Prototype 3.1 Focus Group Prep & Informed Consent Forms

I have collected the responses to the screening questionnaire. Around 25 people were contacted via email, and 9 responded to the screening questionnaire link. Out of these 9, 8 were within the correct age range and were suitable in the fact that they understood the context; contacting someone who is far away. I have invited all 8 to a focus group scheduled tomorrow at 2 and hopefully at least 3 will turn up.

In preparation for this i am preparing a list of goals again using the DECIDE framework. This will allow me to develop a prep sheet similar to before to guide discussion I will also need these users to sign informed consent forms, which wont have to be changed much from before.


D - 'What are the high level goals of the evaluation...'
1.  Do they understand how it works.
2. Where does this fit into their lives.
3. Do they see any problems or improvements that could be made to make it better for you?
4. Do they like it?
5. Is the manual clear and easy to use?

E - 'Explore the questions'

1. Do you like and understand the prototype
2. Do you like the closing arms interaction?
3. How effective is the manual? Do you like the design of it? Is it easy to use?
4. Who are you? What do you use instead to let someone know you're missing them? Is the proposed system useful in sending this message?
5. Would you like to be able to know explicitly when the other users bear is on/off so you're not just guessing??
6. Do you like the name 'Share bear' and the strap-line 'Keep in touch... Literally'

C - Choose the evaluation approach and methods
1. Focus group. Qualitative and in a controlled situation. The use of portable functioning props means that they can move around the space and test out how they would work. Semi-structured, there will be no group brainstorming or drawing as this is analytical not creative. It will be presented as the 'share bear'. 

I - 'Identify the practical Issues... For example how to select users, stay on budget, stay on schedule, find evaluators, select equipment'
Users have been contacted and screened based on age and whether they have a person living away from them. This will help them relate to the context of use.  The focus group will be cost-free (barring snacks), and i will be the evaluator. Notes will be taken rather than audio, and a prep sheet will be created for easier note taking. Any interaction will be described for the purposes of evaluation.

D -'Decide about ethical issues... Develop an informed consent form. Users have the right to: know the goals of the study, know what will happen to the findings, privacy of personal information, leave when they wish, be treated politely'


E-Evaluate, Interpret and Present the data
Evaluation will done textually and visually.




Prep sheet

A.      Introduction: Introduce prototype and explain participation and ask them to read and sign consent forms. Re-iterate that participation is voluntary and that they may stop at any time

a.       ‘You are participating in an evaluation of the ‘Share Bear’ concept. It involves two teddy bears, each to be kept with a different person i.e. between siblings, parent and child, friends or boyfriend/girlfriend. The system is for people who are special and important to each-other, but are separated by distance. It allows users to play a pre-recorded message remotely by controlling a trigger on their teddy bear. This is transmitted wirelessly. You will be introduced to a prototype of this system which is in its finishing stages and nearly complete. You will be asked to interact with the bear, and assess it in a few different ways.

b.      DEMONSTRATE TEDDY BEAR-ask for a volunteer and give them the bear with the speaker in it!

c.       ‘By closing the bear’s hands you send a wireless message to the other bear and a notification ‘beep’ plays. When the other bear receives a signal it plays a pre-recorded clip (This clip would have been installed in the bear at purchase), and also communicates that the message has been received. The first bear lights up to let you know that the message was successfully delivered. If there is a fault with either bear, one or both of the notification signals won’t work.

d.      QUESTION Does everyone understand the basic function of the prototype?

e.      IF NO, re-explain it

f.        IF YES, continue to say that ‘I am asking you for your opinions of how the teddy bear works, if you’d use it and advancements and improvements that you would make to it. I will also ask you about security of the teddy bear’

QUESTIONS

Topic: Opinions, Context of user and user base

1.       What do you think of the prototype in general?

2.       Do you think it is useful?

3.       Would you use it?

4.       Do you understand how to use it?

5.       When would you use it?

6.       Is there anything you do not understand? How could it have been explained better.

7.       Who would you use this with?

Interaction questions

8. What do you think of the closed arms control? Is it easy/difficult? Do you like it?

9. Would you like to be notified of when the remote users bear is on? At the moment you will only know that the other bear is on when you try t interact and no feedback light shows up. Would you prefer a purpose built signal of some kind of show when it’s on or off? Or do you like it how it is? What kind of signal would this be and how would it work?

SECURITY

Explanation: Most users will want to be sure that it is their loved one sending them the message. At the moment the bear is protected by physical security i.e. being kept in a safe place and by being inconspicuous (other users probably wouldn’t know how to use this’

1. Is this security enough for you or would you prefer something else? In this case, What

CONTEXT

Explanation: This bear is been presented to you to be given to someone who is going away, or sent to someone that is away. It is at the moment for adults. However, it could be given to a child if you are the one who is travelling. 

1. Would you use it for any other context?

2. How would you use it? What information could you record on it?

I have made some small changes to the informed consent forms, namely the duration at 90 minutes. The content otherwise is still the same, and any ambiguities will be cleared up in the verbal introduction.

I do want to add in some questions that relate to my thesis. Namely, do you feel that it conveys presence, and do you feel that you cannot later 'pick up' the message and replay or re-experience is that it is more valuable. This will in a limited way test my thesis to see if it was successful. I will ask them to simulate being able to press a button to play the audio at their request.

THESIS QUESTIONS

Read Aloud: My thesis for this project is ‘Transient memory increases the value of memories transmitted between two people. It conveys a sense of presence and a feeling of being 'connected' to another person’. I want to ask you a few questions around it.

1. By interaction with this prototype, do you get an idea of the other user being ‘present’ at a remote location
2. Do you get the idea that they are CURRENTLY thinking about you
3. Do you feel connected to that other person
4. Would you get the same feeling of presence if you could push a button and play the audio at any time?
5. Would you get the same feeling of connection to that remote person if you could push a button and play the audio at any time? If yes, would it be more, less, or about the same?
6. Do you feel that you value the output more because you cannot replay it whenever you want? Because it is not accessible whenever you desire is it more valuable to you?