Midterm

OMG..HCI midterm result is released!!!

Group Assignment (Snake game)

 Shareable

Shareable interfaces are designed for more than one person to use, and allow simultaneous input by several user. In the snake game, multiple players can touch the screen to play at the same time. For example, one player move the virtual snake around and another one slice the food to the virtual snake. As it involves a number of players, the issues of screen size, orientation and shape are concern. If the screen size is too small, players will have difficulties to reach to the screen when sit together to play the games. Meanwhile, there will be not enough space to allocate every players’ hands on the screen. To overcome that problem, complementary devices such as digital pens that are used in conjunction with the shareable interface enable users to play smoothly in the game. User studies shown that horizontal surfaces like wall-based interface promotes more turn-taking and collaborative working. On the other hand, vertical surfaces such as larger-sized tabletop does not improve group working but encourage more division of labour. Therefore, the orientation of the game is important and need to be consider carefully so that it delivers an effective interactive game to user. 

The target user for this version of Snake game is elderly people (40 years old and above). This version of Snake game is focus on social interactive among elderly people. It required minimum 2 players and maximum 4 players.

Wearable

For the wearable interface, the snake game is operates in a piece of touchscreen hand bangle that wrap around the wrist. The game plays just like the way in those touchscreen devices such as tablets and mobile phones. However, comfort issue raises where users need to feel comfortable in wearing the device and also in playing the game. It needs to be light, small and portable and preferably matching with the clothing. There is possibility of wrong buttons pressing when playing the game due to sizing. Therefore, user have to see it carefully and this may lead to eye tiredness and dryness due to over concentration. User may also suffer from neck and shoulder pain because they have to bend down their head at a certain degree to play the game. Besides, hygiene issue could be a problem in using touchscreen hand bangle. This is because user’s fingerprints may leave on the screen, it is quite disgusting if leaving it unclean especially with those people who have oily fingers. Hence, the hand bangle can be designed as water resistance and washable so that it can be wash whenever it is needed.