19世紀的霧都重現

幾天來倫敦真是爆冷的，氣溫動不動就給林北降到零度。
這聖誕節前夕，林北買了個踹趴(tripod)給自己當作禮物，要來實行之前想很久的計畫，拍清晨的倫敦 但是想到要早起是何等難事，還是硬著頭皮上BBC查了一下天氣預報明天居然6-12點起霧ㄝ，
天啊～～～～
霧中的倫敦，又黑死又寂靜，這可不是我期盼已久的倫敦嗎！
(驚)欣喜之餘，心中不忘呼喊著vampire and the Jack Ripper的出現XD

很高興地跟A碼約好明早六點起床，但心中犯嘀咕(這小姐要是明天起的來，林北頭給妳咬)
大約12點半就匆匆忙忙上床睡覺，隔天要早起啊！

清晨六點，窗外還是一片漆黑，吃完了早餐也小聊一下MSN後，天空漸漸泛出靛色，約七點多
全副武裝後準備一探霧中的倫敦。
由於林北家的爛公寓位在極好的地點(London Bridge)附近，只需步行15分鐘能到達
Southbank+Tower Bridge一帶，平常人聲鼎沸的觀光勝地。
林北扛著踹趴小黑沿路狂照一直到達Hilton附近，
發現濃霧中半個鬼影也沒有，空氣聞起來又濕又寒，
只聽見偶爾傳來烏鴉叫聲與露水滴答聲，一切只能說這真的是太倫敦了啊！(狂喜)



若要形容陰雨中的倫敦，大約是60%的冷灰階。
若要形容濃霧中的倫敦，大約是30%的冷灰階。
總之，冬天倫敦的景色只能用冷灰階來區分其不同的狀態。



這濃霧實在是將倫敦包覆的太超現實，林北走到泰唔士河邊，居然見不著Tower Bridge，
一片白茫茫。
身陷其中，像極恐怖電影中的場景，或是回到開膛手傑克的那個世紀。
如此的能見度，而另林北聯想到英國藝術家Anthony Gromley近期一件有名的作品---Blind Light。

但是這各早晨的濃霧只是將那件詭異又出色的概念擴大成城市般的場域，
也只有早起的外國窮苦留學生能體驗這超現實的4各小時。

更多照片看這邊→

Marilyn Manson at Wembley Arena

為了體驗依下地獄般的暢快淋漓，林北跟大維決定前往魔鬼的演唱會。
瑪莉蓮曼參，Marilyn Manson。來自米國加洲的魔鬼，相信大家都知道他吧。
這次的演唱會在Wembley Arena舉行，我門七點半就準時進場，
沒想到搖滾區沒有很多人，就選定離舞台正中央不遠處等待，
等開場的過程中，已陸陸續續見到一些臉上畫著屍妝的男男女女，
(但是有些比較隨便的白痴笨蛋，臉上的裝很像吃炸醬麵沒擦嘴
亂塗一通的樣子比非洲土著還像土人)
他們像是來朝聖般，等待著地獄之門開啟。

經過一個多小時的暖場團，Retox，一個穿著海盜裝
又打赤膊的肥子又吼又跳地將大家情緒漸漸帶入死亡的氛圍中。

暖場完後，舞台垂下巨大有血跡圖騰的黑幕，等待魔鬼的現身。
燈光漸漸暗了，布幕後燒著火紅的煙霧，
阿～～～～魔鬼來了。
第一個鼓點猛力奏下，像是開啟了地獄之門，
人潮不斷地猛力往前推擠，
這時刺激的來了，舞台上的大魔王頓時現身，
搖滾區瞬間就成了人間煉獄，
大家隨著音樂發瘋似的狂跳，也卯起來像前擠。
林北被擠到感覺要將下午吃的chicken burger吐出來，
雙手被擠到胸前，整個人被推擠到雙腳懸空，
那時覺得快呼吸不過來，有點像是將要被做成木乃伊的感覺。

"我覺得快要死了。"
潛意識想要逃離這煉獄，索性就豁出去，
用定拐子的招數硬是把前仆後繼的人潮
推開一點點，盡量擠到旁邊去。

但是，林北終於見到大魔王了！


有一首歌，Manson是站在一個巨大的椅子上嘶吼，
他以SM的一些招數加上鋼管女郎的姿勢，雙腿大剌剌的劈開
幾乎以高難度的動作完成這首歌，但是他還是可以吼的很黑死。

