Contextual Report: Revelations

Writing the contextual report it has allowed me to clarify my thoughts.

 I've realised that users do not need to know about the fundamental underlying principles when discussing the prototypes or potential application. Transient memory, how presence is conveyed or active mementos do not need to be explained, just the features that are important to them: communication, shared experiences and the sense that someone else is present. When reading 'designing interactions' by bill moggrige i realised that the interactive decisions and underlying concepts of things like the mouse are not explained, users are such explained how it is useful to them and what it can do.

In my past users tests I've tried to explain underlying concepts rather than 'here is a system, this is what it can do, how is it useful to you and what would you change/improve'. It needs to be more direct as users will lose interest and feel inspired.

It is also necessary to define the term 'presence'. People have five senses, and will stimulating one of them be enough to give the sense that someone else is present? Is it enough to feel 'connected' to another person and know where they are? I believe so. It is not so much the sense of them being in the room with you, as that you are aware of where they are and their interaction with you. It is their presence at the remote location that i want to transmit. This is what I am aiming for.