomplished my task.
I believe in a better more connected and simpler future. We already see the beginning of it with bot-technologies and predictions of such services as Google Now. It is a real shame I cannot implement my concept in real life. There is just too much money and manpower involved in making it.
Entropy. System of notifications for better time management.
Time. Time is the most precious resource of people. Unfortunately, managing time is a hard task. The perception of time is strongly dependent on our tasks and psychological stimulus. How many times have you noticed that started to get dressed at the same time when you already had to go?
Modern technologies in most cases not only do not help at better time tracking, but even make it worse. Entropy tries to eliminate distractions and make time perception easier. Entropy is a new system of showing time and notifications, It is a new concept of better time tracking for digital devices. Entropy is based on the fact, that people don't really care about the number on the clock as long they manage everything in time.
Evaluation
This was my most challenging project yet. I think it's only logical, it's a Final Major Project after all.
The theme I took was very complicated and a bit too broad, but thankfully I quickly find an interesting niche I wanted to explore. Change the concept of time and it's perception is a very difficult task. We already have a lot of well established conceptions we afraid to change. It is exiting to thing, that the best telling time for a specific person might be the telling of wrong time.
Also it's funny how technologies improve some aspects of our life but not the other. Although a lot of concepts have changed . I dared to challenge thing which remained the same for hundreds of years. Because of that some might say my project is a bit naive. But I think the return was pretty good.
In the very beginning I get too ambitious. I was thinking of something like launching Kickstarter for a completely new digital device you can't live without. Reality was drastically different. After dew surveys I understood that nobody wants such a devise. At that moment I was really afraid, it felt like I failed the FMP. Of course it wasn't true. What's important I didn't even needed to do more research, all my ideas and hypothesis felt right at
home with the new concept. I'm completely satisfied with the result. Everything looks quite professional. And what's important it's exiting to look at and read about it. From the very beginning I wanted to make something memorable to other people. It feels like I accomplished my task.
I believe in a better more connected and simpler future. We already see the beginning of it with bot-technologies and predictions of such services as Google Now. It is a real shame I cannot implement my concept in real life. There is just too much money and manpower involved in making it.