林北我被擠到很靠近吉他手的前面，這各吉他手超酷
不會搶戲(當然是搶不過大魔王啦)但是很有個人魅力，
動作也很帥，還換了兩把不同顏色的吉他。
(這時想到暗扉中的吉他手，只能說"很像是路人")

地獄中一定要有的手勢。
卯起來噴乾冰和灑滿滿天的白紙片很像
通往地獄的情景，第一次被乾冰和紙片包圍的感覺。

散場後，留下超多的垃圾與滿地的啤酒，碼的有夠黏。


結束這場練獄般的朝聖，回到家還在耳鳴，
但是林北注意到現場的音響設備都是以懸吊為主，
音質真的還不錯，沒有刺耳或爆音的發生，
也感受到那火力全開的震撼感。

英國十大謬法(轉載)

英國女王伊莉莎白二世今天在國會演說的內容或許了無新意，
但絕不會有人無聊到死，因為那是法所不容。
英國法令規定，在國會大廈裡死亡是違法行為。
根據一個英國電視頻道對近四千民眾所做的調查，
這是英國最荒謬的法規，遠遠超過排名第二的條文。
在今天的演講場合，國會上院（貴族院）
議員都穿著紅白相間的貂皮長袍，
各國駐英使節也穿著五顏六色的本國傳統服飾，
但法律規定，嚴禁穿著一身盔甲在國會現身。

英國金色電視台（UKTV Gold）對三千九百三十一人進行意見調查，
所列舉的法規是從專家針對古老法規已經公布的研究報告中挑選出來。
雖然後來的立法使這些老掉牙的法規失效，但它們並未正式廢止。
根據意見調查結果，英國十大荒謬法規如下：

一、在國會大廈死亡是違法行為。
二、把印有英國君主圖像的郵票上下顛倒貼在信封上，是叛國行為。
三、在利物浦，女性不得裸露上身，除非她任職於熱帶魚店。
四、在耶誕節不得食用水果餡餅。
五、在蘇格蘭，如果有人敲門要求借用廁所，必須准許入內。
六、孕婦可以在任何地點解手，包括使用警察頭盔。
七、英國海岸發現鯨魚屍體時，鯨頭自動歸國王所有，鯨尾歸於王后。
八、不告訴稅務人員你不想讓他知道的事情，是法律所禁止，
但不介意讓他知道的事情也不告訴他，並不違法。
九、禁止穿著全套盔甲進入國會大廈。
十、在約克古城牆內，謀害攜帶弓和箭的蘇格蘭人是合法行為。

原文出處>

我是窮苦留學生(part2)

在外頭吃東西真的是又貴有難吃，
幾乎是天天自己下廚，菜色也不過就那幾樣，
不知不覺中自己愛挑剔的個性顯現在食物上，
同一道菜必須依自己的口味來煮，漸漸可以磨練出有餐廳的品質，
不過至今我只能對可樂雞腿有把握做的有水準，
達到色香味俱全，因為這真是一道懶到不行的菜啊。
但是加上林北自行研發的步驟，
還有獨家小撇步來提味(中南部民眾的最愛)...
想吃的朋友們，趕快來報名啊！

愛麗絲畢業展

林北與Satoko還有女鬼受愛麗絲之邀去看她的Degree Show,
展場位於泰吾士河畔的OXO Tower Gallery,
展出Kingston Arts 所有MA學生的作品，
也包括讀Curation的愛麗絲本人的一面牆其中的左上角。

林北頭毛後的那四張白色的圖就是這次受邀來看展覽的重點，
也就是這位小姐的得意之作(其實是展他的dissertation)。
Alice, well done+Congratulations!

Lazy Morning

一早醒來，溫暖的陽光就刺穿窗簾進入我的房間，
雖然外面只有十度上下的氣溫，
但難得的好天氣一下就逼走了我的起床氣。

看著窗台上從B&Q抱回來的小翠綠松柏組(四棵一組)，
突然想起三年前在台北房間的窗檯前也擺著那麼一株翠綠，
也是在聖誕節前兩各月抱回家的，
那時我就硬是不給他澆水，活活成了乾燥花，
不過也是一番美景在我那小天地。

看看這次會不會給林北爭氣點，
千萬別在Christmas前就給我掛點啊。

挑戰快手快腳做飯

這天林北我餓到哭腰，想說來挑戰快炒做菜極限，
當下衝到Sainsbury's準備好食材， 開始計時...
一口氣切好了蒜末和青蔥末
用紅酒醃好了牛肉絞肉，
將小黃瓜和彩椒洗淨切成丁，
淚流滿面地將生洋蔥切成絲，
洗米煮飯...一切備妥後，
全部丟下鍋大火給他快炒，牛肉在蔥蒜爆香後
加入一些沙茶醬(炒牛肉的好朋友)。
再把冰箱剩下的老蛋和老番茄，來一下蕃茄炒蛋。
滴答滴答..........
兩道菜就完成上桌了，看了一下時間
耶居然沒花到一小時啦T_T
吼炒牛肉真是超好吃的啦，林北以後來開一間"掉嘎熱炒"。

Autumn in Lon

色彩炫麗的秋天今年在倫敦提早來報到，

全倫敦的人都感受到去年冬天一點也不冷，

所以今年一定會爆冷，

(Global warming 已經變成一種common sense了T_T)

不料從上星期開始塭度就驟降，

白天最高溫也只有十度左右，

夜間就只剩5.6度了。

Emma的奧林趴濕相機已經在蠢蠢欲動

(其實是主人在擱擱迪說要去拍秋景)

林北也好久沒重回olympus那顏色犀利捕捉的感覺了，

今天一出門急凍的冷風就迎面襲來，

不得不披上我那zara大衣(ㄎㄎ...沒洗過)

去了攝政公園(Regent's Park)走走，

果然見到滿遍的橙黃落葉與零星泛紅小樹叢，

真是超美的啦，但是一邊照相，雙手已經失溫，

去星巴克買嘎逼的時候，

因手指失去知覺而無法準確地捏起零錢XD。

(更多像片要看這裡→)

我是窮苦留學生(part 1)

要在物價比台北高三倍的倫敦討生活不是件容易的事，

雖然說我還在吃家裡的老本(還沒找到工作啦T_T)，
平常買衣服時我可以再H&M來回走各十幾遍才決定哪件最便宜
又時穿才能安心的買下去，基本上一切的奢侈品花費都得精打細算，

更別說是家具這種大型的定位擺飾了，其實通常家具的氣氛營造比
其物件本身實質的功能還令人注意，就在種種的考量下，

林北家的客廳需要一個電視櫃！

天啊！

普通在Ikea一個簡單的櫃子可能都得花費近百英磅才能得手，

那輪得到窮苦留學生來享受。

好在有工業設計背景經過室內設計老媽薰陶下又加上冰雪聰明的我，

厚著臉皮去wine shop跟店員要廢棄的紅酒木箱，事實上那木箱是有

在當作donation來拋售的，但捐獻的金額被建議是2英鎊一個箱子。

Unfortunately 遇到了窮鬼，林北就假裝用兩各50P銅板充當2鎊的金額，

狂買了好多木箱回家，之後在敲敲打打拼拼湊湊成

電視櫃、書櫃、DVD櫃，還有實用的鞋櫃。

真是便宜又實用呀！

前陣子受港同學之託(她也是有撿破爛的個性)，

幫她訂了一個類似胖殼精用的浪跡天涯小木箱，

還是可以開合並有小輪子可以趴趴走的呢，

害她還被醉鬼投以羨慕的眼光，可隨流浪漢移動的紅酒箱XD!

爾後等港同學後其加工好再po給大家看看。

St Paul's Cathedral附近的 PUB

由於家中幼稚的Mr. Richard準備到Island與女友度假一星期，
之後又得旋即飛到義大利出差一個多月，
這天晚上突然意識到之後與大家相聚時間不多，
晚餐後說要來去喝上一杯，
酒鬼的我們當然馬上答應啦(林北+A碼)
但是家中附近有近二十家的大小pub,當然要去有fu一點的，
不幸的是明明是英國人卻啥也不知道，
因為Richard從Newcastle來 只得由我這外國人當地陪，
挑了一間位於St Paul's Cathedral附近的pub。

Ye Old London,建於倫敦大火之後，與St Paul's再十七世紀完工，
建築師是Sir Christopher Wren。
Pub內部有英國那種很傳統的紅皮沙發，還有滿桌的蠟燭，
當然與少不了真的fire place，真是超愛的啦。

Satoko+Emma

our scarfs, it's been cold already...

