2. The Future of Reading
Core77 & Portigal Consulting 1-hour Design Challenge
Our submission consists of 2 concepts, “Library in the Clouds” and “The
SuperFlyer 5000.”
A multi-disciplinary group of 9 participants of Hot designers and friends
gathered on Friday, Sept 25th. At 2pm we reviewed the research material,
and at 3:15pm we divided into 2 groups to brainstorm concepts. We
reconvened at 4:00pm (ish), and quickly sketched, photographed, and typed
up our concepts.
We had beer, we had fun, and if we’re being honest, we ran a little over the
allotted time. Blame the beer.
Thanks for giving us an excuse!
The Hot Studio & Friends Design Challenge Team
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3. Library in the Cloud
The concept is to support an ecosystem around borrowing and sharing
reading materials, in any mode and in any context. The idea of reading is not
really about the end device or medium through which it is consumed, it is
about what, how, and where. Given this, we chose to not focus only on
redesigning the book into a digital device, but rather to support the
multiple behaviors that exist in reading, and to show how reading via a
digital network can enhance the sharing and consumption of reading
materials.
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5. Library in the Cloud is a centralized networked virtual hub of digital
reading materials from which members can borrow access to those
reading materials for a given amount of time.
Brick and mortar libraries have the following attributes:
• Check out books for free
• Check out books for a limited amount of time
• Renew books if you can't finish in the limited amount of time
• Pay overdue fees for overdue books
• Support community with public programs and reading clubs
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6. The Library in the Cloud would borrow from this model:
• Check out (access) digital materials for free
• Access digital materials for a limited amount of time
• Pay to add access time
• Pay the author or publisher for your own digital copy
• Pay the author or publisher for an on-demand print version of the material
• Membership levels: single, family
• Support community through group discussions, educational programs
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7. Devices and interactions that support the Library:
• PDA, with touch screen UI and gestural capabilities, and audio
• TV as a main screen or hub for group activities, and audio
• Laptop/computer reading capabilities, and audio
• Tablets for drawing and comping
• The Superflyer (patent pending)
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9. Chris reads for work, and to improve his coding skills. He is a member of
the Library, and frequently accesses materials that he uses to support his
work environment. He commutes to work on Bart, and tends to use his
laptop as his primary device to read on Bart. He sometimes switches to
audio mode when the train is really crowded, to drown out the noise. At
his destination Bart stop there is a permanent Library in the Cloud kiosk
that sends an update to his account, telling him that there are new
materials in the Library that are related to his current selection. His PDA
buzzes in his pocket, he checks it and sees the alert. At work, he turns on
his computer, also getting the alert on his laptop. He goes to the Library
site, checks out the recommendations, and decides to check out one of
the new materials. He now has two items checked out from the library.
Scenario One: Chris reading for work
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11. One of Tracy’s kids is using her reading tablet for a homework assignment
in reading. She sees the passage to read as well pictures of the other
students and her teacher. Suddenly, she has a question about the
assignment. Who is really the main character of the story, she wonders.
She flicks the question up on the TV screen. Her friend from school sees
the question and responds via video. They discuss the story. When
finished the kid speaks her answer to the tablet. Later on, Tracy checks the
work on the main home screen.
Scenario Two: Tracy reading with her kids
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13. Julie signs into her book club account on the Cloud Library site. She sees
her book show-off-case, to-read list, recommendations, reading friends
network, and calendar of reading events.
She goes to the event planning area to browse books, themes, and
reading guides. She picks a book and publishes an event page. She uses
the calendar and invite tools to invite friends to the event. Julie makes
the event public and lists it under community events on the Cloud Library
site. Several friends RSVP. The first two get access to the book via the
library licenses. Others can purchase the book.
Scenario Three: Julie’s book club (1 of 3)
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14. Club members gather -- some at Julie's house, and some remotely.
Attendees discover the event on the public events listings or via the event
recommendations in their copy of the book. The meeting agenda is
displayed Julie’s flat panel LCD and the Superflyers. People can attend
remotely with AV streaming, which can also be recorded for friends who
were unable to attend.
Scenario Three: Julie’s book club (2 of 3)
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15. The SuperFlyer 5000
The SuperFlyer is made up of a special e-fabric that displays reading
material on two sides. It folds up to fit into a pocket, but then it pops open
to a "pamphlet" in the default mode.
These SuperFlyers also transform back to a flexible cloth which attaches to
almost anything for reading convenience: refrigerator, T-shirt, scarf, wall,
table, toilet paper.
SuperFlyers have a chameleon mode which adapts to the color of its
background, and also a stiff braille mode. Readers can also share materials
by bumping SuperFlyers to share reads.
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24. Language translation Modes for Info Types
Note taking Touch screen
Sharing Audio
Dictionary Embedded animation
Searching Cross-reference
Passage comparisons Web Searches
Saving Eye tracking
Bookmark Speed read mode
Read modes for disabilities
Other features of The SuperFlyer (not pictured)
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25. Thank you! Hot Studio Inc.
hotstudio.com 585 Howard Street, 1st Floor 52 Walker Street, 4th Floor
hottub.hotstudio.com San Francisco, California 94105 New York, New York 10013
twitter.com/hotstudio 415.284.7250 212.242.1082
facebook.com/hotstudio
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