Andy Huntington - Interaction and Sound

Andy Huntington Interaction & Sound

About

CYCLOPS is the product of a brief to design a screen-based channel that services a community's communication needs.

The community I chose to design for was London Cyclists. They form a somewhat ad-hoc community various types of unofficial membership and an unwritten hierarchy ranging from fairweather cyclists to couriers. On the whole its members share some of the same feelings: cycling is better than motor vehicle transport offering greater freedom and economic benefits; it is quick; it is good for the environment and cyclists are not treated fairly by other road users.

One of the main concerns for cyclists in London is security. Addressing this need is primary in CYCLOPS. Utilising a wireless tag system on the bikes which is readable by a mobile device (phone or pda) carried by each member, a constantly moving network is created as members pass each other (and their bikes) on the roads.

The development of the system was required to address the difficulties involved in creating an on bike interface and creating a secure tracking system without encroaching on members privacy.

The purpose of this project was to explore how these features might be represented rather than detailed technological research.

Overview

The CYCLOPS system is made up of two parts: wireless mobile detection and a community website. Below is a diagram showing the wireless system. Please scroll down for a more detailed summary of the user experience and the website.

Registration

The registration proceedure starts when a tag is purchased. It is fitted inside the frame in a way that cannot be removed without damaging the bike (see an exisiting tag solution). This tag is has a unique ID. Through the registration process, completed online, the user creates an username and identity which is used as the means of contact in the system. They also contribute the serial number, make and model of their bike and their mobile phone number. Once completed CYCLOPS sends the user a data message which configures their mobile to recognise their tag ID number as MY BIKE. This configuration also includes the software required to run the system.

Once registration is complete the new member is able to cycle around the city accumulating contacts.

Click the image to see the full page.

Contacts

Over the course of a day the user's handset will have registered the indetities and time of any contacts, this information can be uploaded to the main CYCLOPS database and can be seen on the website. The CONTACTS section shows all each contact chronologically on a timeline. This is not shown geopgraphically as it prevents the system from being seen as intrusive.

From the timelines it is possible to see patterns emerging relating to general use and particular contacts. The user can identify who they passed and when. Each user identity is displayed with their chosen picture and a number showing total 'meetings'. It is also possible to send messages to these other users from this page. (see timeline ID and message)

In the context of larger organised rides like Critical Mass the system would serve to provide a visual record of who attended (see event timeline), each face representing a contact exchange along with audio signal across hundreds of people.

Community

The community page allows the user to browse and reply to short messages they may have recieved from other members. It also provides a central message board area where members can share information of interest to others. It is possible to browse and contact the entire membership. (see community page)

It is here that competitions are coordinated based on making contact with members. For games like VIRUS each member has to gain (infect) as many unique contacts as possible before the end of play in order to win equipment vouchers. Similarly, games like STEALTH work in reverse - a member is given a prize and for each contact made it reduces in value. Instead of making contacts they have to avoid them.

Report Missing Cycle

If a member's bike is stolen then the theft can be reported either from the mobile device or through the website [see report page]. As the bike's identification information has been contributed in registration the member has only to identify where the bike was last seen and when. The tag ID is relayed to the entire community via a data message and is added to each member's list of recognised bikes. The member's identity is then represented by the blue STOLEN icon throughout the site.

If another member passes the stolen bike then a specific audio alert is played and the cycle information (name, model) is displayed to the user. This aids the member in identifying the stolen bike amongst many others. The passing member is then given the option to report the bike if it is found parked. If this is the case then location information is taken from the mobile device and passed on to a CYCLOPS retrieval unit who will then remove the bike to their storage facility to be reclaimed. The CYCLOPS unit will leave a sticker at the point where it was taken with contact information to show where the bike has been taken to.

The system goes a step further than existing tagging services which can identify a stolen bike at point of re-sale. CYCLOPS makes it possible to detected a stolen bike on the street. This and the prospect of confiscation should act as a deterent to those who might buy a stolen bike knowingly and encourage those who would not to get their bikes checked.