Concept
My concept is base done research I have done about my subculture, Deaf Culture. One of the main elements in this subculture is the use of sign language for communication. In contrary to spoken language, sign language is 3D en therefore can contain a lot of information in a few signs. When using sign language somebody can physically show a time line and orientation in space.
With this in mind I started of thinking of a way to make modern communication trough hand gestures possible for everyone. Because sign language usually is too complex to be used be somebody that hasn’t learnt this language. Deaf people that use sign language have a much better developed dimensional perception then people that don’t use this way of communication. It’s impossible to use the total array of sign language, but it is possible to use simple intuitive gestures to, for instance, create an interface to control your mobile phone.
I came up with the following concept. I’m thinking of a way to make simple communication faster en more intuitive. By using a device that follows en registers hand motion a want to control a mobile phone and give it an extra dimension. This device could be a sort of camera hanging around the neck which uses software to recognize hand gestures. This device is connected to the mobile phone that can stay in your pocket (or possibly is a part of the device hanging around your neck). I’m thinking of several ways to use this technology.
It can be used to open your phonebook, for instance by making a gesture that reassemble an open folding book, and by moving you finger up and down you can scroll trough your phonebook. Feedback about the name will be given verbally by your phone. After this you could use your hand (making a phone gesture) to call this person or to send him or her a sms. It would be too complex to simply use gestures to form a complete unique sms (sign language isn’t hard to learn for nothing) but there can be a lot of presets you commonly use like ‘where are you?’, ‘how are you doing’, ‘what are you doing?’, ‘I love you!’ etc. The recipient receives the sms and the phone starts vibrating. After opening the sms it can be verbally read by the phone. Using software and GPS the phone recognizes for instance the question ‘where are you?’. In reply of this sms some could simply point down and the phone sends back a sms with the exact location of the person. In this way sms communication becomes much faster and natural.
But this technique could be taken further. With using GPS, and recognition of other devices in the near vicinity its possible to locate each other. You could make a list of your friends and store that in your device. When you are in a busy bar you could point to you friend a send this person information about your location (Hey, here I am, behind you). Because you don’t want to send this message to everybody around your friend the device filters trough you ‘friend list’ and ‘locks in’ on them.
Using this technology communication can happen even faster and more intuitive.
zaterdag 11 april 2009
Thinking...
This part is still in Dutch, but will translated soon. In short it talks about communication trough vibartion and hand gestures.
Concepten
Randvoorwaarden:
Probeer iets te vinden dat in eerste instantie bedoeld is voor dove jongeren, maar zo gaaf is dat het ook bij horende jongeren een succes is.
Het product moet in een zekere mate duurzaam zijn.
Maak gebruik van de diepere waarde van de Doven Cultuur; ‘normaal’, (non-verbale) communicatie, uitbreiding van de belevingswereld i.p.v. aanpassing daarvan.
Dove jongeren maken zeer veel gebruik van email, hyves, sms, msn.
Alle communicatie middelen waar doven gebruik van maken zijn land gebonden. Gebarentaal is niet internationaal, en het is aannemelijk dat doven een nieuwe taal minder snel oppakken dan horende. Wellicht is het mogelijk om een internationale standaard te bedenken.
Het uitdrukken van emotie is erg belangrijk; gebeurt momenteel d.m.v. van gebaren, gezichtsuitdrukking en aanraking.
Ideeën:
Gebarentaalvertaler
De gebarentaalvertaler kan (d.m.v. een camera en herkenningssoftware?) gebaren zien en deze vertalen en omzetten naar een geschreven bericht of in een weergave van de gebarentaal in eigen taal. Kan ook de gebaren uit andere landen vertalen. Tevens is het gebarenbestand open-source. In eerste instantie maakt het systeem gebruik van bestaande gebarentaal, maar dit bestand kan door iedereen, doven en horende, uitgebreid worden met eigen gebaren. Deze gebaren zijn bijvoorbeeld te koppelen aan het maken van een smsje.
