Week 13

Playtests, playtests, playtests…

Lazer Mouse continued to  play test the application. David from dotdotdot helped us to test our app at ETC with 6 little gentlemen on Wednesday 17th where they had the chance to get their designs cut by the laser cutter. We visited Central Elementary School on Friday.

Application

Here is the version that we have tested this week.

Playtest Observations

4/17/13 – PLAY TEST at ETC – 6 (1 7-year-old, 5 8-year-old) play testers (6B)

1. They all liked the application and found it cool.
2. The first thing that they did was writing their names with the etching pencil.
3. When kids tapped shapes with their nails, iPad did not recognize the touch.
4. The tapping latency for punching was too high. When the punching did not happen as soon as they were expecting, they gave up using the shapes.
5. Sound FX for punching was a clever choice of feedback. Kids enjoyed it a lot.
6. We need to say “Stamping” instead of “Punching” while describing the cut lines as one of the kids actually tried to punch the iPad.
7. Double touch destroys the drawn thing happened again and it frustrated the kids.
8. Tutorial that Sahana prepared seems to be effective for understanding the stamping/punching.

4/19/13 – CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  –  1st GRADERS (6-7)  –  10 play testers (3B, 7G)

1. Pencil and eraser are working great.
2. Stamping sound FX made them laugh and it increased the use of stamps a lot.
3. Some discovered the drawer and showed their friends.
4. They sent the stamps by dragging them to the drawer/sidebar.
5. Second touch while drawing/erasing problem still occurs.
6. They liked the drawing a lot.
7. No one looked at the “Help”.

4/19/13 – CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  –  3rd GRADERS (8-9)  –  10 play testers (7B, 3G)

We muted the iPads to see the effect of sound FX for this group. Here are the observations:

1. They used the stamps as much as the previous group used.
2. They used “Help” button. They asked us to add help for etching and merging, too.
3. They asked for changing the color even though it wouldn’t make any difference.
4. We haven’t observed any rapid, continuously tapping to activate the tools/stamps. The new tapping function is working great

4/19/13 – CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  –  4th GRADERS (9-10) –   10 play testers(4B, 6G)

1. They preferred to ask directly to us how to use the stamps rather than checking the “Help” button.
2. After one student discovered stamping, others stamped, too.
3. They liked the idea that the stamps are creating cut lines, they can write their names and cut shapes around them or cut something and write names on them.
4. They liked scaling the shapes. They liked using them as they are easier to use and they give more exact lines.
5. They liked drawing, they can draw anything they want, it gives more freedom.
6. They asked for freehand cutting, ie. a knife tool.
7. They asked for a “Fill tool”.
8. They accidentally activated the buttons while trying to drag the stamps to the borders of the cardboard.
9. They liked the sound FX a lot.
10. They asked for changing the size of the etching pencil and eraser.

4/19/13 – CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL  –  5th GRADERS (10-11)  –  10 play testers (5B, 5G)

1. Pencil and eraser are pretty straight forward.
2. For a long time, no one used the stamps but when someone punched something, they all tried to punch.
3. They liked drawing a lot, they asked to be able to change the thickness of the pencil.
4. They liked stamps for their perfection and making the designs look cooler.
5. They asked for a freehand cutting tool.
6. They suggested having a “Create your own stamp” feature.
7. They asked for a “New” button.

Setting up the Laser Cutter at MAKESHOP

4/21/13 – Laser cutter reaches its permanent home

We took the laser cutter to its permanent home on Sunday. We set up all the physical components. It’s ready to be tested in the museum now. Next week, after Softs presentations, we will be play testing with the actual machine setup in the museum.

Next Week!

• We have Soft Opening, we will be presenting our work to our visitors.
• We will be polishing the application.
• We will be play testing at MAKESHOP on 4/23-25 along with other CMU students.

• ← Week 12
• Week 14 – Soft Openings →