Refined Interface

After receiving some feedback at the crit i made a few changes to my interface; you can now enter your own name into the title and the demonstration shows more clearly how one tree can change at a time.

file:///Users/alexmcdougal/Documents/112%20Interaction%20Design/Project%202B/TO%20HAND%20IN.html

Final Interface

So, in the end i developed from the possible display of the interface in my last blog and added some features to convey how the user would interact with it.

The buttons in the bottom corner provide visual explanations of the interface. The film strip shows a demo of how the forest can change according to how you drive and the note button shows a legend to help the user understand the different trees. Both of these buttons have links back to the main display which is the one in this image.

The trees are all individual buttons themselves, in terms of it being ultimately a touch screen, the user just needs to touch and hold the tree to get more information about what each tree means. in this case all the trees are positive contributing factors so the information is all in positive percentages, though if the trees were brown then the information would be a negative percentage.

The only constantly present text in the interface is "Your Forest", i did this so that the user is always reminded of their personal connection with the forest as it is their actions whilst driving that influence it. 

Over all i wanted my interface to be aesthetically pleasing and require little thinking in its operation from the user so that it would appeal to everyone and entice people to keep on using it.   

Still Interface

Here i made a possible display that the interface could produce as an example of how the user can interact with it.

To test it out copy and paste this link into your browser

file://localhost/Users/alexmcdougal/Documents/112%20Interaction%20Design/Project%202B/real%20final%20interface.html

How to Simplify the Interface - What works best

From the feedback I realised I needed to make the interface more simple in order for the trees to be more relative. There were two possible strategies i could do in order to achieve this:

1. I could completely simplify the trees in order to make them easier to understand, they would ultimately just be make out of circles each one representing a different contributing factor to the energy consumption, the colour indicating whether it was a good or bad factor (brown = bad, dark green = great). The user would simply touch the circle to access more information.

2. The other strategy would be to keep the existing tree shapes I have but simplify the legend down so there is just three block colours that are easy to remember, and each tree represents a different contributing factor to the energy consumption however, you would no longer have to remember what each one represents you would just touch the tree to find out more information.

Feedback:

After asking a number of people (both designers and non designers) which one they thought was better, almost everyone said that strategy 2 was a lot better looking and fit with the idea of the forest better. It appeared more sophisticated which would be better suited to the people who ultimately would drive - adults.    

User Feedback

I showed some people my current interface, explaining it to them as i intended to do so for the hand in, and asked them if there was anything they did not understand or thought certain aspects could be improved, this was the feedback i received;
- The weather was quite confusing, the rain made them think something bad was happening and that the sun was good. Otherwise they didn't like it at all.
- The colours between the status' were too similar so it was hard to distinguish the change with out a big change in the number of trees.
- Learning the different trees in the legend would also be difficult but without actually changing the trees to symbols of engines and so on it would be very difficult to change this fact.

Legend

I designed this legend that could be viewed when the user touched anywhere on the screen. It is intended to help the user understand what each aspect in the interface means, i tried to keep it as simple as possible.

Weather?

I experimented with adding a weather element into the interface. However, it was very difficult to work with and the over all aesthetics looked a little bit crowded and quite stiff. I don't think I want to try to make it as realistic as possible because it will most likely turn out looking tacky.

To view the weather in motion paste this link in into your browser

file://localhost/Users/alexmcdougal/Documents/112%20Interaction%20Design/Interface4.html 

Simplifying The Interface

I decided to try remove as much 'generic' elements as possible by taking away the menu along the bottom and rather than the forest being as realistic as possible i made it like a silhouette and the colour conveying the status. I kept the title "Your Forest" because it makes it more personal therefore enticing people to use it. Also as the status of the forest improves the forest grows bigger dramatically to clearly convey the idea of it becoming more lush.

To view the clip in action paste this link into your browser 

file://localhost/Users/alexmcdougal/Documents/112%20Interaction%20Design/Interface3.html

Developing Buttons

I found these free to download vector icons that i could use instead of buttons in my interface

when looking at the icons alone they look a lot better than my original buttons though i'm not sure how well they fit with my forest theme.

Adding Some Basic Animation

Copy this link in your browser to view (it wouldn't work as a link for some reason?)

file://localhost/Users/alexmcdougal/Documents/112%20Interaction%20Design/Interface.html

Flash Tutorials

I used these tutorials to learn some basics about interaction with flash



and this is what i have come up with so far (the buttons along the bottom light up green when you click them) i am still getting use to drawing trees on flash;

Initial Changes

After reviewing my proposal and getting feedback from others in my group I have decided to drop the idea of being able to download different applications and just work on making the forest look really good.