Op de afbeelding hiernaast is het gebaar voor ‘ik hou van jou’ te zien. Dit gebaar zou gekoppeld kunnen worden aan bijvoorbeeld het sturen van een smsje (met dezelfde betekenis) naar je vriend(in). Deze gebaren zullen in eerste instantie waarschijnlijk slechts met een of twee handen te doen zijn, maar op termijn wellicht ook mogelijk om met het hele lichaam gebaren te maken. Een dans kan zo een letterlijk betekenis/verhaal krijgen.
Trillingtaal
Bij trillingtaal wordt gebruik gemaakt van een persoonsgebonden unit die communicatie vanuit enige bron (sms, verbaal, muziek, internet, etc.) vertaald naar trillingen die de gebruiker kan voelen. Zo zou de gebruiker een smsje kunnen krijgen waarvan de strekking ‘ik hou van jou’ is. De unit vertaalt dit direct naar trilling. Deze trillingstaal is voor iedereen beschikbaar en kan iedereen gaan herkennen. Als je hrrr hrrr hrrrrrrr hr voelt weet je dat het betekent ‘ik hou van jou’. Muziek is trilling en iedereen voelt die tonen fysiek aan. D.m.v. van trilling is emotie op te wekken, net als muziek dat ook doet. In veel gevallen wekt geluid en trilling, een stem, een liedje, een angstaanjagende bass, veel meer emotie op dan louter een beeld (geluid word/werd ook als pressiemiddel tegen gijzelnemers en in oorlog gebruikt). Van de emotionele potentie van trilling en geluid maakt een dove disco ook gebruik. Op den duur kan deze trilling onbewust, mits intuïtief, vertaald worden.
Tevens is het wellicht mogelijk om zelf informatie d.m.v. trilling in te voeren. Ook voor horende kan deze trillingstaal een snelle variant van bijvoorbeeld sms worden. Deze trilling kan tevens voor allerlei toepassingen geschikt zijn. Zo kan in een dovendisco (die ook gebruik maakt van trilling) losstaand van de normale muziek ook ‘trillingsmuziek met een betekenis’ gemaakt worden. Doven kunnen zo letterlijk ‘muziek’ met ‘tekst’ creëren en beluisteren. Omdat deze trillingstaal voor iedereen, ook voor horende, beschikbaar is worden een dovendisco een extra speciale ervaring, muziek krijgt een dubbele laag, auditief en trilling. Op den duur zou iedere publieke gelegenheid aar muziek gedraaid word van deze trillingsmuziek gebruik kunnen maken.
Liplezer
Een unit of bijvoorbeeld telefoon app dat kan liplezen. Dit is voor doven praktisch wanneer zij liplezen niet beheren. Kan een handige tool zijn om dit toch te leren. Is voor horende ook praktisch op locaties waar hardop praten niet mogelijk is, of wanneer men elkaar simpelweg niet kan verstaan. Deze app kan op verschillende talen ingesteld worden, waardoor het ook als een vertalen voor zowel dove als horende kan functioneren.
Vorm=Emotie
Vorm drukt ook heel sterk emotie uit; hard - zacht, glad - ruw, glooiend - stekelig, rond - puntig. Wellicht is het mogelijk om een unit te ontwerpen die van vorm en textuur kan veranderen en daarmee een emotie of gevoel uitdrukkend. Dit gevoel kan met anderen gedeeld worden die aan de vorm kunnen voelen wat bedoeld word. Is uitermate universeel, dergelijke sensaties worden door bijna iedereen juist geïnterpreteerd. ‘Design’ werkt vanwege de sterke emotie die vorm en tast kunnen opwekken. Wellicht in meubilair of een vloer toe te passen. Bijvoorbeeld een vloer die harde of zachter word om zich aan de muziek aan te passen.
maandag 30 maart 2009
Deaf Culture
For the last few days I have been looking at Deaf Culture. I've looked at a lot of different aspects.
I looked at Deaf Disco, a disco for Deaf people, witch uses sound, but also vibration, smell, movement and light. Stichting Skyway is a foundation that arranges event for deaf people, such as the party Sencity. By looking at the stuff this foundaton does I hope to get some inspiration for my own concepts.
I also looked more at signlanguage. Offcourse for deaf people signlanguage is important and is usually the first way of communicating, in Deaf Culture feeling positive about signlanguage is even more important. Something I didn´t realize in the beginning is that most country´s have there own signlanguage (just like spoken language). Some language's use letter's that aren't used in other countries. There are differences between Dutch, Belgian, French and American signlanguage, although they belong to the same family. There are sign for loose letters but also for entire words. Shown below is the dutch sign language alphabet.
