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UX of Birdsong


WEEK ONE

Brief

Design an urban birdsong experience.

Task One

Using two distinct research methods；digital soundwalking and physical prototyping.

Team Members

Changlin Hou (Charlie),  Reagan Bbengo,  Zuzana Galova,  Weiting Chi,  Dexian Wang(Devin)




What is digital soundwalking？

A soundwalk is any excursion whose main purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are. We may be at home, we may be walking across a downtown street, through a park, along the beach.Wherever we go we will give our ears priority.



What is Physical prototyping？

Our output should be  an interactive mockup.


Primary Research

1. The best recording location we discussed was Hyde Park, even though it is winter.
2. Specific bird watching locations and observable bird species.
3.Thanks to this project, I have seen the vibrant side of London. And here's the website for the Hyde Park Bird Watching Guide. https://www.birdingplaces.eu/en/birdingplaces/united-kingdom/hyde-park.



Research: Digital Soundwalking

1. How birdsong shift to urban sound on the road.
2. Relaxing birdsong of Hyde park.
3. Birdsong when feeding birds.

Research: Analysis

1.we identified how the bird sounds made us feel, and discovered that they create a relaxing environment and make us more tuned into the space in which we are, as if they grounded us. They bring us out of our head.
2.(Weiting’s drawing - we have discovered that there is very little co-living / co-existence between the sound of nature and the sound of environment i.e. we are either tuned in on the one, or on the other)
- once you leave the nature setting, you tend to ignore the birdsong, it is difficult to focus on, because your senses are overwhelmed by the sounds of the urban environment.




Where our idea came from

1.We tried to identify what sounds make up the urban environment, what sounds we would hear if we did not zone them out — these included car horns, sounds of traffic, crosswalk, people talking, ambulances, railway, construction …)
2.We then proceeded to think sounds, where urban environment sounds resemble the bird sounds and where they could potentially be replaced, to bring an element of relaxation and focus on sound into the urban environment (because of the nature of the urban space , we are usually rushing and don’t really pay attention to aural input)
3. We tried to create something that brings the sounds of the nature / the birdsong into the urban environment and transform the aural space we usually rush through.


Our Idea

1.Alternative version of a tube ticketing system
2.We have replaced the sounds of the machine with different sounds - each corresponding with a different payment method.
3. During rush hour traffic, the tapping in and out of different forms of payment will create a symphony of birdsong.
4. Mapping the different way in which people pay for their transport through sound.



Making Prototype

1. We made a tube ticket gate out of cardboard.
2.Then add various birdsong elements for decoration. For example, use cotton thread to draw various bird sounds.



Week One Presentation & Feedback👍

1. Maybe adjust the sound: Use the most common bird sounds in that subway station area.
2. What are the consequences of using bird sounds for correct/incorrect actions in ticket gate? What are the benefits/implications?
3. Maybe connect it to a cause, Bird Week, Bird Awareness - Bird populations are dwindling, birds are disappearing. Bird songs are disappearing. How can we use this to raise awareness for the cause?