Final post

While working on this project, from start to finish, I was able to learn much about community and how it is influenced. A major part of developing community is creating a usable space, something that is both interesting and interactive. Something that stood out to me was that people usually get tired of something after a short period of time. When an object is more interactive, a user can enjoy it for a longer amount of time. Another important thing is to recognize the balance between simplicity and creativity. Both are very useful in creating a final product, as an object must be easy to use and interesting for the consumer. During the project, I also learned that people must feel like they have permission to use a new object that they are not used to, and they may also require more instruction.

I believe what made my team successful was the ability of our group to cooperate. We were able to create a product without any conflict and worked together very well. However, that does not mean that we worked efficiently. Several members of the group were checked out for large periods of time, and what would have taken a couple hours ended up taking several days. I believe that having two project managers was useful in that each one could keep an eye on half of the group. What also made the group functional was that the group members were open to suggestions, and were accepting of feedback.

I am pleased with the final product that our group produced for the project. We were able to create a functional disc golf basket that was lightweight, glow-in-the-dark, and could hang from the trees without causing damage. I agree with the other members of my group in that technology can hinder the outdoor experience, however, I do believe we could have added something more interesting to our project if we included lights or sounds to the basket. Also, we could have advertised better and created a more attractive sign, but our product was perfectly functional as it was. After the initial testing, we were able to fix the problems with the basket and refined the design, and the basket was finally able to be used properly and completely.

Entry 7:

Entry 6:

Today we made a large amount of progress on the website. Jame Brady worked on creating image slideshows and adding photos and video to the documentation page. I was able to take the final photos of the group members that were absent last class and add their links to the website. The engineers added the rope to the bottom of the basket and attached metal rings to the top and bottom of the basket so it can be hung using rope. We also finalized our tee box and sign for the course. Robert and I made the sign using plywood, and used mod podge to adhere the printouts. I also created a flyer for the course, and added the link to the project website as well as the dates and times we will be at Keiser. Also, I made a short survey that I put on the home page of the website, allowing people who visited the park to provide feedback on the course.
Later in the day we were able to test out the projects that the other groups made, while they could test ours. Our basket functioned how we expected it to, and it was not damaged during the testing. Some of the other groups had some issues when dealing with electronics, but our group chose not to use technology.

Entry 5:

Today we continued construction of the disc golf basket. We finally got the 5 way connectors, allowing us to connect the top of the basket to the bottom. We had to cut the PVC in the middle of the basket in order to fit the connectors in the middle of the rings. After we glued the the PVC together, we started painting the basket with the glow-in-the-dark spray paint.
While the basket was being built, Edgar and I worked on the project website. I took picture of each group member and linked each blog to the website. Edgar made the home page, while I made the team member page. By the end of the day, the basket was mostly finished, as it was painted and the chains were hung. All that was left was to attach the rope and add some rope to the bottom of the basket to keep the discs from falling out.

Entry 4:

Today we began building our disc golf basket and bench. We were able to build the basket without the parts that are being ordered online. The three rings used for construction were made of PVC pipe, and were glued together. When we began construction, we realized that we did not have enough pipe or T connectors. We were able to get extra pieces from home depot, allowing us to finish most of the basket.

We also began creating a bench for the course. When finished, it will be 2 feet tall and shaped like a horseshoe. The wood for the bench was measured and cut, but no other work was completed. As I am part of the media and marketing team, I started creating the website for the project, with the help of Edgar. I added head shots of most of the team, and added the individual pages for the site as well. So far, we are just waiting for the extra parts to be delivered, and the bench needs to be constructed. After we complete the basket and bench, we can make final adjustments to create a finished product.

Entry 3:

Today, we began refining our main idea, Disc Golf. We plan on creating a single "hole" that shows how the concept would work in Keiser Park. Our main idea is to build a hanging basket, made out of PVC pipe, and information signs. We began budgeting for the required materials, and also started brainstorming course suggestions.

I am in charge of building the information signs, as well as media and marketing. This includes creating a logo and keeping the style of published work consistent. It is important for us to incorporate beauty and voice into our work, instead of just fun, in order to create something that is visually appealing and eye catching.

Entry 2:

This day was dedicated to defining a solution for our project. Each group member was required to present at least two ideas for a solution. I had three ideas, an amphitheater, a giant magnetic art board, and a large tube instrument. The most popular and feasible idea was the tube instrument, as it would be cheap and easy to build, while the most difficult would probably be the amphitheater.
The two top ideas out of the entire group were disc gold and the tubephone. We ended up choosing disc golf, and we decided to add some musical aspects to the baskets. To make the game more unique, we brainstormed ideas of different baskets, including some that were hanging or glowing. By making the baskets more interesting, they will attract larger crowds. Our group also chose not to use technology such as lights and electronics for the project, as these may take away from the user's experience.

Day 1: Introduction

Today we officially began our core project. We were each assigned to groups of 8 or 9, in order to answer the question, "What makes a community stable?" Our general goal is to research community in a public space, Keiser Park, and design an activity that encourages the building of community.