In my research I choose to ignore the regular hearing aid device. People is Deaf Culture don't want to use these things because they don't see deafness as an handicap or they simpley can't get used to hearing.
I don't have concepts yet, but I am thinking in a certain direction. I would love to come up with a concept that could bring hearing and deaf people more together, maybe by experiencing the world in the same way. Ore something that reacts on on commen impulses between hearing and deaf people. It would be cool to think of something for deaf people taht is so cool dat hearing people want to have is aswell, maybe even starting a hype.
A concept that also fascinated me was that of the blind restaurant. In these restaurants it's so dark that you cant see anything. You are being guided to your table by a waiter that waers nightvision goggles. This is done so the customer completely focusses on the sensation en taste of food and the company of your dinner partner. Not being able to see each others facial expressions changes the way people have conversations. The biggest part of a conversation is done by reading each others facial expressions. Taking away someone's sight can have a very positive impact in this example. It hightens other senses and creates a specials and intimate ambience. Maybe taking away someones hearing can have a positive influence aswell.
I also shouldn't forget that the concepts have to be green. I must try to use this in any way possible.
I looked at Deaf Disco, a disco for Deaf people, witch uses sound, but also vibration, smell, movement and light. Stichting Skyway is a foundation that arranges event for deaf people, such as the party Sencity. By looking at the stuff this foundaton does I hope to get some inspiration for my own concepts.
I also looked more at signlanguage. Offcourse for deaf people signlanguage is important and is usually the first way of communicating, in Deaf Culture feeling positive about signlanguage is even more important. Something I didn´t realize in the beginning is that most country´s have there own signlanguage (just like spoken language). Some language's use letter's that aren't used in other countries. There are differences between Dutch, Belgian, French and American signlanguage, although they belong to the same family. There are sign for loose letters but also for entire words. Shown below is the dutch sign language alphabet.
In my research I choose to ignore the regular hearing aid device. People is Deaf Culture don't want to use these things because they don't see deafness as an handicap or they simpley can't get used to hearing.
I don't have concepts yet, but I am thinking in a certain direction. I would love to come up with a concept that could bring hearing and deaf people more together, maybe by experiencing the world in the same way. Ore something that reacts on on commen impulses between hearing and deaf people. It would be cool to think of something for deaf people taht is so cool dat hearing people want to have is aswell, maybe even starting a hype.
A concept that also fascinated me was that of the blind restaurant. In these restaurants it's so dark that you cant see anything. You are being guided to your table by a waiter that waers nightvision goggles. This is done so the customer completely focusses on the sensation en taste of food and the company of your dinner partner. Not being able to see each others facial expressions changes the way people have conversations. The biggest part of a conversation is done by reading each others facial expressions. Taking away someone's sight can have a very positive impact in this example. It hightens other senses and creates a specials and intimate ambience. Maybe taking away someones hearing can have a positive influence aswell.
I also shouldn't forget that the concepts have to be green. I must try to use this in any way possible.
maandag 23 maart 2009
New Subcultures
After looking at the more mainstream subcultures in Rotterdam I started focussing on other, less well-known subcultures.
In order to find other subcultures I started looking around in all different information resources I could think off. Offcourse I looked on the internet, on certain blogs and youtube for instance. I also spoke to a lot of people I know, from artists (Studio Roosegaarde, Rock Academie, St. Joost Kunst Academie) to engineers (Enviu, classmates). And I also read a lot of lifestyle magazines like Bright and Wired. I even called with the head-editor at Blend magazine.
The first subculture I foud I called the Tech-Adepts. Technology is very important to them Technology is an intergral party of everyone’s life, but for these people technology is a way of life and it affects almost everything the do. They love technology and use high-tech porducts, or make them theirselves. They feel that technology is impowering, and do a lot of research. They usually are in their 30’s, and are highly educated with stable jobs (Entreentrepreneur, Patent Office, Biologist, Space – programm, etc.). They usually live in urban area’s and are generally male.
There are a number of characteristics that define the Tech-Adept:
• Big interest in the newest technology (everything from sensors, to materials, gadgets, toys, etc.).
• They use the newest and latest technology.
• Staying on top of technological development is very important, constant research.
• Sharing technology (amongst themselves and with the world.
• Using a lot of Alfa en Beta versions of products or sites. Trying to improve them.
• Constant information feed.
• They don’t use “oldfashion media” such as tv or newspaper.
• They meet in groups, but usually one on one, for serious conversation.
• The computer isn’t perfect, looking for the ultimate device.
Tech-Adepst use technology in a lot of ways. They make their own products using the latest technology; professionally (resaurch), communication (phone tracks location and acts ocordingly) for fun,everyday life (key knows when it’s home, and artistically as shown on this image (Liquid Space 6.0 by Studio Roosegaarde).
Tech-Adepst used to feel embaressed about their interests, but now feel that, being early adaptors, they are on top of technology and all the possillity’s it offers. They know more about this subject then the average person does. The evolution of technology isn’t going to stop, so you might just aswell be on top of it.
Another subculture a came across was the Deaf-Culture. This is a subculture within the the deaf of hearingly impaired community. Being deaf is seen by almost everybody as a handycap. But in Deaf culture, they see being deaf as a variation in human diversity, just like being blonde or brunette for instance.
There are a few characteritics that can be seen in this culture:
• Are usually deaf from birth or young age.
• They write deaf wiht a capital D, in speech Big D Deaf.
• See themsleves as cultural deaf.
• Being completely deaf isn’t necessary to be a part of this culture.
• Being deaf is a difference in human experience rather than a disability.
• In this community, being deaf is a pro.
• Most of the people in Deaf culture want deaf children.
It is defenitely possible to see Deaf-Culture as a separate culture. They share the same values, hisory, art, and language.
Within this subculture there are a few values that are very important:
• Sign language: is seen as the commen language. It’s importend to feel positive about signlanguage.
• Keeping a high awareness of each others environment.
• Introductions are very important.
• Showing up early.
• Possitive attitude towwards deafness.
• Rejection of hearing aids, etc. They see them as a threat.
• Communication with a lot of eye contact, pointing and waving, touching.
In the last persentation, Presentation Wood, I hade to present these two subcultures. After the presentation the Deaf-Culture was choosen.
Before starting with the next stage, designing concepts, I first want to go deeper in to this subculture and do some more research. I want to find a youthculure within the Deaf-Culture. From there on I will try to define some demands that are neccecary to come up with concepts.
In order to find other subcultures I started looking around in all different information resources I could think off. Offcourse I looked on the internet, on certain blogs and youtube for instance. I also spoke to a lot of people I know, from artists (Studio Roosegaarde, Rock Academie, St. Joost Kunst Academie) to engineers (Enviu, classmates). And I also read a lot of lifestyle magazines like Bright and Wired. I even called with the head-editor at Blend magazine.
The first subculture I foud I called the Tech-Adepts. Technology is very important to them Technology is an intergral party of everyone’s life, but for these people technology is a way of life and it affects almost everything the do. They love technology and use high-tech porducts, or make them theirselves. They feel that technology is impowering, and do a lot of research. They usually are in their 30’s, and are highly educated with stable jobs (Entreentrepreneur, Patent Office, Biologist, Space – programm, etc.). They usually live in urban area’s and are generally male.
There are a number of characteristics that define the Tech-Adept:
• Big interest in the newest technology (everything from sensors, to materials, gadgets, toys, etc.).
• They use the newest and latest technology.
• Staying on top of technological development is very important, constant research.
• Sharing technology (amongst themselves and with the world.
• Using a lot of Alfa en Beta versions of products or sites. Trying to improve them.
• Constant information feed.
• They don’t use “oldfashion media” such as tv or newspaper.
• They meet in groups, but usually one on one, for serious conversation.
• The computer isn’t perfect, looking for the ultimate device.
Tech-Adepst use technology in a lot of ways. They make their own products using the latest technology; professionally (resaurch), communication (phone tracks location and acts ocordingly) for fun,everyday life (key knows when it’s home, and artistically as shown on this image (Liquid Space 6.0 by Studio Roosegaarde).
