Overall Project Thoughts

As a group we were set a challenge to provide support for tourists visiting Coventry. Our idea was to design an easy to use, personal GPS device aimed at the general public; which was suited for all ages and cultures. We feel that we met and surpassed the requirements of the project by coming up with an original concept and developed that concept. As a group we achieved this by providing a solution for improving tourism within Coventry. We finalised our concept with a project poster. The poster was designed to portray our concept in a simple and effective manner. As a result, our group project was chosen as the best poster from the competition.

The main achievement was working collectively as a unit. We started off with a lot of ideas that we all contributed to and developed them to a final product. We worked as a group throughout, ensuring everyone was happy and understood the concept.

There where many ideas that were contributed to the discussions. Many ideas wanted to be taken further, for example we wanted to create a video of the concept in the real world that we could have shown at the poster show. Also a 3D image of the device to better show the hardware concept and a walkthrough of how the interface would have worked. From some of the feedback we took in from the poster show we realised these could have helped people better understand our concept. With more time we could have also prototyped the concept for people to try out.

We felt that the device met the objectives set out in the brief quite well. The device fits the objectives laid out for us in that it is used around Coventry to guide tourists to particular points of information.

To make sure that the product helped to explore “Hidden Coventry”, the software allows company’s to add themselves to it, making it extendable and therefore something that would grow with use. We also felt that the device was very usable, as it was touch screen and contained very few buttons. We felt that this helped with our focus on making it suitable for all ages.

THE FINAL POSTER

Designing the Logo/Poster

I designed the logo and the background in Adobe Photoshop. The screen print below shows the final image of the design I created from scratch.


When designing the logo I used this image I cropped and incorporated it in the EXPLORER text of the logo using complex clipping masks.

When designing the logo I used this image I cropped and incorporated it in the COVENTRY text of the logo using complex clipping masks.

Here you can see the result of the actions. I used an outer glow effect and full circular showdown to outline the text for the logo and the slogan.

The screen print below shows the background image I created by combing a variety of photos that are famous landmarks in Coventry with a map. I used various effects and tools to achieve this.

Finally this shows the logo and background. I made sure the size was A1 so I could avoid it getting pixelated and the logo was A4 size.

I added the files as shown below to the poster in Photoshop.


I now added the content to the poster and finalized it with the group to ensure it was correct and well structure as we anticipated.


.

GPS Research

GPS Research – Node Explorer

Combine GPS, WiFi, a high-res colour display and audio output. Using GPS to get location data, the Linux-based(open course software), ruggedized unit communicates over WiFi with a nearby Node Server to present info on a location in real-time. Currently envisioned as being a tool for tourists.

This location-based media player, called the Explorer, changes your walk in the park into an interactive learning experience. Node, a British media company, created the Explorer for use in museums, historical sites, and other cultural centres and for cities tours. It uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to determine where someone is within a site and presents interactive information based on that location. The Explorer's presentations are interactive, and they can include guided tours, images, maps, videos and sound clips. In this article, we'll look at the Explorer's hardware and software and see how its use can affect the tourism industry.

It uses a Linux operating system, and it processes and stores interactive presentations using:

• An AMD Alchemy 800 mhz processor
• 256 MB of RAM
• At least 2 GB of storage space

It then plays them using a trans-reflective, high resolution touch screen and 3-D stereo headphones. Its most remarkable feature it is that it uses GPS "Fast Fix" technology to choose which items to play based the visitor's location within the site. It can also mark the visitor's location on an on-screen map. The Explorer unit is just one part of the wireless Node network, which also includes:

• Recharging and data collection docks
• A central server
• Web-enabled computers, which staff members use to access Node software

Ref: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/node-explorer.htm

Ref: http://www.cityshownyc.com/

Ref: http://audioconexus.wordpress.com/gps-audiovideo-systems/

Blog Diary

Gurmeet Singh Ghatora’s Blog Diary

As a group, we arranged that we will have continuous meetings every Fridays. I agreed that it was relevant to have it from 2 to 3pm (+) to discuss, review and assign task roles with each team member. This was agreed and for every meeting we created minutes to discuss points covered, actions taken and items to be pursued at the next meeting. As normal, my group met on Mondays in the assigned studio times to review progress with lecturers and each other. Throughout our project development, I kept a personal log book of what I did in terms of personal contribution to the group which is recorded below.

Friday 11^th Jan 2008

We started off the initial meeting in the common room doing a collective brainstorm of project ideas. I can up with many ideas some of which were identifying the memory size, RAM, considering the operating system like Linux as it open source software, the use of WiFi to connect to shops nearby and get up-to-date adverts that could included on the hardware or software device which yet decided. I was thinking that all do research after doing the brainstorm. We then finished the meeting of assigning roles to each other and suggested that we should all do research on existing products and then narrow down the research.

Friday 18^th January 2008

Since we now done our research we decided to meet up in the computer labs room (AS125) so we can see our research conducted. Existing products I found was a GPS device called Node Explorer which is a GPS device. Also another GPS device called City Show NYC which is used in New York. Another device I found was called AudioConexus. We all had a variety of research from software to hardware devices. At the end of the research we set our self homework to look specifically at hardware interface from the product design to the Graphical User Interface and the technical aspects.

