This is LifeTempo

Upon finishing my senior degree project, I had to take a second to reflect on what I had done this past semester and the answer didn't come to me until I was watching my presentation alongside everyone else for my last presentation of my "college career" at KCAI. This is a project I have wanted to create for a long time. I've always tried to invest my personal love for music in any project I could but this project is really where it was at for me.

Being able to showcase my love for music and the important connection people have with music and memories that effect their life was something that has always boggled my brain and I figured out a way to do it and add an interesting element to my design portfolio.

This is the music I used for my video. Although I am embarrassed to show you the graphics that come along with it, the music still is super powerful. Try watching my video without the music. Yeah, it's not that good. Why? Well, because music effects your emotions. 

Almost Done [Post 19.0]

It's alive! Using the LiveView application, I was able to make sure all of the type in my LifeTempo application worked accordingly and was the correct size. I also made sure there was enough room for people with fat fingers so be able to make their way around each tap and drag of a button. 

For my presentation, I want to base my presentation off of music and text, negating the soundtrack of the voice. The intro will sound a little like this: As fast as you can press the play button, life can move fast but  it can always slow down with a song. Along with the tempo of the song, feelings, smells, and memories rush around. We are all tied by senses. 

Even though there are people that are more enthusiastic about music than others, at the end of the day there is no question behind the power of music. If you've head one powerful song that has really opened your eyes, you can relate. This application lets users share their own special experiences with a song; being able to record on each memory specific details the song brings back. 

LifeTempo [Post 18.0]

The Power of Music [Post 17.3]

Hopefully my application will help document and capture these emotions that so many have trouble putting words with. See how tight the power of memories are, attached to music? Holy. Shit. I love this.

Form, Shape, Colors, Etc. [Post 17.2]

Resources [Post 17.1]

A site that lists emotions.

Times Getting Close [Post 17.0]

Some feedback that I was presented with from the last presentation was of the following:

- Is the thumb scan necessary to the story?
- Make sure that the narrative doesn't have too much of a disconnect from the screens, actions.
- Verbal/audio tagging?
- Could the app pop up and remind user while they're listening?
- Make sure navigation is smooth in transitions.
- Can it grab songs not in your iTunes?
- Work on the name.

On that note, I've been thinking about the name quite a bit. This method has sprouted from pulling different words and kind of throwing them together as best as that could mash up and fit. 

I always feel quite cheesy making names and I'm not very good at it. As of now, I have LifeTempo but I want the title to sound a little more personal than it actually is. 

Here are some scans of what I'm considering making changed to and outlining my scinerios too. From this, a checklist has formed of what screens need as far as buttons and how many types of screen I need to redesign. During this whole process I also need to keep in mind 

Presentation 2 [Post 16.0]

Senior Degree Presentation 2

Welcome to LifeTempo;  my new and final direction which will give users the ability to attach, or bookmark certain memories and emotions to music on their music devices. The final outcome will be an application that works for iPhone and iPods, iPads, and will possibly work it's way onto an online space for users to come together.

For my idea there are three main functions that deal with certain problems or considerations. Part one: Yo'ure playing this song and it reminds you of this time way way way back when and you want to document this: Part two: You're feeling super sad and want to change that or keep listening to that mood of song. Part three: You want to go back in time and check all the songs you've documented and categorized.

Through the scenarios, I plan to continue designgin and come up with more of a solid direction with the branding of LifeTempo. Who knows, the name might even change.  

Experiment #1 [Post 15.0]

Testing self.

What do I feel when I listen to a song that heightens my emotions from a memory?
Song: Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons

- I can remember where I was sitting and trying to hold back screaming.
- The air was stuffy and warm, like the middle of spring.
- It was almost my birthday.
- I can remember exactly how I felt and mirror that emotion again.
- The color I think of is red because I think I was sitting on a red blanket.

Coming Together [Post 14.0]

Having all of the pieces of an idea doesn't quite cut it sometimes. Being able to take all of the components of a situation and making them come together is part of what I do. For my senior degree project, I've sorted out what needs to be taken into consideration for the application to be effective.

NEEDS & IMPACT

- Users need to be able to feel something and listen to it; This is just as important as the other way around. When you feel something, music is there to help tie together a memory and make it concrete. (This final filing system is important).

- Users needs to be able to find music that may eventually come to setting that "perfect untouchable memory". Recording as many senses as possible will make going back to the memory more impactful.

- Not pushing the idea of listening to new music is also important. It should be an option but it's not very important to most people [especially as people get older].


STARTING UP THE APPLICATION:
Person 1 picks up their phone and wants to listen to music > They're tired but need to get some work done in the office > Person 1 picks up their iPhone and opens the application > They sign on to the application > After they're there, they place their middle finger on the phone which reads a heart beat. > The heart beat's rhythm is stored in their phone and they type in their mood so the phone can learn which heartbeat rhythm are associated with which mood. (After a period of time, the application won't need you to tag what you're feeling because it will learn associated with your heartbeat). > The application will show you where your heartbeat is and ask you if you want to change it (your mood/heartbeat)?

OPTION A:
If you would like to change it, you can slide on the chart where you want to be.

OPTION B:
If you want to keep it the same, press continue.


