Revision of research question and abstract

Research question

How can design support people to live in virtual and physical world simaltaneously?


Virtual world Abstract :

A few weeks ago, a famous Korean actress, who had mental depression due to nasty rumors and gossip written on the internet, committed suicide.
But the irony was that her website was full of writings and pictures that only show her as happy.
Which was her real life?

We are living in a world that is supported by numerous information technologies.
Computers are filled with so many digital pictures, and pictures with memories are stored online on websites and blogs, with the e-mail addresses of friends whom we haven’t met for ages…Where is my own place in this? Who can I trust and who shouldn’t I? What has true value?

I believe that I evaluate myself against standards and criteria determined by society.
How many networked ‘Things’ for example computers, digital cameras, mp3 players, phones etc… play a part in your everyday life. And also how many people buy new same function products for entertainment. On the pretext of being busy, we distort and exaggerate ourselves in the virtual world in order to create relationships with others.
However, what is the real ‘me’?

Now we doubt that e-mail addresses are current and we worry about losing images and data from our computers. We no longer trust those smiley icons used everywhere online.
People who think the cyber world is not the real world can create rumors which kill in the real world. Is this akin to terrorism? On the other hand, there are people who refuse to have a relationship with the cyber world and subsequently lose their place in the social fabric it creates.

This research is to find out what is the true ‘I’ and ‘them’ in a world where everyday life and virtual life co-exist, as a reality held together by mass media and technology.




Physical world Abstract :


By what course of manner we can design simple products to actualize user friendly AV environment?

Due to digital acceleration, entertainment environment is changing in various ways.
Based on TV, substantial number of products such as dvd, blu-ray, amp and various mobile devices are introduced. The shorter the life cycle of products become the more new products are introduced and consumers are willing to open their wallets to have more controllable products.
Entertainment devices and technologies for living room environment are rapidly evolving whenever new entertainment sources (HD, blu-ray, dolby surround, dolby digital, dvd) are developed.
The strategy of product grouping for living room environment, mainly sound systems have been changed into market driven strategy furthermore, product groups with similar functions are continuously generated and increased in their numbers.
However, because of improper grouping of product properties and rapid product cycle change, products purchased before are moved to the rooms. There are tendency of purchasing same products from old to new.
In order to make products look simple, manufacturers trying to apply minimal design to the products and it is main trend in these days. Installing main control board on the remote control is one of the efforts to make product look simple. But there are critical demerits of remote controls.
The rapid change of living room environment has been started when HD broadcasting service was set to start. AV environment is combined with network. Many network and entertainment combined products are introduced to the market and it makes more change on living room environment.

Now there are more needs of product simplification, since HD broadcasting is spreading more to the world.
At this transitional stage ahead to home automation, I propose a design which can simplify devices and its environment, and actualize true values for consumers through user oriented research and analysis.



Research Plan

1) Field of Experts

Physical world (and Virtual world) :

a. Samsung design in Europe research team.(London)
-There are professional product analysts and planners.
b. Philips product marketing manager. (Amsterdam)
-There are professional product marketing managers.

Discuss for “Sharing relaxation” and relaxation (entertainment) product plan.

Virtual world:

a. Around 30 years old career professional
- Face-book users
- Electronic equipment user for relaxation.

b. Blog and Skype Strong users.



3) Methods

Inerview:

a.Question ( both) :

Where do you usually relax in your free time?

When you have relaxing, what do you do?

a. Relax by yourself
b. Relax with some one

When you are happy or elated, how do you share this feeling?

c. On-line
d. Off-line

When you are sad how do you share your feeling?

e. On-line
f. Off-line

Which do you prefer on-line or off-line?

What is upsets you when you are relaxing in your free time?

g. On-line
h. Off-line

Have you ever experienced side effect when during relaxation?

i. On-line
j. Off-line

Have you ever experienced total satisfaction when taking relaxation?
k. On-line
l. Off-line

b.Question ( Facebook ( blog) users only) :

How many blogs do you have?

When do you usually log –in to your facebook?

How many facebook friends do you have?

How much time you spend on facebook ?

What are your feelings when you spend time on face book? and why?

When you are happy or elated, how can you share these feelings on facebook?

When you are sad how can you share your emotion on face book?

Have you ever experienced total satisfaction on facebook?

Have you ever experienced side effect due to face book?

What can upset you when you are using face book ?