ProbeTools: Unconventional cameras and audio devices for user research

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TaskCam

TaskCams are simple digital cameras designed for studies of users and their contexts. Researchers and practitioners can build their own TaskCams using instructions and videos from www.probetools.net, off-the-shelf parts, and a custom Arduino shield made available from the site. There is a myriad of options for customisation and modification, allowing researchers to adopt and adapt them to their needs. We view the open-source distribution of TaskCams as a novel approach to disseminating a research methodology

Nature Scenes: Brompton Biotopia, London Design Festival 2019

Nature Scenes are environments for wildlife that serve complementary roles for animals and humans. Each features a My Naturewatch wildlife camera to capture images of the animal visitors that will be publicly shared during the London Design Festival 2019. Nature Scenes: part of Brompton Biotopia, commissioned by Brompton Design District for London Design Festival 2019. Curated by Jane Withers Studio

Yo–Yo Machines: Self-Build Devices that Support Social Connections During the Pandemic

Yo–Yo Machines are playful communication devices designed to help people feel socially connected while physically separated. We designed them to reach as many people as possible, both to make a positive impact during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess a self-build approach to circulating research products and the appeal of peripheral and expressive communication devices. A portfolio of four distinct designs, based on over 30 years of research, were made available for people to make by following simple online instructions (yoyomachines.io). Each involves connecting a pair of identical devices over the internet to allow simple communication at a distance. This paper describes our motivation for the project, previous work in the area, the design of the devices, supporting website and publicity, and how users have made and used Yo-Yo Machines. Finally, we reflect on what we learned about peripheral and expressive communication devices and implications for the self-build approach

Yo-yo machines: self-build peripheral awareness communication devices

Yo-Yo Machines are playful communication devices designed to help people feel socially connected while physically separated. Our response to a U.K. call for projects using previous research to create an impact during the pandemic, YoYo Machines make a long line of work on peripheral and emotional awareness available to the public in the form of devices they can build at home. By following simple online instructions (yoyomachines.io), people can make a pair of devices and send one to a friend or loved one—the devices are connected by the Internet, allowing simple communication at a distance

My Naturewatch Camera: Disseminating Practice Research with a Cheap and Easy DIY Design

My Naturewatch Camera is an inexpensive wildlife camera that we designed for people to make themselves as a way of promoting engagement with nature and digital making. We aligned its development to the interests of the BBC’s Natural History Unit as part of an orchestrated engagement strategy also involving our project website and outreach to social media. Since June 2018, when the BBC featured the camera on one of their Springwatch 2018 broadcasts, over 1000 My Naturewatch Cameras have been constructed using instructions and software from our project website and commercially available components, without direct contact with our studio. In this paper, we describe the project and outcomes with a focus on its success in promoting engagement with nature, engagement with digital making, and the effectiveness of this strategy for sharing research products outside traditional commercial channels

Project: ProbeTools

ProbeTools are a collection of idiosyncratic cameras and audio recorders intended for use in Cultural Probe studies (see below). They are designed to be open-sourced and easy to make, allowing a wide range of designers and researchers to employ them in their own studies. Moreover, they will be adaptable for particular studies by repackaging them, resetting parameters, or modifying their hard and software. Find out more by visiting the external project website at www.probetools.ne

Design: ProbeTools

ProbeTools are a collection of idiosyncratic cameras and audio recorders intended for use in Cultural Probe studies. They are designed to be open-sourced and easy to make, allowing a wide range of designers and researchers to employ them in their own studies. Moreover, they will be adaptable for particular studies by repackaging them, resetting parameters, or modifying their hard and software

Diversity in Objects and Outcomes Workshop

Participation in this workshop was via invite following peer review of position paper - Probe Tool Cam: A Work in Progress Research Prototype. Several of the team working on the Probe Tools Project participated in the workshop and were available to discuss the work and its implication