Lab+6

Bodystorming
Question 1 __** Bodystorming is form of brainstorming that involves the application of intellectual processes into physical relational experience. It is the process of researching a particular topic in a setting involving several individuals. By developing ideas and strategies these individuals physically interact to present the relationships, issues and solutions on the topic of interest.
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A typical bodystorming group consists of a group of individuals that gather to formulate insight on a particular issue. Each individual plays a specific character role or is a stand in prop. A narrator color commentates the situations taking place while the actors focus on physical movement and might communicate by using large display cards. Many scenes might be improvised and a live audience contributes to asking questions.

Bodystorming is different from brainstorming in that is physically demonstrates the relationships between people, locations and things in ways that written relationships cannot. It enables the actors to demonstrate these relationships on physical, emotional and intuitive levels within different contexts. It is also beneficial because is helps generate immediate feedback where arising issues can be addressed instantly.

Bodystorming is a user-centered design that enables individuals to define the use of certain products and services in an interactive setting before it is actually developed. This form of research can work as a research and development tool to identify logistical issues and interaction challenges. Bodystorming can be used to research any topic. Whether it is used to design a new product or provide a new service. Bodystorming can be advantages to researching the effectiveness of redesigning an existing technology. An issue that seems to plague many individuals is the size of their wallets and their inability to sufficiently fit the multitude of cards they own. Redesigning an electronic card that has the ability to memorize all credit card and debit card numbers and pins, can greatly benefit many individuals.
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This card will be the size of any debit or credit card, which will be called “ABC” (because it is simple as ABC to use and learn; and its purpose makes the task simple as ABC). Like present day chip cards, this card will slide into a machine specially designed for it. It will also have a flat reading surface that reads the thumbprint of the owners thumb. This card will include an interface will a touch screen that allows the owner to choose the type of card, similar to the touch screen of an iPod or iTouch.

In order to test its effectiveness bodystorming research will be conducted. This Theatre Scenario will involve a supermarket scenario. In this scene there were will be individuals standing in line at the cashier waiting to pay their grocery bill. Two main characters will exist in this scene. These characters will both be female of middle age. One will hold a large bag, with a fat wallet consisting of various different debit, credit and points cards. The other will have a small flat wallet that fits inside a small clutch. The woman with the large purpose will have grave difficulty with her wallet, scattering through it to find the card she wants to use. She will display frustration and fumble, dropping items on the floor and display haphazardness. The other woman with the ABC wallet will display ease and calmness and present a sense of satisfaction with her shopping trip.

The purpose of this scenario is to present a problem of carrying a large wallet with many cards, versus having a small clutch purse with the ABC wallet that electronically memorizes all the cards in your wallet into one little card. It will identify the ease of owning the ABC wallet providing a sense of organization and order that many individuals crave for when they look inside their wallets.

The audience watching will be split into two groups. One group will write down all the advantages of having the ABC wallet. The other group will write down all the disadvantages of the ABC wallet. Once the scenario has been acted out, the whole group can ask and answer questions in order to better the design of the wallet.