Satoko+Emma+Wayne

Satoko+Richard+Wayne

那幼稚的李察先生很喜歡說林北很矮，

還逼我們在牆壁上做記號量身高，很像小時後爸媽幫我做過的事XD!

(請注意他的手在幹麻？是種族歧視嗎？)

ST.ETHELDREDA'S

這天趁著秋高氣爽，原本計畫想去Royal College Surgeons
學院內附設的Museum，聽說那裡展有大量的生物標本。
不料，林北與A碼(Emma)小姐一路從London Bridge走到
Holborn，沿途被太多很有fu的秋天景緻給吸引，拍了不少照片。
(→請看這裡。)

其實身為骨子裡是酒鬼的我們一路上逛了兩間pub，
他們都是歷史悠久，很有特色的英國傳統酒吧，
其中一間，名為Ye Olde Mitre建於1546年，且被選為
全英國第三受歡迎的pub，而位於這小pub旁是一間
歷史悠久的天主教堂ST.ETHELDREDA'S(建於13世紀)，
進去參觀時，格外的安靜，但隱約傳來唱詩歌的聲音，
我們躡手躡腳滴走進，發現大廳點滿著黃色的燈光，
襯著牆上真人比例的雕像，與滿座穿著正式的英國人，
原來是一場溫馨的婚禮啦！

但現場因為氣氛太古老，加上真人唱詩班配合著
巨大的管風琴奏出的音樂，與燭光熠熠；
整各太像中古世紀的地下祕密集會，
黑死中卻帶有溫馨(尤其新郎將戒指套在對方的無名指上)。


林北與A碼就像是狗仔隊般在後面不停低拍照，
但是因為快門的聲音太大好幾次被黑衣人注意到，
A碼小姐還不小心撞掉nero的咖啡杯蓋，
很大聲，總覺得要是被發現會被bishop抓去
吊死或是釘在十字架上再燒死。XD!

最後當然沒去成Museum，一路上實在是太多的分心，
但是小有收穫的啦。

汪狗牛排

好久沒有發表做菜的心得了，經過半年多的磨鍊，
只要看到好吃的菜，如果不難做的話，林北都會給他試一下，
畢竟在倫敦討吃的實在很貴又難吃，還不如自己下廚大吃ㄧ頓。
上個月在費城的Michelle大姊家呆了近一個星期，當然天天被
餵食的飽飽的，也跟好手藝的大姐學做了牛排。
回英國後有一點點長肉的跡象，為了這難得的好現象，
就來做一頓牛排餐過過癮。

吃牛排林北是喜歡mid-well沒有血但是又不會太生，
就是七分熟啦。但重點在自製的磨菇醬，
準備大量的蒜泥爆香後，再將洋蔥絲與切片磨菇一起快炒，
熟後再加入水與大量的黑胡椒香料與鹽，
悶煮致醬汁漸變濃為止，但我們都餓到哭腰了，
只好作弊加太白粉讓它快濃稠一點，
香濃的黑胡椒磨菇醬就成啦。

用butter大火將牛排煎至想要的熟度，
煎之前要先用紅酒將牛肉醃伊陣子，避免腥味。
在配上川燙後的紅羅蔔花椰菜等配料裝飾一下。

淋上香濃的磨菇醬汁，不輸給"我家牛排"的啦(泣)。

酒足飯飽後，咱們亞洲人敎Richard如何照相裝可愛，
耶耶耶耶，牛排挑戰成功.......。

London City Hall

這整各星期，成天窩在家裡找工作做網頁，

感覺屁股有點生褥瘡的跡象，

是該出去走走，熊熊想起這weekend是十月的第一個週末，
當然有好康的，與da-wei+Alice去London City Hall碰碰運氣，
聽說每月第一個周末是open house，就去給它瞧瞧看。

