LAWRENCEVILLE REDESIGNING FOR AN URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD
Ubiquitous computing project that helps new and current residents meet new people and explore
their neighborhood through playful interactions embedded in the environment.

A brief about the project
The final project for our Basic Interaction Design class was the design of a ubiquitous computing system. Specifically, we were tasked with the following: “...explore opportunities and design challenges around ubiquitous computing with regards to activities in the realms of live, work,
play, and move...choose a specific place where target users are accessible as a starting point for research...(and) explore what makes the location a ‘place.’”

The major design issues included:
• Discovery of a problem / opportunity worth solving
• Conceiving of interaction in a design space well beyond the current interaction design conventions
• Communication of a design concept via video sketch

Design Space
Outdoor spaces was selected as the design space, where the opportunity to create new forms of interaction seemed to be the greatest, and there was greater ease of access to artifacts and participants. The aim was to design something that could grow and move within a space and facilitate social play. The design concept focussed on the exploration in neighbourhoods and connecting new residents in neighbourhoods.

The Process
A human-centered design approach of reserach, ideation and design concept was followed over 2 months of time towards designing a system of exploration and discovery in the 'neighbourhoods'. Browse the process book below:

Project team
Eric Spaulding, Katy Tsai, Somya Jampala
Basic Interaction Design, Fall 2011, Carnegie Mellon University