Prototypes

We made four prototypes.

JunkMail:

Inspired by NetFlix, this would send parents junk in the mail so that they could build stuff out of the junk with their kids. There would also be scenarios (for creativity) on the box and information to ensure that there was a clear connection between the thing that they build and knowledge about the world.

Build a Bike:

We wanted something that used personal expression and was useful. This idea was inspired by Build a Bear Workshop, and it would allow parents and kids to build and customize a bike together.

Connectible Utensils:

This idea would bring together creativity and the dinner table by having kids customize their utensils.

Community Skills:

This idea would bring together people in the community to share their skills. If one person knows how to carve stuff, they might have a carving workshop. If another parent knows outdoors skills, they might take a group camping.

Some Feedback:

User Test: Aaron Ehasz, father of Paul (7) and Zelda (3)

Highlighted Lines are ones we found most insightful
Red is our thoughts! :)

General Information:

• doesn’t do much LEGO projects with son because difficult to maintain and motivate son for 45 minutes.
• Our thoughts: may be age-related issue
• would throw away a broken lamp rather than attempt to fix it
• took Ice Skating lessons with son - picked it up because son wanted to pick it up and so wanted a general working knowledge and comfort level with the activity “so that I can be involved in/engaged in what he’s doing”
• found “engineering topics” too jargon-y, {afterwards as clarification: we defined it as thinking with hands and honing spatial reasoning/problem solving skills}
• Spring is sports mode, not kit mode (Our Thoughts: maybe involve sports)
• when think of “engineering topics”, immediately thought of museums and science centers, “places” in general
• didn’t originally think of it as in-home activity
• have done easy-build model plane kits,
• think its crucial that kids can gain satisfaction quickly during construction process to maintain interest
• hook them in the project early on
• Comfortable with letting kids do dangerous physical activities, he allowed his 3yr old daughter to climb over a fence (our thoughts: interesting that he has a sense of adventure for his kids’ physical activities, but didn’t carry over into hands-on building projects)

Wind-Powered Car Kit:
Things he liked:

• easy to follow instructions
• step-by-step so easy for him to follow child’s progress on project and allow kid to work on a particular step to the point of failure before jumping in
• 80% building/20% functionality (use after completion)
• (our thoughts: this left something to be desire after the completion)
• value in the kit looking homemade
• had not crossed Aaron’s mind to take it apart and build it into something else
• (our thoughts: emphasis on ability to rebuild)
• if kit with no instructions and just pictures, aaron responded “I would be intimidated -- probably wouldn’t have bought it...”

Paul’s Reaction to Car:

• seemed more interested in the fantasy story he created around the toy rather than the experience of building it
• “batmobile” “with jet boosters in the back”

Prototype Feedback:

1) Community Skills (social networking site) {pictures on picasa}

• “Not for people like me”
• “I rather do something I know how to do”
• concerned about other’s expectations, that they would figure he knew more than he actually did. being unable to contribute and “What if they talked over my head”
• not comfortable with the “unknowns” of the idea, like what the person is like, how long project would take, what he would get out of it
• would rather have explicit instructions and materials list for projects
• Our thoughts: prototype really suggest that instructions would be part of the website, so the utility he initially perceived in the idea was not what we intended.
• So for non-technical parents, they need more confidence that they can help in the project, would want very clear and well-defined instructions

2.) Build-a-Bike {pictures on picasa}

• “loved the idea”
• liked customization and saw that as a secondary benefit to kid being able to build it
• had very parental concerns, i.e. training wheels, parent steering bar
• became preoccupied with it being child’s first bike, sustainability of business (our thoughts: not exactly what we were concerned about)
• price...? feasibility as gift
• Paul reacted “that would be so funny”, “I would build a bike that looked like a jet with a cockpit and lots of buttons”

3.) Utensil Construction Set {pics on picasa}

• really like idea of incorporating everyday household objects into constructions, transforming common items to complete other functions (our thoughts: it validates our assumptions!)
• “a kit that connects the world”
• would like “helper objects” that make everyday objects more functional and have multi-use

Additional Thoughts of His

• in response to question about what will get him to access/purchase hands-on building resources: “get my kids to beg for it” + education = “i will buy it”
• parents and grandparents are the main impetus for getting kids these kits, it would be more powerful if the desire for kits came from kids
• crucial that kid’s can use fantasy and creativity to get excited and engaged in hands-on projects (i.e. Paul’s excitement in his “bat-mobile” fan car kit”

Some Photos: