This week we collaborated with a volunteer and expert in the garden.
Initial concept
Before going to the garden ,we had our initial concept.
This is an intelligent torch with a database for users to explore in the garden. This can be seen as a redesign of the audio guide.
When the user lights up a plant, it can show information about its original environment like location and temperature. This aims to give a direct information to users. More information can be projected on the plant and may be the inside part of the plant can be seen. The part the user light up can be magnified on the torch and more details can be shown. What's more, If users find insects, information can be shown along the insect. But more detailed information we haven't decided, then we went to garden and ask experts for more advice.
Michel introduce professional knowledge to us
Michel introduce several specific plants to us and we got a lot of useful information. For example, cotton has a wide use in our life. It can not only be made for cloths but also money and has been applied for thousand years. Another kind of plant which comes from South Africa has heavy toxic but it can cure cancer with suitable amount.
He also said that the most important thing visitors need to know was, human being cannot live without plants.
This made me think of many endangered plants found in the world because of burning and cutting, but many of them were found can be used for curing diseases now.
Therefore, Michel's word was really impressive. Peoples' awareness should be raised for the future of the world.
The volunteer introduce the garden to us
We made a brochure to show information
After analyzing information recorded in the videos, we found the problem was
The garden wants to raise people's awareness of the importance of plants, but these information isn't conveyed effectively enough to users.
Then we began to think about how we organize our design
1. What information is necessary to show and what is unnecessary
2. What method is effective enough to communicate with users
3. If existing technology can be used in our design
4. Do we need to consider about the cost of the design for the garden
5. If projecting information on the plant, the surfaces of plants are disorder and if there's strong sunlight, it cannot be seen clearly. So is there any other technology?
sketches of the function of the torch
Then I thought about, if we just put the form and application of the plants on the plant through the torch.
For example, the trunk of this tree was made for boat from 18th century.
Another is, the leaf of this plant can be used for cure fever or cancer in the form of tablet.
Using the form of stick figure to show information may be more easy for children and the elderly to understand. These information can also show plants' importance and history.
However, this also had technical problems.
So we still needed to improve our design.
In general, I feel really appreciated about the help of experts in the garden.
Because good collaborations with users and experts make much contributions for developing our design. These useful information make our concept multidimensional instead of being limited by ourselves.
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