倫敦市政府是請英國建築大師Norman Foster的團隊所設計的，
並在2002年完工由Queen親自開幕這各看來很像蟲俑的蛋型建築，
而其是southbank具代表性的建築之一，
位於Tower Bridge旁，其實據林北家步行15分鐘而已啦。

在內部擁有卯起來螺旋結構的這建築，
林北覺得她不如Foster其他的作品那般出色，
尤其是那螺旋的樓梯從頂端直通到底部的Champer會議中心，
結構和視覺上有些複雜。
底部的會議廳，是倫敦市長Ken Livingstone(暫譯：啃活石) 與
BBC媒體朋友會面發表政見的地方。
我們也給他在會議廳假裝聽了一下政見，
其實腦中想著台灣議會打架扯領帶的畫面。

咱們上了十樓樓頂，環繞在外面的觀景走廊，
可欣賞300度的倫敦市景，其中的60度走不過去，
Foster本人當初設計時也沒想到這點。
右邊的照片是與擅長裝氣質的Alice本人合照。

由於觀景走廊礙於外觀超大曲面的斜角設計，
護欄與地面有一個還不小的空隙，
林北就很俏皮地鑽到下面來一張，
玻璃上面還有對岸Tower of London的倒影。

內部的螺旋梯是除了頂樓的風景外，第二項重點主打。
實在是看到眼花走到腳軟。

完整相簿請看王大維。

Richard caught Richard

自從搬進來這各flat之後，
已經輾死過無數隻蟑螂，但卻始終卻沒抓過幾隻老鼠。
說到老鼠在這房子裡與我們為敵已有半年的光景了，
這的確是說來話長：


年初二月搬進來時，一天夜裡我+Phillip+Satoko在客廳聊得起勁，
聽到黑漆的廚房傳來一陣翻攪塑膠袋的聲音，
下意識想說會是"有鬼"=_=
但被鐵齒的Phillip說那一定是"某種生物"在廚房搞鬼，
他馬上二話不說拿起相機，攝影師的職業病瞬間鬼上身，
設定好光圈快門還有焦距和解析度與閃光等等等，
鏡頭對準了烏漆媽黑的塑膠袋，準備捕捉老鼠的蹤跡。
三個人就這樣一語不發、屏氣凝神低在客廳"狩獵"一個多小時，
突然間又聽到廚房傳來塑膠帶的聲音，按下快門
將照片放大好幾倍，果然發現有一隻眼睛發亮的rat，
當下大家決定將它命名為"Richard"
(其實我和Satoko至今都搞不懂為啥要叫老鼠為李察?)

.............
或許這一切都是冥冥中注定的。家中有了Richard之後，
不時會看見他們的蹤影，而這名子也漸漸朗朗上口，成為常與室友談論的話題。
上個月，由於Phillip要與朋友同搬去住(其實是與大家鬧翻XD)，我們開始積極找室友。
一天我才re-posted廣告，五分鐘內接到要來看屋的電話，
還沒到家就見到一位西裝筆挺的年輕人擋在家門口，
他說他叫做Richard，在London Bridge附近工作。

.............
接下來幾天內莫名地快速成為我們的新室友，人非常的friendly，
Satoko和我才驚覺然來老鼠變成真正的Richard!!!
一晚當Richard(新室友)在睡覺時，Richard(老鼠)爬到他的手臂上把他給嚇醒，
隔天家中角落就出現許多捕鼠夾與老鼠藥。
今天終於逮到一隻Richard，不過肚子已經被夾扁，
因該是內臟受到外力猛力的衝擊，內出血過多導致死亡的。
但是呢，
Richard本人非常地高興還再林北撇條完後拿死老鼠嚇我，
甚至開心合影留念咧。

我許了願

昨晚做了一個夢

燒香拜拜前香火就是點不著，

費勁點著後，

卻只剩幾秒可以許願；

超快速度許了兩個願，

不知道神明有沒有聽清楚，

香火又熄了。

今天剛剛開張

耶～～～～
林北我要來買大串的鞭炮來放啦，真是高興啊
命運多舛的我，真的是快被英國的網通公司給搞死
折磨的半年多，家中的網路是由我本人親手給它set up。
英國的服務業說多賤就有多賤，要多慢有多慢！
好了，現在終於有還算快的網路可以用，但是你知道嗎...
林北的課程結束了啦！！！
anyway,新的網志被我移到這邊來，今天剛剛開張
前鎮子有po好幾篇，不過都是為了final project做問卷用的
從今以後，這邊將成為我無止境抱怨的天地，耶～～～～

親朋好友們，要常常來的啦。耶～～～～

Result from Final Testing

According the results of final UI testing, I've got some feedback
and helpful comments from the users.