Friday 25^th January 2008

Onto our third meeting we all met up again and reviewed the research we conducted. I did further detailed research on the devices I found. The first being a device called Node Explorer. This is a GPS location-based media player that changes your walk in the park into an interactive learning experience. (Refer to GPS Research – Node Explorer (G.S.G) document). This is a current device which is used as a guided tour in a historic park. I also came up with research on a current GPS device called City Show that you can hire out in New York. It gives you a guided tour depending on your current position. This is a GPS Tour Guide system - you carry it with you as you walk anywhere in New York City. City Show knows where you are. It shows you where you are and what is exciting and interesting near your location. Also another device called Audioconexus which works around the same concept current used in Ontario. I did detailed technical research on these devices and looked at the interface design.

Since we were largely looking at hardware device I suggested that we focus on a specific concept being hardware or software so we agreed that we will focus on a hardware device. I presented these hardware devices to my member and explained their purposes and usage and answered their questions. I also looked at other people research and commented. Since we were at the stage of understanding the concept I suggested we assign task roles to each member. I though we should list what topics areas was relevant for research. I chose the role to do detailed research on Coventry looking at the types of industry there was and what we would put as a point of interest the map. I came up with how the map would look like with POI. I provided the technical research I did to my team for there relevance.

Friday 1^st February 2008

Today we can together as a group and looked at each other research and work created. Each of us evaluated and suggested improvements for each other work. For the device, I suggest to have the screen as a landscape as well as portrait which gives the user more map and a wider angle of map viewing. I suggested this to be implemented and shown on the poster. An Ariel for the device was made with looked rather book and more the device look traditional, so I suggested it to be removed and place the GPS transmitter place inside the device so its not visible. I also added by suggesting the interface to be simple in itself for older people who don’t like technology to use and to make it easy for people with need. We all generally designed the concept together asking each other for help and advice to improve and substantiate the project. I showed my work where I made a list of all the interest areas In Coventry, making the map with POI, creating zones and identifying RFID for WiFi. Some of the additional improvements I made to my task was adding zones to the map so when the user goes through certain areas, adverts/information will show relating to where they are. Also suggesting this will be a good way to promote companies and get them recognized as well as funding the project in itself.

After discussing improvements of each others research we then discussed about the poster show. We understood that it was happening in three weeks I said now was the rite time to start structuring the poster and next week start developing this.

Friday 8^th February 2008

In this meeting we discussed various issues and ideas on our poster for the poster show. We did a brainstorm on the poster. I suggest things like having the poster portrait. Also suggesting it was vital to have the poster looking simple and effective since I felt this was a fine way of presenting information. We did various sketched as a group looking at different layouts and orientation of text and image positioning. I suggested having little text and more images to inform the user and we could explain ourselves on the even. We all agreed on a final layout where there was a large image of the device in the middle and text/images around the device describing and explaining about our concept. We also did self research on trade posters and printing.

Friday 15^th February 2008

During the 2 hour meeting we started to design and structure the poster. We looked back at the sketch we did which shows the orientation of the layout. While my other team’s member continued to structure the poster I set my self a role to design the background of the poster with support from my team. I also fully designed and created a logo which I came up with and a slogan for it. The Logo was called “Coventry Explorer” and the slogan was “Technology taking you places”. When designing the poster, I though in a creative mind to make it look professional and interesting (refer to appendix). We added the content to the poster and I added the background and the logo at the top of the A1 portrait poster. I ensure that we clearly showed the use of landscape viewing of the device. We finalized the poster. I ensure it wasn’t pixelated and saved it in adobe Photoshop on a memory stick so we could leave it with the printer in the library resource centre.

Once finalizing the poster, we decided to talk about the poster shows and decide roles. Our roles were related to what we did for our individual task when developing the project. I was going to talk/show what the points of interest are, how the adverts will be shown and how our project and business benefit from this. In addition to supporting my team members and each other when people ask questions. I had an idea making promotional leaflets to briefly say what the device is about.

Friday 22^nd February 2008

The final official meeting I had with my group. We finalized the poster to ensure it was fully ready. I finished the poster by adding our names to it and saving it as a final PDF file for printing. I helped my group and they helped me become clear of we were to talk about on the poster show. My team and I familiarized ourselves with the whole concept to ensure we were ready for the event. We all went and gave the USB pen drive to the library resource centre so it will be ready to pick up on Monday and check everything is correct. We discussed who will be in on Tuesday morning to pick a spot for the stand. I suggested that the stand shouldn’t be too far away from the entrance yet not to close from the entrance but in between. Its likely people will not go straight to the stand nearest to them but to walk around first. I suggested doing a PowerPoint presentation that will be looped on a laptop at the stand. There was time being an issue, I though that it might be better talking to people and showing them the leaflets rather than showing the presentation.

Tuesday 26^th February 2008

The poster show turned out to be a great success for us as a group as we supported each other and answered challenging question to the best of our knowledge. I got to the event early when a team member and finalized the stand setup. We ensured that we were not too technical for some people but to talk about the concept in a descriptive and explanatory manner. I feel that we achieved this. In addition, as a result, we won the poster show event having the best poster and we were certified for this with a reward.