Group Brainstorm-Group:Group 14
From Cs160-sp08
Contents |
Brainstorm Ideas
(1) DriverMode :: lets you use phone only when stopped, and then can get traffic/weather info, driving routes, etc.
(2) maps/driving directions :: driving reports, like mobile google maps
(3) interactive to-do list :: takes organization out of PDA's, more user friendly using graphics
(4) DrivingForum :: user updates in real time about traffic or weather
( ^these^ ideas were the individual project proposals, the remainder of the brainstorm was a brainstorm of different features or ideas that could be integrated either in the previous ideas or in completely new application ideas)
(5) when in traffic, can text to the traffic forum
(6) voice feature for when user is driving
(7) graphical notebook, more user friendly and easy
(8) notebook and maps together in same application
(9) putting sigalert.com or 511.org on the mobile (those give traffic update and speed of cars)
(10) hands-free mobile
(11) integrate things into maps, restaurants, stores, etc
(12) "stumble upon" for gps (stumble upon is a website that is for finding fun websites and for surfing)
(13) program specific to age group, peer group
(14) application that where user both gives and takes as far as information goes
(15) exchange information with friends on address book or friend circle
(16) social networking app (like facebook/myspace)
(17) program to coordinate schedules or organize a lunch or dinner with multiple people
(18) find closest meeting place between 2 people
(19) pinned map -- friends can see it, pins are points of interest or places you or friends dislike
(20) friend status / mini blogs
(21) easy calendar, set up more user friendly communication, shaped like real-life calendar
(22) MyDesk -- combines together calendar and notebook
(23) widgets on cell
(24) whiteboard, a couple of friends in the same chatroom
(25) craig's list on the cellular
(26) CommunityView -- gps, map&time for each community event
(27) putting everything together in the same application
(28) news, but make it exciting!!
(29) celebrity watch
(30) big blogger (combines news, friends' blog, celebrity blogs, etc)
(31) team scheduler
Details for the Team Scheduler:
- status updates
- multiple teams per person
- set up meetings
- chatroom
- integrating calendars
- sharing information, documents, images
Details for the Pin Map:
- relies on GPS system
- would need to use a server to hold information OR would need an e-mail type connection between phones to synchronize data
- map pins: favorite places
- calendar integration
- contact location, use to find friends, find places to eat
- can go small scale or larger scale
- for larger scale, user can input good or bad, and then each pin shows a percentage perferred
- have community events (integrating idea 26)
- can have a subscription to a group/organization's event
Idea Selection
We decided to go in the direction of a peer-to-peer program, since that seemed to be a continuing theme throughout our brainstorm. We narrowed ideas down to two general ideas-- a team scheduler or an interactive, social-networking map. Since the interactive, social-networking map seemed to have more possibilities and encompass more creativity, we decided to develop this.
Project Proposal
Target User Group
This program is for social users. These type of people like to be out and about, always looking for something to do on campus or in the community. They like to know what their friends think of places around town and want to know where the good restaurants, cafe's, and live music is. The age group is generally younger, approximately 20-40 years old. The users are experienced with general computer usage and have experience with google maps and GPS, so they know how to recognize electronic maps. This is generally for more urban environments where community events are more prevalent.
Problem Description
There's not an easy way to share preferences about different events, stores, restaurants, etc. GPS has the different locations of businesses but there is no indication of whether the place is good or bad, enjoyable or torture. People are not involved in maps, they're completely separate.
Problem Context
This problem would arise when someone is in a new neighborhood or on vacation and wants to know the good places to go. Also when someone is just curious, "I wonder what the closest indian restaurant is?" "I wonder if that cafe makes a mean espresso?" "Has friend sally ever been to that neat-looking bar?"
Programs available now that have _some_ of the features that solve the general problem are google maps, GPS systems, and other mapping and driving direction programs. There also exists technology that tracks the user's position using GPS, such that a cell phone user can see where other friends are located. The main social networking sites available on the internet that connect people together are obviously facebook and myspace.
Why Mobile?
Mobile is better to use to solve this problem because it is accessible when going to different locations, so when a user goes to a restaurant, he/she can comment immediately about that restaurant, as opposed to going home and remembering if it was good or bad. Also, when on the go, a user can use their current location in comparison to the businesses local to their position. Not only can they input information, but they can access information when they are nearby -- a user is unlikely to research the good/bad places to go on the computer before leaving the house.
Solution Sketch
An interactive, social-networking map. Each person has their own personal map, and also has access to their friends' maps. There are pins on a map, as well as a comment associated with that pin, indicating the preference of the pinned location. Pins can also be associated with a time and date, so people can post an event at a location. This can be extended to include community events or events for a certain group or organization. This time/date addition can also be used to map out a user's schedule through calendar integration.
The maps of the user and his/her friends are displayed on the same map, so that several different pins (possibly different colors for different friends) can be seen at the same time. It can either be relative to the current position of the user or a specified remote position.
There would be different settings regarding the information a user shares with peers. A user has his/her own personal map, which may include their house location, their mapped out schedule, and their pinned locations. They can choose which aspects to share, so they don't have to give away too much information.
It may or may not integrate a GPS system, but using the GPS would make the mapping and the tracking of cell phone user much easier. It could also integrate google maps.
The primary mode of our program would me the map view that would look similar to this:
The second major element of our application is a shared group schedule that allows people in a group to find available times to meet:
In order to populate the group's map with various points of interests, group members would need to enter places they would like to see at the map either by using the GPS to record their current location, or by entering the address manually:
Once a place is entered into the map, all group members would be able to see or search for it using their mobile devices. Also, any group member would have an option to announce his current position, making him also visible and searchable.
