Observing Cell Phone Users in Public

Our project originally aimed to record mobile phone users in public and observe their conversations. The final version is a mashup relating real phone users to portrayals of phone use in popular culture.

Youtube Link

Final project, 1,2

Final Project concept mobile proposal one, proposal two

Concept

Mobile devices are more and more part of our everyday life. For my project I intend to make a future mobile. My cell phone is portable and is going to promote to watch television online and play games. I want to see people’s reaction about this concept mobile.

NYC Abandoned Lover

NYCAbandonedLover Blog and Presentation Material

~BUJEMU~

Final version of bujemu website

240x320 - Wallpapers for your phone...

My Final Project, a website where owners of cellphones with screen dimensions of 240x320 can download wallpapers, static and animated.

Promotional Exposure Video Online

Here's a promotional video I put together that explains some of the design reasons behind Exposure. It also demonstrates how the game is played. You'll need the most recent version of Quicktime to watch.

Frank Concept Mobile

Concept
Mobile devices are more and more part of our everyday life. For my project I intend to make a totally fake cell phone. My cell phone is going to promote to watch television online. I want to see people’s reaction about this 3D model cell phone.
Keywords
Mobile, Relation Mobile-society, Industrial Design, Internet
Precedents
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/concepts/
http://textually.org/
http://dogorgod.com/


My concept
http://a.parsons.edu/~fcollazo/cellnew%202.mov

BUJEMU-Update May 2, 2007

bujemu website

Revised NYC Abandoned Lover's sticker

Exposure Re-awakened

The game design I had been working on with a node version of Cruel 2 B Kind had issues regarding a few gameplay mechanics, including the method of a kill and how nodes worked.

I've created a game that is based off of a game I designed last summer that made it through extensive playtesting, but has never been played for a conference. It has been modified to focus on SMS texting for the game's mechanics.

The game is Exposure: 15 Minutes and gives every player a chance to be a celebrity. There will need to be some skewing in celebrity to informant to unknowing player ratios depending on how many people are playing (the game was orginally designed for 250 people, and playtested with 10 to 50). Players earn points by being a celebrity but not being over-exposed (yes it is a direct comment to Mr. Cruise). Players also earn points by sending in "signature" codes of celebrities. However, the information of who is a celebrity at a given time is hidden like in games like Village or Mafia. So players can ask for the signature of any other player, but only celebrity signatures earn points.

For the updated game design doc, check here.

Feedback please

Here are some of the shortened diary entrees I might use for the shirts...what do you think?

4/30/07
I never broke a bone in my body. My body is a miracle.
4/18/07
Today someone stole my empty, old fanny pack that was attached to my bicycle.
3/14/07
I finally found my collection of my baby teeth.
3/9/07
Rainbows and unicorns are beautiful.
3/2/07
I am having a hip pack and sweats party today because it is my birthday.
2/24/07
Karaoke is the only material possession I could never live without.
2/8/07
I will spend the rest of my life missing you.
1/30/07
I convince myself that the things I wish would happen will happen.
1/16/07
I have an inflatable castle, costumes and a karaoke machine in my basement.
1/8/07
I stepped on my fish by accident, but he survived it.

Progress of NYCAbandonedLover

The designed tag with “lover number” is to put on the top of the discarded item for promoting NYCAbandonedLover and encouraging following stories from the person who took it. Link to NYCAbandonedLover

Project Update: QR code

I decided to make a series of shirts with QR code of my personal diary entries. Because there is a limit to the amount of text capacity in each QR code I had to make several parts for each diary entry. Each part will be on a different T-shirt, worn by a different person in a different location. There is no way of knowing what the next part of the entry is without finding the follow up t-shirt. I am thinking of having the diary entries on the website as well or incorporating the site in another way, but I have not decided yet. The website is a work in progress right now but can be viewed here.

Work In Progress..

Here are some of the wallpapers that I will have available on the website.