Tech-Adepst used to feel embaressed about their interests, but now feel that, being early adaptors, they are on top of technology and all the possillity’s it offers. They know more about this subject then the average person does. The evolution of technology isn’t going to stop, so you might just aswell be on top of it.
Another subculture a came across was the Deaf-Culture. This is a subculture within the the deaf of hearingly impaired community. Being deaf is seen by almost everybody as a handycap. But in Deaf culture, they see being deaf as a variation in human diversity, just like being blonde or brunette for instance.
There are a few characteritics that can be seen in this culture:
• Are usually deaf from birth or young age.
• They write deaf wiht a capital D, in speech Big D Deaf.
• See themsleves as cultural deaf.
• Being completely deaf isn’t necessary to be a part of this culture.
• Being deaf is a difference in human experience rather than a disability.
• In this community, being deaf is a pro.
• Most of the people in Deaf culture want deaf children.
It is defenitely possible to see Deaf-Culture as a separate culture. They share the same values, hisory, art, and language.
Within this subculture there are a few values that are very important:
• Sign language: is seen as the commen language. It’s importend to feel positive about signlanguage.
• Keeping a high awareness of each others environment.
• Introductions are very important.
• Showing up early.
• Possitive attitude towwards deafness.
• Rejection of hearing aids, etc. They see them as a threat.
• Communication with a lot of eye contact, pointing and waving, touching.
In the last persentation, Presentation Wood, I hade to present these two subcultures. After the presentation the Deaf-Culture was choosen.
Before starting with the next stage, designing concepts, I first want to go deeper in to this subculture and do some more research. I want to find a youthculure within the Deaf-Culture. From there on I will try to define some demands that are neccecary to come up with concepts.
maandag 16 maart 2009
Previous work
Okay, so first I will give an insight on the work I have done so far.
For the first presentation, Presentation Paper, we had to start looking for all kinds of different subcultures in Rotterdam. Rotterdam houses a lot of sub-, youth-, or countercultures. Rotterdam is an intercultural city and therefor has a lot of influences from cultures from other countries. Also, being a metropolis, it has a lot of people that addept and respond to al these cultures in a diferent way. The `general culture` in Rotterdam also leaves a lot of space - and in fact it facilitates - for all these different cultures and subcultures to express themselves and evolve.
I started of by looking for a lot of bigger subcultures to get the hang of searching for signs that could imply a subculture.
These are the subcultures I found...
These subcultures are all quite mainstream, so now, after being wormed up, I have to futher investigate and find new, small and upcoming subcultures.
For the first presentation, Presentation Paper, we had to start looking for all kinds of different subcultures in Rotterdam. Rotterdam houses a lot of sub-, youth-, or countercultures. Rotterdam is an intercultural city and therefor has a lot of influences from cultures from other countries. Also, being a metropolis, it has a lot of people that addept and respond to al these cultures in a diferent way. The `general culture` in Rotterdam also leaves a lot of space - and in fact it facilitates - for all these different cultures and subcultures to express themselves and evolve.
I started of by looking for a lot of bigger subcultures to get the hang of searching for signs that could imply a subculture.
These are the subcultures I found...
These subcultures are all quite mainstream, so now, after being wormed up, I have to futher investigate and find new, small and upcoming subcultures.
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog!
This blog is intended to give an insight on my progression and my ideas concerning a project I'm doing for my bachelor in Industrial Design at the Hogeschool Rotterdam.
The project is called Young Travelling Desginers - Culture Connector. In short the intention of this project is to connect four cities ( Rotterdam, Liverpool, Marseille and Hamburg) by any means necessary, by focussing on different subculterus and getting them to communicate with each other.
For more detailled information about this project you can visit: http://cultureconnector.org/.
This blog is intended to give an insight on my progression and my ideas concerning a project I'm doing for my bachelor in Industrial Design at the Hogeschool Rotterdam.
The project is called Young Travelling Desginers - Culture Connector. In short the intention of this project is to connect four cities ( Rotterdam, Liverpool, Marseille and Hamburg) by any means necessary, by focussing on different subculterus and getting them to communicate with each other.
For more detailled information about this project you can visit: http://cultureconnector.org/.
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