During my semester in the Digital Interaction Design course, I encountered an intriguing task – the design of an interactive exhibit for collections in the Mythland Museum. The challenge entailed multiple museum visits to conduct user research, where I delved into the dynamics of natural visitor interaction with exhibitions. My observations soon led me to the Astro Boulder exhibition, a renowned Neolithic archaeological site within Europe. Yet, despite its reputation, its presentation left much to be desired.
Visitors’ qualitative feedback painted a vivid picture: the exhibit was ‘primitive and rough,’ ‘lifeless,’ and ‘boring.’ Quantitative data reflected a similar story; an overwhelming 83.3% of visitors failed to appreciate the historical significance of the Astro Boulder excavation. Determined to rectify this, I channeled my understanding of human-computer interaction (HCI) into an innovative solution.
Inspired by the dynamic world of 3D RPG gaming, I designed an interactive game where visitors could gather seven fragments of the Astro Boulder Relic lost by Neolithic inhabitants in a 3D reconstructed Neolithic landscape. The immersive, real-time setting allowed visitors to contextualize the environment and structure of the Astro Boulder Relic, transforming a previously monotonous experience into a vibrant exploration. To further enrich the interactive experience, I included an option for visitors to purchase a DIY pack to construct their own version of the Astro Boulder Relic. This design was recognized and endorsed by the museum’s digital and curation team.
The process of human-centered iterative design on this project fortified my passion for cutting-edge technology and its integral role in HCI. It also set the stage for my subsequent projects. At Creative Digital Labs, I helped develop strategies for the public to understand local open data through personalized, interactive films. Currently, I am immersed in my graduation project, focused on the design of an interactive Terms of Service to make it more user-friendly and engaging. Each project has further highlighted the significance of user needs and ease of use, strengthening my desire to specialize in HCI.
Hence, the Human-Computer Interaction MSc at Phoenix University is an enticing prospect. The program’s emphasis on HCI’s fundamental theory and methodology aligns perfectly with my experiences and aspirations. I am particularly drawn to the Future Interfaces and Physical Computing and Prototyping modules, which I believe will complement and enhance my skills.
In the past, I built a 3D interactive cooking game installation as part of a team project. The game incorporated a physical frying pan created by circuits, 3D printing, and laser-cut as a controller and used Leap Motion to capture players’ hand movements. These allowed players to interact directly with virtual 3D models of ingredients, simulating a real cooking process. The blend of physical prototyping and novel technology interfaces in this project allowed me to provide an engaging human-computer interactive gaming experience. I am eager to further explore advanced physical prototyping and near-future user interface designing methodologies under the guidance of the globally respected experts at Phoenix University.
As an HCI designer, my ultimate ambition is to provide efficient, comfortable, and pleasant user experiences for all users equally. I believe the HCI MSc at Phoenix University will provide me with the knowledge and skills to make a significant contribution to this field. I eagerly look forward to the opportunity to learn, explore, and innovate in the dynamic landscape of human-computer interaction.
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