Final Project

GRAPHICAL REDESIGN
- For my final project I will be creating a set of wallpapers for cellphone users (mainly users of my particular phone, the Helio Drift). People will be able to go to a website and download wallpapers for their phones. In addition to this I will attempt to redesign certain graphical portions of my phone, these include: animated outgoing/incoming call screens, animated wallpapers, animated number screen (shows the numbers on screen as they are pressed), animated power on/off screen, and I would also like to redesign the main menu.
-TECHNICAL HURDLES
- I still have to figure out the best file types needed for various animated screens. I have already determined the format for wallpapers, and have already gotten some custom walls on my phone.
- Need to determine if I can even alter the main menu.
- Not sure if website should be cellphone accessible? Should the wallpapers and other screens be able to be downloaded directly to the phone? I don't know much about created websites accessible from cellphones.
(above: example of one of the wallpapers 240 x 320)

Revised Project Idea

- project name: NYC Abandoned Lover

- project descirption: We are developing a blog which collects all the stories of the abandoned lovers we found on the NYC streets. These abandoned lovers which refers to those discarded items used to have important roles in their lovers' home but were deserted after they were not needed. This blog is a moblog which contains entries posted from our cellphone. We want to use this moblog to raise public awareness of recycling.


- precedents:

1) http://www.freecycle.org/

2) http://garbagescout.com/

- prototype: http://nycabandonedlover.blogspot.com/

Bujemu-update

work in progress for bujemu website **works best in safari for the moment

Update for SMS Outdoor Game Idea

So after a massive redesign of the massive outdoor game, it is now a combination of Jane McGonigal and Ian Bogost's game Cruel 2 B Kind and Unreal Tournament 2004's Onslaught.

It is a territorial assassin game that will cause random acts of kindness. All player feedback will occur through an SMS Gateway.

Here's the first draft of the game's design doc.

Jane McGonigal posted new footage from the GDC version of Cruel 2 B Kind here.

Project Proposal

Barcode shirts: I want to create a series of shirts that have mobility 2D barcodes on them. They will be readable by mobile phones. Someone can use their phone to scan the barcode on the shirt. The scan will translate the barcode to reveal the profile of the person wearing the shirt. You can see the persons age, name, interests, or whatever they chose as their profile. I plan to silkscreen this code on the shirts. I can use either of the following websites to create my own barcodes: Quickmark or Kaywa. For now I will make simple barcodes that reveal one word or a URL when you scan them. Full profiles are more complicated to create and I think it could be more interesting to have one word or statement. U.S phone companies do not program thier phones with the technology needed to scan these barcodes, so testing this project will be difficult. I hope to expand on this idea and put barcodes on ties, backpacks and jewelry. A similar project already exists and is described here: Shyno. Instead of using barcodes, these shirts have sms code. If you are interested in the person wearing the shirt you can go to the website and send a message to the person. I don't plan on this being a "matchmaking" project. I am more interested in using the barcodes to represent random words and ideas that might trigger conversations between people.

Cell Phone Sonar Proposal

The concept behind Cell Phone Sonar was to create a big-scale outdoors game that exists in both in a virtual space and real space. In the game, players would navigate the gaming space by getting feedback from their cellphones. So if a player needed to work through a maze or find a node location, the cell phone would be able to give them some direction.

This project would focus entirely on getting the cell phone to work as a feedback device for navigating a game space. This could work off of GPS location, tower location, or both. How the player interacts with the phone to find a location would be limited to the best possible technological solution, but it should be clear enough for the player to find their way.

Known Issues: There is several major problems that have emerged in the research to make this project. First, not every cell phone has GPS available. Tower location is dependent on the cell phone's service. The biggest problem is getting a universal application made for multiple cell phone types that will check location. Though it would be possible to map a pre-selected area using Mike Edward's Sydewynder, there would need to be an application installed to every player's phone that would check for location. This could be player-initiated or check on an interval, but since there is no universal coding language for cell phones, and each model needs a re-coded application, this project seems dead in the water.