{Main Page}
1) Can you find the introduction information of this website?
Yes100% / No, Why?
2) Is it easy to find where you can log in this website?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?
3) Is it easy to find where you can sign up?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?
4) Do any buttons look unfamiliar?
Yes55% / No45%, Why?
All the buttons are in the same colours, which are either in green or yellow.
5) Is the provided information from this page easy to read?
Yes100% / No, Why?
6) Do you understand what the buttons mean?
Yes100% / No, Why?
7) Did you identify any patterns with the colours?
Yes45% / No55%, Why?

Comments
It looks quite easy to use with clear information,
but the interface looks a bit simple.
It is not easy to catch the name of the web-site.
I like the colours of text because it is very easy to
notify users what the web-site provides
The position of the sign-in button is too far from
the others, since the screen of PDA device is very small.

{Log-in Page}
1) Do you realise that you’ve logged in your account page?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?
2) Is it easy to find where you can log out your account?
Yes70% / No30%, Why?
3) Is it easy to find where your intersection points on the map?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?
4) Is it clear to recognize the buttons for different functionalities?
Yes67% / No33%, Why?
5) Do you feel like you know where you are within the website?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?
6) Do you need more indication of where you are in the map?
Yes30% / No70%, Why?
I didn’t get lost, and I know all these intersection points are for.
7) What do you guess the tag cloud on the bottom left corner does?
Other people's personal information (profile).
User's own recorded route Collection.
8) What do you think “ding” is?
There should need more graphic design for the icon of the button.
No idea about what it means, and how it works.
It looks like it's for sending a message to someone.
To send message to other people or to receive some message already
9) Would you like more explanation for “Ding”?
Yes100%, Why?/ No
Some alarm noise is used to inform users the new coming events.

Conceptual questions

1) What do you think this website is about?
It seems like this website is for cycling
event and joining in the community.
I feel like that after signing it in,
and it also makes me feel I am
checking/viewing my paths' information
and others as well.
Not only to record personal own information
of riding path but also to share the information to others.
2) Would you sign up for SPOKN?
Yes85% / No15%, Why?
It is too complicate for me.
3) Is there anything that makes you uneasy or nervous about privacy?
Yes85%, Why?
This website traces the locations where
people have been, and personal data
would be viewed by others who I don't know,
but the profile is limited tho.
No15%, Why?
I don't see some setting for the privacy.
There should be some settings for hiding personal information.
4) Do you think this would make you feel more part of a community?
Yes100% / No0%, Why?

Comments
He would like to know the routes
He would like to know suggestion route for the locations.
Recording the intersection points in real time would be cool,
but will be a big issue of privacy tho.

Final Testing of UI

Main Page}
In this page, you will have the opportunity sign up as a new member,
or if you've got an account you can login.

_________________________________________________

Navigation and Usability
1) Can you find the introduction information of this website?
Yes / No, Why?
2) Is it easy to find where you can log in this website?
Yes / No, Why?
3) Is it easy to find where you can sign up?
Yes / No, Why?
4) Do any buttons look unfamiliar?
Yes / No, Why?
5) Is the provided information from this page easy to read?
Yes / No, Why?
6) Do you understand what the buttons mean?
Yes / No, Why?
7) Did you identify any patterns with the colours?
Yes / No, Why?

Comments

Log-in Page}
The spots you see on the map represent the intersection points
from all the member's paths on each single day.
You can click on each point that allows you to see the person
you met or the contacts from others. Also, you can send a short
message to them, and building up your own community.

