I will start this post with a quick little description about what I plan to create, why and how I came to the decision. As stated in my previous post, I would like to create something that can simultaneously showcase my ability to both design and programme whilst placing my focus on the user centered design. With it being the initial steps I can only estimate it will be a mobile application that I will be creating but that will not be set in stone until I collect some relative user feedback in the form of a small workshop. This way I can gauge how users can envisage a product that can provide the service I want to provide.

My objective is to create a medium that can inform users of the most up to date information regarding venues/events in their area in real time, which is represented in a fun, aesthetically pleasing way that encourages interaction. The emphasis is on the “right now” and relies on user contribution. People have the power to paint the picture of the current mood within a place by viewing comments/pictures posted by other users who are currently there. This real time representation can inform users of the current atmosphere somewhere i.e. is it busy right now? Is the service good at the moment? What’s the crowd like? Has the band started? Are there many females there? Etc. The aim is to build up an idea of a place at the moment before the user even leaves their house; letting them know what’s trending and what to give a miss tonight. Furthermore, I hope to create a platform that reflects on the current atmospheres of places just like other social networks display the current mood/feelings of a person.

This idea came to be very late one night and I instantly got carried away with ideas (all of which can be seen on my website). As with any “good idea” I was bracing myself for it already being made. From my initial research it was obvious that various mobile applications draw similarities. For example, Foursquare could be deemed very similar to my idea. However, I would like to make a point that my idea aims to focus on the “right now” for the user. Apps like Foursquare and Tripadvisor can give valuable information regarding a venue but I feel there is a gap of immediate information. Just like a person’s moods, an atmosphere of a venue changes constantly i.e. a particular pub could be highly rated but worth a miss certain nights for whatever reason, shopping centers vary in how busy they get which can determine if someone would like to visit there on that day and so on. The mobile app (if it ends up being for mobile device) is almost like a fly on the wall to help users make those impromptu decisions.

Looking to get the ball rolling, I hope to gather some rough sketches to get the creative flow going and also perform some other design techniques i.e. mind mapping. Furthermore, I shall be experimenting with some relative tools to keep my abilities in HTML, CSS, Java and Android Studio sharp. Last semester I arranged an extra module in Object Orientated Programming and this semester I am undertaking Mobile App Development. Combined with my own online course I am undertaking on Udemy, I am hoping I will be more than capable of realizing my goals.