It may be possible to build a Sydewynder version of Cell Phone Sonar through one of the school's Nokia phones, but this would be limited to one phone and wouldn't be applicable to a big-scale game.

Project Idea

- project member: Chia-Ying Lin and Hsiao-Ying Huang

- project descirption: We are interested in making use of cellphone as a useful tool for spreading and receiving information quickly and easily. We would like to set up an interface for people to share information of recycled items in New York City
1) Users need to register to become a member of the webiste.
2) Share info: If a person finds a recycled item on New York street or wants to give out a recycled item, he/she can send a text message with specified format to the website. Rule for Text Message: item: red leather sofa and a bunch of wooden chairs, very good condition; location: 13th st. & 6th ave.
3) Receive info: The website will then send out this information to the registered members with the specified requirements. For example, if a person specifies the need of a sofa in east village, he/she will be informed if this kind of information becomes available. Rule for Requirement: item: sofa; location: brooklyn.
4) Question: Do we need to send out the message to users when the item is taken?

- precedents:
1) http://www.freecycle.org/
2) http://www.equipfinder.com/

bujemu

Yudi and I are going to make a project that brings different religions together in the form of advice. The advisors are Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad (this is what bujemu stands for). The interaction will be that the user sends a text message with the word "love" and then gets a reply that states what each religious figure says about love. Hopefully this project can also promote discussion about the significant similarities between religions and their views.

Project Idea

Kate and I came up w/this idea: We are going to explore the notion that we do not control our phones, our phones control us. Take the Forbes editor Dennis Kneale who lasted 40 hours in what was supposed to be a week without his cell phone (amongst other things such as e-mail). Clearly the technology has a hold over us as we’ve grown to become reliant on it. We are setting out to show this in a more literal sense where our actions are controlled by voters via text messages.

Project Ideas

My first idea was a dating service using cellphones: People can have profiles with a picture on their phone, when they come in range of others with a compatible profile, their phones will let each other know, exchanging profiles, pictures, and contact information.
Quickly after searching for this in google, I had found that some MIT students had already done this, or at least come up with the idea. Blind Dating Via Text Messaging
Second idea: I was thinking that restaurants, stores, clubs, drug dealers, and other businesses could somehow send out a text message to people who come within range, with their information such as special events, prices, menus, special offers, etc. Bluetooth in Grocery Store
Third idea: With your cellphone, you would be able to purchase products in an actual store while physically in it. For example, if you a see a cd and want to buy it, but don't want to wait in line, you can use your credit card to purchase it on your phone. A signal would be sent that turns off the signal emitted by the cd so that when walking out of the store, alarms would not go off.

Are you kidding me?

Someone has been inspired to leave a comment on the "Michelle Pfeiffer in salon" video I posted on youtube. You can see it here. You wil see that ChoctawCreek is asking if I am serious. Of course that is for me to know and him/her to find out. The seriousness of this footage will remain a secret for all Michelle Pfeiffer fans to ponder over.

Flyer & Postcard

Link to actual sized flyer.
My video of a guy getting hit by a taxi.

Dumped Over SMS

My students all broke up with me over text messaging this week. I posted the sometimes harsh, sometimes kind words telling me to move on...

-Listen bitch, its over

-Paul ive put up with your crap for too long. i just cant live this way anymore! its not working out. im sorry. no need to txt back, just another 5 cents to lose

-I seen the way you be lookin at Ira all sexy in class! We through! Booyah sucker i dont get played like that!

-(Bye pablito)I dont want to hurt you but there is something wrong about us from beguining we always have bad days anyway you are the worst remember that night at park the baseball old times never back youuu are the last person i going to see ever dont dothattootherdont eventrybye pablo adios

-This might seem harsh but we both knew from the beginning i didnt want this to be a long term thing.It's over, take care.