Written Discription

“Savvy” encourages people to be conscious of their energy usage when using any type of land-based vehicle. The device’s main screen or 'home' is a display of a small forest and a title indicating its status. It automatically takes information about the vehicle from the internet through a wireless connection and calculates the status of your energy consumption, the more you conserve the better the status. The device monitors all the factors that contribute to the energy consumption of the vehicle.

The technology involved consists of a built in computer that can determine the cars performance and access the wireless internet to automatically retrieve information. These technologies will allow low user input and an easy to use display that is aesthetically pleasing and enticing. Over all making the device affordable and attractive to a large consumer group.

The device is aimed at anyone who uses land-based vehicles from large companies to personal use in order to encourage as many people as possible to conserve energy. It will meet the needs of this consumer group by allowing individual preference for the display, and the information from the device will be easily accessible as it can be viewed on your computer, t.v., or cell phone through a wireless connection. This wireless connection can also determine if you take public transport, which aids the status of your forest. As an added incentive rewards are given to those who put a particular effort into conserving energy, like fuel vouchers. Also children are encouraged to interact with the device as well, they can use information from their parents devices to enter competitions at school, a similar thing will apply for businesses too.  

Prototype

Developments

Concepts

Brainstorm of Possible Features and Objectives

Monitoring my household's energy usage

Analysis of User Groups

Transport - when Andrew Smith gave the guess lecture he suggested that a good area to look at would be transport and fuel consumption because no one has really done it before. With this approach the type of target market could range from companies like Air New Zealand to couriers, farmers, bus drivers right down to personal use.

Domestic - Andrew also gave a number of suggestions for a monitoring device used in buildings, he said key things to do are things like giving people feedback that will affect their behavior because unless you know a lot about energy , saving it isn't going to be thought of. If its in a home make it become apart of the house, make it look "pretty", I thought that maybe it could be connected to the computer or t.v. Andrew also said to consider the fact that you can't save power on everything in a house, but above all he said to make it compelling, fun or sexy. These suggestions open up the possibilities for a single device that can target everyone (when affordability is not counted for), from business to schools and personal use in homes.

Online - creating a sort of social network would be very effective at targeting the younger generation, as they become older a shift in attitude towards energy consumption will be wide spread. However, if you look at successful social networking sites like myspace and facebook people of all generations are using them. Andrew suggested here that its made like a competition inorder to make it more compelling.

Interesting Clip for New Technology

This is a great clip for generating ideas off in terms of potential ways we could monitor energy.

Other Energy Information and Tips I Found

TLC Home http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/question272.htm 

What I didn’t think about was water pumps I did not know these were included in the bill, and that it takes up so much of the bill.

If you were to make a chart of the electricity-consuming devices in a typical home and rank them in order of their hunger for power, the list might look something like this:

Device	Typical consumption	Cost per hour
Heat pump or central air	15,000 watts	$1.50
Water heater or clothes drier	4,000 watts	40 cents
Water pump	3,000 watts	30 cents
Space heater	1,500 watts	15 cents
Hair drier	1,200 watts	12 cents
Electric range burner	1,000 watts	10 cents
Refrigerator	1,000 watts	10 cents
Computer and monitor	400 watts	4 cents
Light bulb	60 watts	0.6 cents

This table assumes that a kilowatt-hour of electricity costs 10 cents, which is an average rate depending on your location.
If your house has electric heat, then the middle of winter is a time when you are going to use a lot of power. A heat pump might run 10 to 15 hours a day. At $1.50 an hour, that's $15 to $22 per day. Over the course of a month, that's several hundred dollars worth of electricity. The same applies in the summer if you use the air conditioner a lot.
Water heating uses a good bit of power as well. When you take a shower or run a load of clothes in the washer, the electric water heater might run for an hour reheating the water in the tank. That's 40 cents. A typical household can burn several dollars a day heating water. Because we don't normally think of it this way, it is funny to consider that every shower you take costs 40 cents! When you add in the cost of washing and drying the towels (every load of clothes that you run might cost $1 to $2 for washing and drying), plus the soap and shampoo, it can cost nearly a buck to take a shower!
Refrigeration is another big power drain because the refrigerator can easily run for 10 hours a day. That's about $1 per day to keep the milk cold. If you leave the computer or TV on all day, it can add up to $1 per day as well.
Then we get to light bulbs. At 0.6 cents per hour, it doesn't seem like much. However, many fixtures contain two or more bulbs, and it is easy to leave several fixtures on. If 10 bulbs are burning, that's 6 cents an hour. If they burn for six hours a day, that's 36 cents per day for lighting. Multiply that by 30 days in a month, and it's $10 per month for photons.
Using a space heater or an electric blanket to heat a smaller area at night is probably the easiest way to save big on your power bill. Saving hot water is the next easiest.
Its good that this website gives a few tips on the easiest ways to save power.
Seven ways to save energy http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/7-energy-savers-460608
Your dear old Dad wasn't just being stingy, he was trying to teach you to save energy and money, back when he fussed at you for leaving lights on after you left the room.
See, Dad knew that lighting is responsible for about 11 percent of a home's energy bills. By turning off lights you don't need, you'll begin saving right away, and will extend the lifetime of all those bulbs.

CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are well known for substantial energy savings (they use about 75% less energy than standard incandescents), plus they last much longer. These days, you can get CFLs in many different shapes and sizes, including ones that work with all your lamp shades!
You aren't stuck with that now-iconic swirly shape, unless you want to be. Do remember to dispose of them carefully, but don't over worry about the small amount of mercury they contain.

Install Motion Sensors

Install motion sensors on lights in your home, which turn on only when movement is detected and turn off automatically.

These work particularly well for outdoor lamps, which can also boost security. Leaving lighting on all night can be disruptive to wildlife, especially when it comes to flood lights.

So save electricity and money (and reduce the chance of getting shocked) by installing sensors. Isn't that smart?

Turn Off Your Computer at Night

Many of us spend so much time on our computers, and check e-mail and other services so frequently, that we never turn the things off.

It may occasionally take you a few more seconds to get to work, but you'll save energy and money if you turn your computer off at the end of each day. It will also reduce wear and tear on your hardware, extending its life. According to the Department of Energy you'll save an average of $90 of electricity a year.

The agency recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren't going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you're not going to use it for more than two hours. (It is true that very frequent cycling of the power switch can result in added wear.)

Use a Laptop Instead of a Desktop

If you have the choice between powering up your desktop or a laptop, choose the latter. Also, when it's time to upgrade to a new computer, think laptop.

Laptop computers draw only 15 to 25 watts during regular use, as compared to the 150 watts used by a conventional desktop computer and monitor. Plus, laptops also draw just a fraction of a watt when in sleep mode.

Get an Energy Monitor

Get a close handle on your home energy use with an advanced energy monitoring device.

One good example is The Energy Detective (TED), which starts at $139. TED is a small display that indicates household electrical usage in real time and projects your monthly bill -- all without using batteries. Research has found that real-time energy feedback leads consumers to reduce their electricity consumption. According to the company you'll save 15 - 20% on each bill, which would amount to hundreds of dollars a year.

It's really quite simple: If you can measure it, you can manage it. You can make small adjustments through the day and see how the savings add up.

Get an Energy Audit

Now that you've been making some small changes around the house to save energy, you may want to consider a home energy audit. Many people think of them only when it starts getting cold, and heating season begins. But summer cooling is also one of our largest energy users.

An energy audit will help you determine exactly how much juice you are using, and will identify ways you can reduce it, through better insulation and other techniques. Hire a pro, or get started with your own simple DIY audit here.

Surprising the added benefits you can achieve buy conserving power like security and reducing wear and tear on appliances. At first the laptop thing surprised me but once I started thinking about it, it made sense.

home energy conservation tip #1 - Choose Your Colors Wisely

The colors in your House can Reduce Your Energy Bill

Paint the walls of your home a light color. Dark colors tend to absorb light, requiring you to use more energy from light bulbs to achieve the same effect.

Not only to light colors on your walls help conserve energy in your home, they also make your rooms feel brighter and more cheerful!

home energy conservation tip #2 -- Who Wants to Do the Dishes?

An Energy Efficient Dish Washer

A dishwasher that is 90% full uses 4 units of electricity. If it is only 50% full, it still uses 3 units of electricity. Fill the dishwasher to save on your electric bill.

Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings:
All New Listings of the Most Efficient Products You Can Buy

Alex Wilson and John Morrill have assembled a comprehensive guide to energy-saving techniques and devices with two goals in mind: save consumers money and save Earth in the process. Wilson and Morrill offer consumers the latest techniques for making their homes more efficient, comfortable, and cheaper to live in, and they supply energy ratings for appliances, light bulbs, water heaters, windows, heating systems, and more. The language is clear and entertaining; you needn't to be a technician or an engineer to understand the suggestions and analyses. Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings will prove incredibly useful for people who are about to build a home or remodel, or who simply want to get the most bang for their buck and not waste energy or foul the environment

Review
"Not only does the Guide rate the brand of major home appliances and fixtures for energy efficiency, it also shows how to insulate, landscape and maintain your home in the manner that will make your wallet and your planet greener."
-E Magazine

I

home energy conservation tip #3 -- Insulate

Give Your Water Heater a Blankie

Buy a water heater blanket and keep your water heater insulated. You'll save $40 per year. Doesn't that just make you feel warm all over?

M-D Building Products R-5.0 Water Heater Insulation Blanket #04671

Water heater insulation blankets are designed for gas, oil or electric heaters. White vinyl backed fiberglass blanket. Includes adhesive tape for easy installation. Easy to install with scissors, measuring tape and pencil. Fits up to 60 gallons. R-5.0 insulating value.

-- Reduces energy cost
-- Easily installed
-- R-5.0 Insulating Value

home energy conservation tip #4 -- Lighten Up!

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Replacing a single incandescent bulb with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb (one of those "squiggly bulbs") can save up to $50 over the bulb's lifetime.

Now THAT'S a bright idea!

60-Watt Replacement 4 Pack Mini Spiral Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, Uses only 13-Watts

Did you know that if every U.S. home swapped out just ONE incandescent bulb for a compact fluorescent "squiggly bulb", the energy saved would be enough to power 2.5 MILLION homes!?!

Save on energy costs with a bright, low-wattage fluorescent light bulb. Conserve energy by replacing any 100-watt incandescent light bulb with this 23-watt fluorescent bulb that emits the same amount of light! This 1600-lumen bulb is the same size as standard light bulbs, easily fitting in small lamps, recessed lighting fixtures, or anywhere else you usually install an incandescent bulb. The 23-Watt Mini Spiral Fluorescent Light Bulb features excellent color rendering and excellent light distribution as well as a double coating for higher lumen maintenance. A built-in soft-start circuit ensures a longer bulb life: Built to last 10,000 hours, this fluorescent light bulb has an average life span of more than 10 times that of standard 1,000-hour incandescent bulbs.

home energy conservation tip #5 -- Money Out the Window?

Energy Efficient Windows

Up to 16% of your heat can escape through unprotected windows. Close your drapes at night or install insulating shutters to retain heat. If you have a large expanse of glass that doesn't receive direct sun, keep the drapes closed as much as possible.

home energy conservation tip #6 -- Turn the "Off" OFF

Get a Smart Power Strip

75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed while "off". By using a power strip and switching off when not in use, you lessen CO2 emissions and reduce your energy bill.

home energy conservation tip #7 -- Get a Load of This!

What Kind of Washing Machine is More Energy Efficient?

When choosing your next washing machine, pick one with a front-loader. Front-loader models use 25% less energy than a standard model.

Also, simply switching from a hot/warm cycle to a warm/cold cycle when washing laundry can save you 10 cents a load. That adds up when you think about how many loads of laundry you do a year!

Don't forget to look for the Energy Star before making those big purchases!

Whirlpool Duet Sport Series WFW8300SW 27" Front-Load Washer with 3.4 Cu. Ft. Capacity, 7 Wash Cycles, 6-Point Suspension System & Flexible Installation

Introducing the Whirlpool Duet Sport washer.
It's time to get serious about conserving not only space, but water and energy too.This washer combines a contemporary front-load design and large capacity with the flexibility of a compact frame. Enjoy this front-loading washer's deep cleaning performance and save as much as 2/3 the water and energy consumed by traditional top-loading washers. The Duet Sports fabric care system combines two powerful technologies combine for one powerful clean. The Anti-Escape valve ensures the maximum concentration of detergent, while the Care Control System keeps temps optimal for detergent enzymes.

--Anticipated Durability (Consumer Reports indicates Whirlpool has lowest repair-rate for front-loaders.
--Quiet.
--Super clean clothes.
--SGreen: consumes way less water and electricity than top-loaders

home energy conservation tip #8 -- Ditch the Dirty Filters

Heat and Air Conditioning Filters

Check your furnace and AC filters regularly. Cleaning or replacing filters once a month during periods of high use will insure proper air flow, promote better health, increase efficiency, and save money too.


If you are concerned about air quality, consider a dust collector or air filtration system.

