User Centered design Brief One

BA/BSC(H) Design For Interactive Media (Top Up)
Module: User Centered design
By: Raymond O’Brien
Student Number: 05002100
Date: 07/11/05

When redesigning a product you have to first look at the product in question. The product is a Snapshot 35mm Film camera by canon. The original features of this camera were discussed during the first part of this project in the “Design for Interaction module”. However I have supplied a fully featured technical specification sheet with this document.

Having previously used and analyzed the camera I have made a list of new functions and features I would like to implement and add to the camera. Today, everybody seems to be moving digital. In photography, people want to be able to edit the image to improve detail or quality of the image (reducing red eye), etc. However, there is still an on going argument into whether digital photography is equal or not as professional as standard 35mm film. Therefore I propose making the canon EOS 55 a semi digital camera. This means it can cater for both types of users and therefore maximizing target audience.

In redesigning anything, you have to be aware of what is possible, what will be successful and what will be cost effective for bought the manufacture and consumer. Also, a major requirement for any product, it has to at least fulfill its primary function. For this, the primary function of a camera is to capture images from life. The redesign I have in mind hopefully open up more options for this goal, and to simplify the tasks required performing this action (Normans Action Cycle).

Functional Requirements of the Camera:
- Capture Standard Photograph
- Capture Digital Photograph
- Capture 15mins Digital Video
- Image Storage on Flash memory
- To Accept any 35mm Film
- To have Acceptable Battery Life
- To have a Batter Recharge Facility
- The ability to switch between Digital and analogue modes.
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Non-Functional Requirements:
- Cost Effective
- Light Weight
- Portable
- User Friendly (e.g. Simplistic Metaphors that don’t confuse users, Error Handling, etc)
- Aesthetic.



To begin by redesigning this camera into a semi digital camera I want to list out a few elements that are included in standard digital cameras. I began by comparing this camera with my housemate’s camera and established differences and also looking at digital SLR cameras on the canon website:
- LCD Preview Display
- Flash memory card for storage
- Video Capabilities
- USB Data Connection
- Size
- Lack of Button options

LCD Preview Display
So, I would like to begin by adding an LCD Preview display. This I think would be a handsome added feature. It would give the user and easier view opposed to looking through the eyepiece viewfinder. It would also allow for a more user friendly interface for changing setting, for example, aperture, shutter speed, colour settings, etc. All of these setting would be accompanied by a preview mode on the LCD Display which, would gives the user a inclination of what the image would like under different settings. The screen has to be large enough for an average person to comfortably interact with and utilize. 3inchs by 2inchs I think is the maximum it could measure due to space requirements on the camera itself.

The LCD screen will have it own power button located to the side of it. This will be to allow users to decide or have the option to turn the feature on and off when desired. Some people may be uncomfortable with using this feature constantly because it will be a drain on the battery. The cultural convention of an LCD display screen on the back of a camera always indicates that this camera has digital capabilities. The user knows that it can see either a menu interface or the same image that can be seen through the viewfinder eyepiece. I think the display screen on a camera has become a metaphor in itself. It resembles a window and user looks through it to see what is on the other side. The LCD also would comply with Normans design principle, Feedback. The Screen provides feedback on what the settings are being used and what the result is.

Storage: Flash Memory, 1 Gigabyte
I've decided that I would like to purpose a Flash memory card in this redesign as I think it would be a handy feature. People would be capable of saving high quality images to the flash card or use the 35mm film feature. Giving the user a choice between the both would be economical. Personally I find using a digital camera reduces the cost of development immensely and also reduces the quantity of unsuccessful images captured (You can view the image on the preview screen and decide to delete it from the memory). So I predict this feature will allow the user to take test shots and see what settings work best to the situation. When the user discovers the shot he or she desires, he or she can switch to the 35mm film capture option to take the official shot. I would also like to add an extra function requirement to this feature:
- When the user captures and image to the flash memory, the user can then have the camera print that image onto the 35mm film without having to re-shoot the image.
The user can use the flash memory to bring the images quickly and easily to computer for sharing and editing.

Input/ Output
Standard Digital cameras come with USB2.0 connections ready. I purpose upgrading this feature to FireWire and FireWire 800, as it is currently the fastest form of file transfer. I want to include both connections, as standard FireWire is more widespread than FireWire 800. This connection can be used for transferring files directly from the camera to a computer or even to a printer that is design to print directly from cameras and is equipped with FireWire. I feel USB isn’t fast enough to cater for professional users needs.

A fancy extra feature that could be availed by using FireWire is the ability to charge the cameras battery, similar to how the Apple iPod charges. The camera will use the standard 2x CR2 battery so that the user can replace the battery instead of recharging it.

Philosophy
As a rule, I personally disagree with anyone who would reinvent the wheel, if it works leave, it alone. This is why I chose not to change the mental model on which the camera is currently based. I would rather that the user could pick up the camera and begin using it without any great difficulty. The camera is going to look and feel like a standard camera. Its learning required for base users will be very limited and professionals who have used other SLR cameras will feel at home especially if they are familiar with the canon interface, although it is very similar to most other brands of photographic equipment.

Bibliography
1. Norman, D.A., 2001. The Design of Everyday Things. MIT Press.
2. Norman, May 1999. Affordance, Conventions and Design http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/affordance_conventi.html
3. Nielsen, J. (1993). Usability engineering. Boston: AP Professional.
4. Non Functional Requirements, http://www.csee.umbc.edu/courses/undergraduate/345/spring04/mitchell/nfr.html