-Paul, i am out!

-Im sick of being ashamed to introduce ur ugly ass to my friends & besides my dad hates u. its over

-I must leave you. Forgive that i made you do terrible things, i know you miss your right eye. i made a mistake in treating you the way i did. You deserve

Exhibit A

I was able to get this footage off of a cell phone that I found on the street. If anyone has any information about this please alert the authorities immediately!

Exhibit A

David Blane Busted!

That doesn't look like a cigarette to me Mr. Blaine!!!David Blaine was caught on a callphone camera this weekend smoking a strange substance and repeatedly muttered obscenities. See for yourself...

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING!!

terrorist caught on cell phone camera! this terrorist is seen diagramming the inner workings of the subway system! the subway camera ban is not enough in this post 9/11 age! call, write, or email your elected official and demand legislation banning pens, journals, and the formation of new memories in the subway! If you see a suspicious package or [brown person] activity in the subway, do not keep it to yourself! Alert a police officer, train or bus operator, station personnel or call 888-NYC-SAFE (888-692-7233).

floating in the dark

catch732 seems bobbing up and down in the ocean,waiting to be rescued! What was going on with it? check it out!

stalking...

The sound of the woman's shoes striking the pavement and my proximity to her as we walked down the sidewalk felt like that oh so familiar scene in a murder mystery/horror flick just before the psycho strikes... I captured this on my cell... Stalker. ALSO... grab this code to embed your 3gp movies into your own html pages, so there's no download necessary...

Dancing

Finally the snow is here in New York. Got to record this magnificent moment. Check out the videos: dancing1 & dancing2.

Wish this one was made up...

So my in-laws live in a menagerie of 2 dogs, 3 cats, and a large blue macaw, named Miko. That's not the odd part. Whenever we go to their house for a chicken dinner they give Miko a large hunk of dark meat. I've developed a sick fascination watching a bird eat bird, so I needed to document it and share for everyone. The music in the background was by accident, but it gives the whole scene a feeling of Silence of the Lambs meets Hairspray. What can I say? I'm from Baltimore. We're all wierd like that. Just ask John Waters. Here's the video.

UFO over Elizabeth, New Jersey!!!!

I was filming my ride back from NYC to NJ when we were passing Elizabeth and I happened to see an odd shape in the sky zipping around. I was a sceptic in flying saucers before, but check out the video!

Franklyn cell Text Messague

Hi everyone
My cell franklyn and this is my text message pictures

Where were you when...?

"Where were you when...?" Assignment by Hsiao-Ying

waiting in days

This is Chia-Ying and her cell phone, catch732. My photo essay is about waiting. We wait everyday, wait for traffic, wait for checking, wait for trains, wait for holidays, wait for the time to lunch, wait in the freaking cold weather for school’s pathetic elevators. But one thing we don't wait in New York—we don't wait for lights to cross streets. Here is the photo link.

Text Message Assignment

Here is my txt message assignment.

interesting article...

Phone in throat, boyfriend in cell
INDEPENDENCE, Missouri (AP) -- A jury convicted a man of second-degree domestic assault Saturday for shoving a cell phone down his girlfriend's throat.
Prosecutors said Marlon Brando Gill, 25, of Kansas City, forced the cell phone into Melinda Abell's mouth during a quarrel in December 2005.
Gill denied the charge, claiming that Abel had tried to swallow the phone to prevent him from finding out whom she had been calling. More...

MOMA

Hi everyone I am Yudi, sorry can not take a picture with my cell phone(old style phone)so I used my digital camera to get photos. This is a picture that I took from my recent trip to MOMA. This was my first visit to the museum since the renovation. It was nice to see the arts in the new setting and just to remanding myself how great New York City is.

Its Name is "B"

This is Andrew LaMorte. My cellphones name is "B". That is my cellphone, not the one I borrowed from the DT lab to take pictures with, that ones name is "Nok". This is my first time taking pictures with a cellphone, its pretty cool, im liking it.