_________________________________________________

Navigation and Usability
1) Do you realise that you’ve logged in your account page?
Yes / No, Why?
2) Is it easy to find where you can log out your account?
Yes / No, Why?
3) Is it easy to find where your intersection points on the map?
Yes / No, Why?
4) Is it clear to recognize the buttons for different functionalities?
Yes / No, Why?
5) DO you feel like you know where you are within the website?
Yes / No, Why?
6) Do you need more indication of where you are in the map?
Yes / No, Why?
7) What do you guess the tag cloud on the bottom left corner does?
Yes / No, Why?
8) What do you think "Ding" is?
Yes / No, Why?
9) Would you like more explanation for "Ding"?
Yes / No, Why?

Conceptual Questions
1) What do you think this website is about?

2) Would you sign up for SPOKN?
Yes / No, Why?

3) Is there anything that makes you uneasy or nervous about privacy?

4) Do you think this would make you feel more part of a community?
Yes / No, Why?

Comments

Results from Testing #3

The result of this testing shows the different usage
between real world and virtual world.

Question 1)
If you pass certain cyclists on the street everyday,
would you like to greet and have a chat with them?
Yes, what would you like to say to them?
I would like to talk about what they do everyday at the same
point of intersection as me.
-------------------------------------------------------
If I like their appearances, I would like have a little chat with them. I
t is not easy to pass a certain cyclist everyday,
so I would say: “Hey, we've been passing each other everyday
for three months, how are you? By the way, do you do it on purpose?”
-------------------------------------------------------
If I meet people (other cyclists) on the street,
I could make me feel more close to the real interactions,
it means that I can see their faces as human features.

No, why not?
No, it's annoying.
-------------------------------------------------------
While I am riding on the street, it means I am really going
to some places. So I don't like to shift my focus on the other things.
-------------------------------------------------------
No, the number of cyclist who I daily pass is really huge.
It's impossible for me to have some interactions with them.

Question 2)
If you got the intersection points from the same cyclist everyday,
would you like to communicate with them by leaving a comment?
Yes, what would you like to say to them?
I would like to talk about some information of the locations
where they pass by each day.
-------------------------------------------------------
It depends on my current job, it is very boring to ride
bicycle home/company by myself. So I would like to invite
some people to communicate with me. In my free time,
I occasionally ride my bike to some places far from my home.
So I would also like to make some friends via the web-site.
Then, maybe we could have some trips together.
-------------------------------------------------------
Yes. I am really interested to go anywhere by bike,
yet sometime it is not easy to find best paths to some places,
and it could be easier for me to do it by using the website.

No, why?
I wouldn't like to contact with them, because there is
no motivation/incentive for me to do that.
Actually, there is a limited profile from each member,
so that I couldn't know too much personal information from them.

Testing #3

I've been asked by Giles to test on the differences
between the real environment and the virtual world.

In order to figure out whether this scheme actually worksor not,

I distinguished the questions into two aspects, one of which is

"on the street", and the other is "on the website".

[On the street]
How it works >
A PDA/web-based system that uses GPS
to trace the path of cyclists.
A web output shows your route and
where you have come near to other cyclists.
A PDA exchanges brief information when
you come close to another cyclist.
You can click on the points of intersection
with other cyclists and see their passing points.

If you pass certain cyclists on the street everyday,
would you like to greet and have a chat with them?
Yes, what would you like to say to them?
No, why?

[On the website]
How it works >
On your route are links to points where
you have come close to other cyclists.
Rollovers on the points on your route bring up
the username and icon of this cyclist you have come close to.
You can click on these points to show you the journey
of other cyclists in the scheme who have come close to your path.
When you click on a point of 'coming close' on your route,
the route of this other cyclist's journey becomes
visible (and yours fades back) - on the route are
clickable points where other cyclists have come close:
if you click one of these points it makes this new route
visible and makes others fade back more.

If you got the intersection points from the same
cyclist everyday, would you like to communicate
with them by leaving a comment?
Yes, what would you like to say to them?

No, why?

3 Questions for the Show

In our final show, we decided to present 15 questions which
came up from Jess are for the journey of concept development.
And each team member has been asked to pick up 3
questions for writing up at least 100 words.

