Tacky Timer
By: Kweku White
The Tacky Timer prototype is an interactive prototype meant to help toddlers identify the concept of beginning and end or start and stop when it comes to tasks or instructions. It's fairly simple. One button starts the timer (a), two buttons change its brightness from max to off (w & s), and the third button changes the color of the light displayed (d). Another mechanism involved will run the timer for a short period and then reduce the brightness where the user has to increase the brightness using a button(w) to check the position of the timer LED(how much time is left). Instead of numbers, this timer uses light that moves across a strip of 15 neo pixels at a rate of the user's choosing. When the timer ends it will flash green signaling the end of the timers sequence.
VIDEO DEMO
Goals and Assumptions
1. Determine if user can react to a sequence of LED’s the same way someone would recognize the movement of number for a timer.
2. Assume user can turn the timer on and off and change the colors of the LEDs. Assume the user has no prior experience with timers.
CHARACTERISTICS [(User Testing) Colt, Jessica, Chris, Denver]:
Colt, Jessica, Chris, Denver (primary characteristics did apply to each user involved in testing)
1.prior experience with timers
2. tends to react well to parameters
3. has a strong attention span
ESTABLISHED QUESTIONS [(User Testing) Colt, Jessica, Chris, Denver]:
1. Have you worked with Timers before?
2. Have you used timers that ended with something other than an alarm?
3. Am I wrong to assume that you haven’t used a timer before?
4. Do you expect this to be a reoccurring tool that you will use?
5. Have you had experience with a device similar to this?
Responces to Established Questions From Users:
Colt
1. yes 2. no 3. yes 4. possibly. not as an alarm of course. 5. no. not a timer with just lights
Jessica
1. yes 2. no 3. yes 4. yes 5. no
Chris
1. yes 2. no 3. yes 4. no 5. yes but without the LED ending sequence
Denver
1. yes 2. no 3. yes 4. yes 5. no
TASKS
How would you use the timer if you were to use it again (without the creators instructions)?
1. Overal User Responce: Timer would be used for time management where I am able to see the timer so I can see how much time is left. Cooking, studying, grading, homework, and stationary activities is what I would use the timer for most of the time.
You want to use the timer for your own means. Please show how you would do so.
2. Start the timer using the given instructions. Adjust the rate of change of the LED to match the amout of time needed.
Primary Strength
Comfortable Size, Consistent change in LED Movement, Noticable Ending Sequence, Buttons that change different settings
Primary Weakness
No Sound. User testing showed that this timer woukd not be used as an alarm. Is bested used when studying or cooking (doing tasks when you are awake).
