davidpaulrosser{blog}

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas. I had a few spare hours and made a snowflake in Maya. You can download the picture to use as wallpaper if you want too. See you in 2010!

Download here

Windows Live Dock

I recently completed the Windows Live Dock application. Before I show the finished product im going to detail what this product does and why it does it.

Product details

Windows Live Dock was designed and developed to help anyone with little Windows OS (Operating System) knowledge. The application enables users to access essential programs they frequently use whilst providing a fun and interactive experience. The user engages with the application teaching them the simple Windows interactive elements within the OS. By the applications default settings the user has access to the following programs:

Windows Explorer – Search

The user can search through the OS finding documents easier than the normal search methods within the OS.

Windows Internet Explorer – Google Homepage

The user can launch their default web browser which takes them to the Google homepage by default. I choose to use Google over other websites as it’s simplistic and easy to use.

Windows Live Email

The user can access their emails with their default email application. When the application launches it opens a new message for the user. This was the only way I could launch Windows Live Mail without simulating it like most of the other windows.

Windows WordPad

Here the user can quickly write something down. If the user does not have access to a word processor application within Windows, they can use WordPad. Which is a free, user friendly alternative.

Windows Recycle Bin

The user can delete files through dragging and dropping files into this window (Most interactive and fun way). This is one of the methods a Windows user can delete a file or folder. Other methods are right-clicking on a folder or file and clicking delete from the context menu.

Windows Update

Here the user can download the latest updates from Microsoft. Ensuring their computer is protected against the latest threats and is up to date with the latest software updates.

Windows Ease of Access Center

This is probably the most important shortcut in this application. The user can customize the easability of Windows by changing the following settings:

• Start Magnifier
• Start Narrator
• Start On-Screen Keyboard
• Set up High Contrast
• Use the computer without a display
• Make the computer easier to see
• Use the computer without a mouse or keyboard
• Make the mouse easier to use
• Make the keyboard easier to use
• Use text or visual alternatives for sounds
• Make it easier to focus on tasks

Windows Media Player

Here the user can listen to music on Windows or a connected device. It alse provides them with the ability to listen to their favourite radio stations, download new music and watch DVD’s.

The application

In our last presentation before the December break Giles asked the question “How would the user run the application?”. This made me rethink about the distribution of the application. For example, if the user didn’t have internet capabilities how would they get hold of the application.

So instead of creating a micro-site for the application, I decided to produce a package for the end user. The package would include:

• DVD case
• Windows Live Dock on DVD

The DVD runs a setup application where the user can install Adobe Air and Windows Live Dock. The user also has the ability to watch video tutorials on how to perform each task successfully. This way the user has a guide throughout the process to help them achieve the developers (myself) intentions.

Here’s a graph of the user’s actions for the installation.

1 – 2)

User places DVD in computer

3)

Install screen loads. User clicks install. If user needs help, the user can click the Help button symbolized as the (?).

4)

User can watch video tutorial on required actions. The help text tells user to watch the video then click the install Air button.

5)

User can watch video tutorial on required actions. The help text tells user to watch the video then click the install Windows Live Dock button.

6)

Installation Completed. User can watch video tutorial on how to use the Dock. Help button tells user to close window after watching the video tutorial.

The final product

You can see the final product by clicking here.

Conclusion

Playing with the concepts of interactivity and creating something new and innovative is a hard challenge in modern digital media. It can either require hours of research or a single moment where an idea just clicks in your mind. My final idea isn’t new, but it’s an idea to help and solve an issue. It breaks down the barrier of complexity in Windows for the user.
Interactivity should be for everyone. This means the designer’s need to take into consideration not just the target audience for the product, but also other user’s who might use the product.

My idea of creating an accessible and easy-to-use application for Windows is something that hasn’t been developed for the platform. The user is required to have necessary knowledge of the OS in order to successfully achieve their goal within the OS environment. My design was simplistic, it needed to be in order to be successful with my target audience.
The installer of the application removed unnecessary information and just displayed what needed to be displayed. Using big buttons with video’s made the installer more helpful and easier to use.
If I had more time with this project I would of liked to add more features. One feature would be the functionality of adding and removing additional programs/ shortcuts to the dock. This would of created another level of interactivity within the dock, and would of made it customizable for the user.

In my theoretical framework I talked about how learning computer tools can give opportunities to elderly people (Shneiderman and Plasiant, 2009). They may not of had the chance to learn how to use computers in their childhood / adulthood. As computer’s can provide entertainment and a gateway to social interaction via networking sites, I think it’s important to give the elderly computer user’s a chance. There’s no better time than now than to be connected with your friends and family.

I have achieved what I set out to accomplish with this idea. In the process I have learnt new technologies such as Adobe Air API’s within the AS3 environment.
With the help and criticism from the course lecturer’s and students I have created something that’s helpful for the end user.