CrispAir Air Cleaning Light Bulb, 23 Watt, 6400K, Compact Flourescent

Did you know they make energy saving lightbulbs that clean the air in your home or office, too? The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb purifies the air by generating negative ions. These negative ions collide with airborne particles, which are large rafts for hundreds of toxic chemical and disease organisms. This process removes viruses, bacteria, odors, cigarette smoke, pet dander and other pollutants from the air we breathe. The negative ion functions as a remover of dust, bacteria, cigarette smoke, offensive odors and the positive ions generated from TVs, computers, and other electrical devices. The CrispAirTM Air Cleaning Light Bulb helps to balance the ionization in your home and office to help combat the positive ions that make us feel tired and irritable. This restored balance increases oxygen intake so we feel more alert and helps to relieve asthma symptoms, fatigue, headaches. The CrispAirTM light bulb is a compact fluorescent bulb and as such, uses about a quarter of the wattage to produce the same amount of light as an incandescent light bulb. In addition, since it lasts up to 10 times as long, it saves multi-bulb replacement costs.

--Cleans air by removing cigarette smoke, odors, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold and mildew.
--Removes harmful germs that aggravate allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Relieves headaches caused by computer use.
--23 Watt, 90 Watt equivalent. 110V, 1300 Lm
--Color: Daylight/6400K
--Life: 10,000 hours. Save up to 75% in energy costs

home energy conservation tip #9 -- Air Your Laundry

Even a Retractable Clothes Line WIll Do Ya!

During spring and summer months, line dry your clothes instead of using a clothes dryer. This can save you as much as $75 a year.

home energy conservation tip #10 -- Get with the Program

Energy Efficient Thermostats Save You Money

Why pay for heat or AC you don't need? You can save energy and money by using a programable thermostat. It can reduce your energy needs from heat or AC when you are at work, away at vacation, or asleep.

Hunter 44550 Auto Save 7-Day Programmable Thermostat

Create the ideal indoor climate for a particular household's daily needs while conserving energy with this Energy Star-compliant programmable thermostat from Hunter. Users program for each day of the week, enabling the thermostat to automatically heat up at dawn on a cold morning or to run the air conditioner for longer hours over a summer weekend. By adjusting the thermostat to operate primarily when household members are home, the device reduces wasted energy and minimizes the size of the electric bill in addition to maximizing comfort.

"This is not a particularly expensive thermostat, but it might as well be because you get a lot more than you pay for. It was so easy to install that my not-particularly-handy husband was able to do it (he DID have to read the directions, but he did NOT have to ask for help). It works really well, we love the indigo glow, and the program is really easy to use and really convenient for people who don't work the standard 9-5 M-F that some thermostats limit their programs to. The energy-saver programs are also really nice. All in all, I think this was a great buy."

http://www.squidoo.com/home-energy

 fuel efficiency tips for cars http://www.hk-phy.org/energy/transport/act_fuel_tips_e.html

Advice on Selecting a Car

Do you need a car? Consider public transportation or walking to your regular destinations instead of driving. Buy a car with the right capacity and engine size - The penalty for any excess is extra fuel expenses. Buy a car with an energy label - Compare the fuel consumption of different cars before making your decision. Ask the dealer for the fuel consumption rating of a car if it does not have an energy label. Consider buying alternative fuel vehicles - they usually consume less fuel and produce a smaller quantity of greenhouse gases and pollutants.

Advice on Using a Car

Plan your journey - Avoid congested roads, steep hills, road construction, etc. Group short journeys and minimise your car's idling time. Do not drive short distances- Consider public transportation or walking. Share your car with others – Give neighbours, friends or colleagues travelling the same route a lift in your car, or get a lift from another driver and leave your car at home. Park-and-ride at railway stations - Use public transportation as often as possible. Drive only to destinations where no public transportation is available.

Advice on Energy Efficient Driving

Avoid unnecessary acceleration and over-speeding - Accelerate smoothly and maintain a steady speed. Use air-conditioning sparingly - Use flow-through ventilation or open windows to reduce the use of air-conditioning. Drive off as soon as possible after starting. Switch off your engine if you have been idling for a long time. Do not carry any unnecessary articles or fittings - The extra weight results in fuel wastage and unnecessary emissions. Close windows when travelling at high speeds - This will decrease aerodynamic drag. Maintain your car properly - Service your car regularly and keep it well tuned. Keep your car in top operating condition. Maintain correct tyre pressure - Inspect your tyres regularly and inflate them to the correct pressure as recommended by the manufacturer.

A biggy is idling this wastes large amounts of fuel when done often.