Here are my words for 3 questions as follows,

6 /June /07
What is the value to an anonymous secret?
Literally, a secret can not be said, but can be passed.
It is delivered by peer to peer.
A secret message could be sent to others once,
it also could be sent several times,
It might lose the reality of original information.
Each journey of sending a secret message is linear.
A secret message could be able to decode.
A message's sending path is invisible, behind people's sights.
There is no responsibility for each delivering point.
A tracing route is not easy to be recorded
after a secret message sent.

24 /July /07
If a bicycle could tell you something
about it's past, what would it be?
Concept: Community Bicycle with memories
One of the motivations of cycling, which could be
have a free exploration on a bike,
so that you can discover a nice view, new buildings,
and even create a exciting route in the urban environment.
You would be guided to an unknown place by your bike
after he/she has done this journey for you.
A bike is not only a tool for transporting,
but it also would become your tour guide, your pet,
or your close friend! Furthermore,
if a bike could communicate with you,
he/she might share his/her opinions with
a lovely personality (that would drive me crazy tho).

8 /August /07
What is the distinction between solving a user's need
and creating an experience for a user?
For solving a user's need, it means there must
be a physical solution which needs to be built on
the product by designer. Before the designing work starts,
designer should know that a problem from user
has already been existed.
By the investigation of user group,
generally the existing problem could be a user's need
or a misunderstanding of the product.
Creating an experience for a user,
the processing work of concept development is like building up
a new life style rather than providing a solution of living mode.
Creating an experience is composed of multiple layers
from the core concept in its varied aspects.
In terms of solving a user's problem or need,
it is a linear designing process straight towards the result.

Results from UI Testing #1

After I did the interface testing, there are severl
serious problems need to be sorted out, and I'd
like to point all the bullet points which are devided
into 'Navigation' and 'Interface Design' as the followings.

[Navigation]
1) On the home page, users' navigating path:
Left-top logo>Right logo>Map>Mapped Spots>
Log in>Enter>Sign up>Calendar
2) Couldn't find the button for going back to
the home page, they thought the icon of logo
should represent it.
3) There is no “Log Out”!

[Interface Design]
Scheme
1) Before using this website, a good understanding
should be achieved with motivation.
2) More information needed about our group and service.
3) There is unclear information of the concept provided from this web.
4) More details needed for the concept explanation
5) Illustrating the concept on the main page,
it shouldn't just be said by the map.
Log In
1) In order to getting the feeling of accessing the account,
more personal information needed.
2) It is easy to find where users can log in this website.
3) It is easy to find where users can sign up our service?
Main Logo
1) The logo should be represented of going to home page.
2) Are the logos clickable?
Map
1) No idea about the map, users expected the icons
which have something/interaction happened.
2) No idea about what the representatives of mapped spots are for.
3) Before logging in, the mapped spots look clickable.
4) Users don't like the brown spots for the
representative of members.
5) Are the brown mapped spots clickable?
6) Too much information on the map,
but the recorded spots still look complicated.
Buttons
1) The button of the date doesn't make any sense.
2) No idea about “2007 gusto”.
3) No idea about the options of date.
4) The button of “enter” doesn't look easy to access.
5) The functionalities of buttons are too similar,
more different design needed.
Others
1) The calendar needs be more visualised.
2) A location based tagging list needed.
3) The capability of the storage of time database
since the day user signed up?

UI Testing #1

I designed two parts for the interface testing,
which are 'Navigation' and 'Usability'.
In terms of 'Opinion' part, it's totally opened for
any comments from the testees.
--------------------------------------------------------
Navigation
1) Can you find the information what this website is for?
Yes / No, Why?
2) Is the information provided easy to read?
Yes / No, Why?
3) Is it easy to find where you can log in this website?
Yes / No, Why?
4) Is it easy to find where you can sign up our service?
Yes / No, Why?
--------------------------------------------------------
Usability
1) Can you recognize the buttons?
Yes / No, Why?
2) How do you think the design of the buttons?
Simple/Complicated/Moderate
3) Can you know how the functionalities work on all the buttons?
Yes / No, Why?
--------------------------------------------------------
Opinions

First Template for SPOKN

In this website, you will know how to sign up
for a new member, or if you've got your own account
that you can just enter our site easily by few following steps.
The spots you see on the map which represent
the meeting points from all cycling members
on each single day.