Theme 5: Design Research 1

Theme 5: Design Research part 1

1. Media technologies can be evaluated according these criterions:

• Users-friendly; media technologies have to be easily used. Also, it includes simple learning process how to use media technologies.
• Applicable; media technologies have to be wanted to use by clients. It means that it has to provide entertainment, knowledge, information or any other desirable implication or improvement.
• Recent and novel; media technologies belong to constantly shifting field. Nevertheless, media technologies have to enter the market offering new functions.

These criterions can be measured according to the number of followers, users, subscribers. In general, media technology can be evaluated on willingness to buy and use. Taking into the consideration technical and applied evaluation of new media gadget, in that case the prototype is used.

2. Prototype is created to run the test which let deepen knowledge about the research field and particular object. Prototype gives a widen perspective and help to esteem if a possible solution will solve the problem. Usually, prototype shows even the potential drawbacks of implying system and let researches improve their module. For instance, several design sketches were used to build few prototypes to test the best alternative of “guess-o-meter”. At the same time, usability issues were arisen and in that case the prototype shows what should be taken in to the consideration.

3. It is necessary to develop a proof of concept to test if the possible solution is implied and what characteristics should be taken into consideration. Also, a proof of concept prototype deepens knowledge about the problem and arise problems which might not be brought by pre-studies. Proof of the concept let investigate the feasibility of the possible solution.

4. Prototype is used conducting the experiment therefore prototype should be measurable or in other way testable gadget. Prototype should be users-friendly especially if participants use prototype during the experiment. Prototype is created on analysis of current issues therefore prototype should be based on new solutions and meet requirements to carry out an experiment. On the other hand, prototype is designed before the experiment based on the current problem analysis, but doing the experiment prototype could limit the research field due to the lack of features. For instance, prototype of driving rage did not measure the climate change factors which influence the speed and driving range. Regardless the fact that prototype could be used to test application of the object but it does not ensure that the market will react positively to a new gadget. As far as I understood, it is common that not only one prototype is used to carry out investigation, therefore creating and testing prototypes requires time and intellectual capacity which will not give the final result but point out the future investigation way.

5. Design research can be presented using defined coding system and making correlations and drawing diagrams (i.e. Turn Your Mobile Into the Ball: Rendering Live Football Game Using Vibration). Also, design research is covered with video material (i.e. Drumming in Immersive Virtual Reality) and publishing design sketches (i.e. Differentiated Driving Range experiment) even a test app could be used to present the prototype.