Cellphone Essay (still in progress)
Text Message Assignment (still in progress)

be the pirate

My cell phone already had a name, but i was going to change it for this class. My last phone's name was Pirate. When I got this phone, i wanted to name it Pirate but didn't want to confuse my phone's bluetooth device list. So I named it "Be The Pirate" as a helpful reminder for my everyday life. Later, I realized that this phone sucks, so instead of naming it "suckass" or "fuckyourselfdiedie" I kept the original name.

I thought it would be piratelike to take photos at a funeral.

Chalk Street Artist

How are you? This is frank and my cell, FRANKLYN. I love to take pictures with my mobile. I explore NY with my cell camera and take some night pictures. I catch the chalk street artist. These paintings are just one day exhibit. The next day is nothing on the street.

NY Images

Hi all, this is Hsiao-Ying and her cell phone, Buddy. Cannot think of any other names better than this because my cell phone is like my buddy. In the morning, Buddy is my alarm clock who wakes me up. When shopping, Buddy is my caculator. When being bored, Buddy is my mini play station. Buddy is with me 24/7. I like to take pictures very much and Buddy is also helpful whenever I want to do so. Although the quality of the pictures is not as good as the quality of a real camera, it is really convenient. Please see the album: NY Images of my recent collaboration with Buddy.

noise.

I still cannot get over the irritating camera shutter noise my phone makes. There is not even anyway of disabling it, even if the phone is on silent. It is a problem. The noise makes me uncomfortable for it seems like sabotage; as if my phone must alert passers by of my actions. I am betrayed by my technology! Therefore I have taken pictures of bars and barriers, though my prison bars are self made, for Montaque remains by my side, despite his ulterior motives.

Ear's Eye View

My photo essay explores what is seen to the left and right of my head while my cell phone (little pablo) is against my ear and in the talking position as I am walking down 5th ave. Randomly shooting photos, I can walk with The phone. The photos come out at a slight angle and nobody would suspect that I was taking photos.

Cellf Portrait

This is an intimate look at the relationship between stargaze, my cellphone and I. It is me, I am it, united at the hip, literally... Only it is from my cell phones point of view. Stargaze is new in my life and it is having some identity issues. My previous cell phone got a lot more attention from me, but then I lost it somewhere on the Manhattan bridge (I think it is in the river now). Stargaze Motherbod( It is suppose to be Stargaze Motherboard, but the banner on the phone only allows 18 letters so I had to cut the "a" and "r" out.) has yet to me crammed full of sounds, music, pictures and videos from my life. This photo essay is the beginning of an infinite look at our relationship, from the close up pores of my human cheek to the invisible radioactive sound waves that bounce off my brain into outer space where me and stargaze travel at the speed of sound together forever and ever.

Shandy and the Edison Jaunt

This is Dex, and my cell phone Shandy. We tested people's sense of personal space in a crowded train from NYC to Edison, NJ. In standing room only, shoulder to shoulder, you can get you camera phone within inches of other people and take their picture without them realizing or caring. Is it a commentary on how people view cell phones? Or is it that everyone tunes out the rest of the world on a packed commuter train? Either way, only one guy twitched in an hour ride.
Here's the images.

Buttery Goodness -- Stunt Phone Extraordinaire

Hey, this is Mike Edwards, the human pal of Buttery Goodness, Stunt Phone Extraordinaire. I'm investigating how the small, sturdy, wireless cameras can be used to entertain in ways the Romans understood well--by means of serious physical peril! Here is the gallery. All shots by Buttery Goodness of its pals Nokia Stunt Double and Clamshell Sanyo!

WELCOME!

Hey all... please link your photo essays and the name of your cellphone to this blog... This blog should work as an index of your ideas and creations. We will refer to this blog when looking at your work. Also I suggest you start a flickr account and then we can form a group and link to it from this site. Thanks! Class site