CHAT WITH TUTORS - DISCUSSING MY ACTION PLAN FOR XMAS BREAK

Before the Christmas break it was vital that I talked to my tutors about my current ideas towards the interactive design project.

CHAT WITH MICHEAL:

Micheal and I had a discussion about my current ideas and by the end of the chat I aimed to narrow down my research and focus on a particular idea. My reasons for this is to keep organised and manage my time efficiently before the up-coming deadlines for our dissertation (draft by 17th Jan 08) and this interactive project (deadline 18th Jan 08).

The following ideas were discussed:

1. Gestures & Body Language (see previous blogs)

• Relation to Luciana's IBVA product


• What brain waves are given off when making gestures.


• Communication via body language and gestures - How interactive is this?

2. Sport and Health

• Are athletes mentally functioning differently to the general public (relation to IBVA).


• Gym Equipment - We control how we work out e.g. speeds, weights etc.
  
• Immersive Interaction (Virtual Environments for Sport and Gym Training)


• Individual Media use in the Gym (What do people use e.g. Ipods, how can this be improved?)


• Consider your own customisable gym!?
  
• How does music affect people performance? (look into techniques such as playing powerful music before big matches and gym workouts)
• Look at digital forms of sport e.g. Nintendo Wii Sports.


• Working out is all about Feedback, just like Interactivity.


• How have gyms changed over the last few years? (refer to Micheal using traditional cycling equipment etc.)

As you can probably see from the amount of input included into my sport and health research, and being a keen gymnast and sport fanatic, I feel this is the best route to take.

I then decided to clarify my ideas and discussion I had with Micheal with Dan Pryde Jarman. I was told that Dan is also a keen gym user and this seemed very appropriate.

CHAT WITH DAN PRYDE JARMAN

To come up with a sport or health interactive solution at this time of year seems like a good idea, this is because people seem to become extremely health conscious and aim to set New Years resolutions relating to their health or fitness. To prove this here are some links:

1. TOP TEN NEW YEARS RESOLOUTIONS FOR AVERAGE AMERICAN


2. WEIGHT LOSS NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS - ABOUT.COM


3. NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS - Kimberly & Albrecht Powell,

As you can see, fitness is an important new years resolution for many people, this is why the idea of a new interactive product for fitness and health seems like a good route to take.

But how can I make people stick to their new years health and fitness resolutions?

Obviously this is relation to the world of interactivity, my main thoughts on this are that people tend to go the gym only for a short period after the New Year and never continue, is it because they are not seeing any immediate results or getting enough feedback!?

If so then I need to come up with a interactive product that explains to the user how they have benefited from the workout / fitness session as soon as possible.

Another way to enhance their experience at the gym and to make them come back is to make the environment more exciting. This could relate to immersive interactivity and people could use a particular machine in a virtual, fun yet challenging world e.g.

• Running Machine - Racing someone, running through a meadow / lovely environment
• Rowing Machine - Feels Like your rowing on water, in a race, being chased etc.
• Punching Bag - Feels like your fighting someone (maybe even digital versions of real boxers e.g. Ricky Hatton, Mike Tyson).
• Swimming - Virtual Goggles, swimming with fishes and beatufil sealife etc.

So these are some initial thoughts and I guess the emphasis is on getting a sense of accomplishment every time you visit the gym.

It is also clear that people are willing to pay a lot to go to a gym (THE GUARDIAN GYM MEMBERSHIP ARTICLE - CLICK HERE) and from my personal experience people are probably prepared to pay even more, especially if digital enhancements are included.

So to summarise my reserach action plan for this project and christmas period:

• A New interactive experience for gym users, health and fitness.
• Immersive Interaction in sport and fitness.
• Quicker Graitification and Sense of Accomplishment.
• Digital Enhancements in sport and fitness.