Analysis of Info Requirements
Main Evaluation - the obvious stuff
Firstly, keeping track of my information requirements was not easy. Other than the hassle of carrying a notebook and pen around, most of the time I had to make a conscious effort to think of what information I actually needed. This seems to suggest that most of my information gathering happens automatically on a subconscious level. Perhaps the commercial uses of this would be that to get users to adopt MDS, perhaps we need to integrate it into their lifestyles and behaviour rather than merely offering it as an add-on. Need something? Turn to MDS!
Secondly, there isn't much correlation between the amount paid for information and the value placed on it. Many of the expenses were for low value info, e.g. SMS for meeting time etc. High value info mostly did not have a source. At the same time, I note that information needs are extremely diverse. It is difficult to have a source which fulfils all information needs. Even simple needs like "what time's the bus departing?" leads to such questions as "from which bus stop?" or even "whats the bus number?". Would be difficult to provide a one-stop solution.
Much of the information required was travel based, e.g. time of bus/mrt departure.
Now this would be really handy to know, but would I pay for it? Draws parallels with the passenger updating system which flopped awhile back. Of course the key drawback of the passenger updating system was that to check what time the bus would leave you'd have to BE at the bus stop, meaning that you would probably have to wait for the bus anyway.
On the other hand providing it on MDS means that people would be able to plan their schedules better. Again, the key question is WOULD THEY PAY? of course, thats the same question people asked when the internet was first conceived.
Also, Location Requirements made up a large part of my needs. e.g. location of tutorial rooms.
Much of this information was obtained from personal experience, with the exception of eating places to try. While it would probably be vey easy to provide a foodie service, different consumers have different needs. e.g. NETS service available? or Halal food? or Mastercard? or Type of cuisine? or even budget. Is it possible or feasible to design and provide such a service?
mobile devices are highly personal. designing services highly personalised to such consumers would be difficult and costly.
Going deeper - took me some time to realise this
There were many times I required information e.g. availability of books/sweets/newspapers and I automatically walked to personally check their availability. Only much later did I realise that this was a way of obtaining information. The key question is would I need and pay for a service which tells me the availability of such items? Perhaps for highly anticipated things like stephen king's new book i would, but not for mundane items such as newspapers and sweets.
Much of unrecorded information requirements was fulfilled by my mobile phone. Why? because to get information by SMS-ing or calling people, I just scroll to the name and hit CALL/Send message. In doing so, I accessed my friend's phone numbers which were conveniently stored in my phone. I didn't realise this until I was preparing the evaluation.
Personal Thoughts
Past the last recorded time of 2330 on both days, I did stay awake til about 0130 but informational requirements were almost negligible. Mostly reading gossip off the net forums. Is it considered part of informational requirements?
Also, Important emails are regularly checked for. However, 2 things are stopping me from subscribing to mobile phone email forwarding
1. Cost (I'm a miser?)
2. Possibility of getting tons of junk mail. A mail filter might be effective but at the same time might cause me to miss out some important emails which should otherwise have been forwarded.
Lastly, I realised that I spend a ridiculous amount of time in school on thursdays and fridays. I'm a no-lifer.
Firstly, keeping track of my information requirements was not easy. Other than the hassle of carrying a notebook and pen around, most of the time I had to make a conscious effort to think of what information I actually needed. This seems to suggest that most of my information gathering happens automatically on a subconscious level. Perhaps the commercial uses of this would be that to get users to adopt MDS, perhaps we need to integrate it into their lifestyles and behaviour rather than merely offering it as an add-on. Need something? Turn to MDS!
Secondly, there isn't much correlation between the amount paid for information and the value placed on it. Many of the expenses were for low value info, e.g. SMS for meeting time etc. High value info mostly did not have a source. At the same time, I note that information needs are extremely diverse. It is difficult to have a source which fulfils all information needs. Even simple needs like "what time's the bus departing?" leads to such questions as "from which bus stop?" or even "whats the bus number?". Would be difficult to provide a one-stop solution.
Much of the information required was travel based, e.g. time of bus/mrt departure.
Now this would be really handy to know, but would I pay for it? Draws parallels with the passenger updating system which flopped awhile back. Of course the key drawback of the passenger updating system was that to check what time the bus would leave you'd have to BE at the bus stop, meaning that you would probably have to wait for the bus anyway.
On the other hand providing it on MDS means that people would be able to plan their schedules better. Again, the key question is WOULD THEY PAY? of course, thats the same question people asked when the internet was first conceived.
Also, Location Requirements made up a large part of my needs. e.g. location of tutorial rooms.
Much of this information was obtained from personal experience, with the exception of eating places to try. While it would probably be vey easy to provide a foodie service, different consumers have different needs. e.g. NETS service available? or Halal food? or Mastercard? or Type of cuisine? or even budget. Is it possible or feasible to design and provide such a service?
mobile devices are highly personal. designing services highly personalised to such consumers would be difficult and costly.
Going deeper - took me some time to realise this
There were many times I required information e.g. availability of books/sweets/newspapers and I automatically walked to personally check their availability. Only much later did I realise that this was a way of obtaining information. The key question is would I need and pay for a service which tells me the availability of such items? Perhaps for highly anticipated things like stephen king's new book i would, but not for mundane items such as newspapers and sweets.
Much of unrecorded information requirements was fulfilled by my mobile phone. Why? because to get information by SMS-ing or calling people, I just scroll to the name and hit CALL/Send message. In doing so, I accessed my friend's phone numbers which were conveniently stored in my phone. I didn't realise this until I was preparing the evaluation.
Personal Thoughts
Past the last recorded time of 2330 on both days, I did stay awake til about 0130 but informational requirements were almost negligible. Mostly reading gossip off the net forums. Is it considered part of informational requirements?
Also, Important emails are regularly checked for. However, 2 things are stopping me from subscribing to mobile phone email forwarding
1. Cost (I'm a miser?)
2. Possibility of getting tons of junk mail. A mail filter might be effective but at the same time might cause me to miss out some important emails which should otherwise have been forwarded.
Lastly, I realised that I spend a ridiculous amount of time in school on thursdays and fridays. I'm a no-lifer.
posted by ~Z~ | 1:15 PM
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