Written research is all fun and games, but a tangible research is a whole different level.
While researching data and data driven innovation, we found our selves swamped with topics, and like the data field it self, the topics were all connected but varied. As you can probably understand, confusion may arise.
At a makes sprint in media lab, if you are not familiar with, you have 2 rooms packed with technological instruments for, well, creating and making, like laser cuts, 3d printers, and hand machinery. As you might imagine, our team got some tingling feelings in our fingers, wishes to use it all, forgetting about products for a minute.
But the process s important, in order to make not only a good use of the machines but a right use for our project as well.
We have started with brainstorming, what it meant for us is writing on post it notes what ever crossed our minds, each o us on their own, or together as a team. we found it is really important to let each other have their own time to write their ideas, that way w keep our mind open and our brain creative, which is futile at this stage of work.
After clustering it all out, we started thinking, and connecting the thoughts together, mixing them from different fields, to find interesting new ideas.
A tip from the #DATASS: keep the conversation flowing, as this stage is where the magic starts to spark!
Writing our ideas out took time but we made it! Making a plan to execute it for the next two days of the sprint and getting the materials. (thanks, Pavel!)
Our idea was making people understand the concept of data as a currency as well as for as to learn about what types of information people are willing to give and analyze it to a visual end product. It meant we had 3 part of our project:
1// Data exchange (or how we like to call it; Data Casino): where you answer our questions, and you get coins in return.
2// aMAZEing game (a pun was intended): a maze you use your coins in to get ahead in.
3// Data viz: a glass display of the answers’ data from the exchange questions.
We have divided the work load between us and ready, set, SPRINT…
Nerea and Maylis wrote the very invasive questions.
(Oh, and they were having fun doing it.)
Rotem was making the maze plans and the coins.
(Maze planning is a migraine in the making.)
Lorenzo was building the Data viz and the Data Casino
(Glue is known as the best way to get high in Amsterdam)
We really loved letting people try out our game, we also learned a lot from watching people play, and we are going to keep working to improve the game and get better information from the gamers.
Until next time,
#DATASS
- DAT Rotem