The application now knows, picking songs out of your iTunes [or on your iPod] what you should be listening to.

Certain songs are tagged with memories and these memories

FILLING A MEMORY:
Person 1 is randomly listening to a song on his iTunes. > Person 1 is reminded of his first kiss. > Person 1 wants to attach this memory to the song playing. > He clicks "attach memory". > Person 1 can type in a short entry about the memory, add a picture, and tag a mood with the memory. > Person 1 can then share his memory on the online hub (and also with Twitter, Facebook, his iCal, and other social sites). >

BRINGING THE MEMORY BACK FULL CYCLE:
Because Person 1 has used this application tagged so many memories and his phone knows which memories to pull when Person 1 wants to bring back a feeling.

OTHER FEATURES*:
If someone wants to create a memory (which will later spark an emotional feeling), they can [again] press "attach a memory". If this memory is happening in realtime, Person 1 can record the noise around them (through the external microphone on the phone; because they cannot hear what's going on because they are wearing their headphones), take a picture, type in the experience they're having, and also grab information from other applications (like the weather) to mark more information about the event.

*Discloser: This may seem like it's fabricating the "holy shit this song brings me back" moments but I believe it's just like adding a "journal entry" and categorizes what you feel when you listen to certain songs. This system organized your music emotionally instead of from rhythm, "likes", number of plays, or just pulls them in a shitty order on shuffle. 

What's Out There? [Post 13.0]

The point of these images are to show how systems now use tagging and sharing based on location. All of these are good ideas but lack the zest I want my system to have. What makes my solution better than what's out there and what makes it different?

Another idea is looking at existing iPhone applications and tools that recommend songs. As mentioned before, the Ping and Genius options in iTunes work, but they lack the emotional connected and give you artists that sound like other artist you enjoy. Not many people care about finding new bands as they once did when they were younger. Entering an age and personalizing what you want to get out of the application is what will set my system apart. 

I Still Want to Make Packaging, Dammit! [Post 12.2]

I was thinking about how I could include packaging for the user in through my experience. Once a user picks enough "memory tied songs" to their playlist, their playlist can be made into a sentimental belonging. This belonging will might mark a time in their life; it might make them look forward to the future. Just a thought. Meh.

Bookmarking 24 February 2012 [Post 12.1]

Smiley face!

Why An iPhone Application [Post 12.0]

Pulse, Beat, Brainwaves [Post 11.0]

Radial Artery – The radial artery is the pulse point most commonly used to determine someone's heart rate.

How to check: Face either hand palm up and use the fingers from your other hand to locate your pulse. Your radial artery is on the thumb's side (or outside) of your other hand to locate your pulse. Your radial artery is on the thumb's side (or outside) of your write when the palm of your hand is facing you. Place your fingers half way between the tendons that run down the center of your forearm and the edge of your arm, on the thumb side, right at your wrist. Make sure one finger is close to your palm than the other, so they appear "stacked"; your fingers should be vertical on your wrist, not side-by-side. You should feel a strong pulse here.

The reason I bring this up is I am suggesting that I use speculative technology. Party of my iPhone application is that it reads the pulse when the thumb is pressed on the iPhone. Then, it asks you what your emotion is. After learning your heart rate and emotion [after a period of time] your phone will be able to cater to what you want to listen to from what it learns and from what you've listened to in the past, pulling from your iTunes.

Something Old, Something New [Post 10.0]

Over the past week I have started to consider different avenues for my degree project. I have started reading the book This is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession. And it has really started to help me form the connection that I want to make with other people and music. Maybe all along, I wanted my audience to share things to give them a sense of belonging when all along, this sense of belonging and connection can be made with a good song and a memory tied to that song.

I was direct to this conclusion from a series of statements and quotations in the book. Most of the quotations were very lucid but this was good because it left more room for interpretation. 

"The unnatural gap that has grown between musical performance and music listening has been paralleled by a gap between those who love music (and love to talk about it) and those who are discovering new things about how it works."

"By better understanding what music is and where it comes from, we may be able to better understand our motives, fears, desires, memories, and even communication in the broadest sense. Is music listening more along the linees of eating when you're hungry, and thus satisfying an urge? Or is it more like seeing a beautiful sunset or getting a backrub, which triggers sensory pleasure system to the brain? Why do people seem to get stuck in their musical tastes as they grow older and cease experimenting with new music?"

After some of these ideas and questions were placed in my heads I want to make my degree project more personal. I believe music controls the mind and controls emotion. So why do we listen to music when we do? How do we know if we're in the mood for some Michael Jackson or some Queen? Is there a difference?

Now, let's circle back around to personal customization. When you're angry, do you want to listen to music that will cheer you up? Or do you want to just sit in that anger for a little longer?

Let's face it, music inspires.

So, here's the question: how can I use graphic design to personalize music playlist that can learn what a single person wants to listen to when they want it and also create an outlet for those people to share with others? 

I am going to create a application that will teach itself what people like or don't like based on what they listen to when they're in certain moods. Let me explain: If an iPhone application can help you change your mood based on what music you hear, it can cheer you up, it can motivate you, it can remind you of what it felt like when you were 16 and driving in your car for one of the first times on a super sunny road with the warm wind blowing. Wouldn't that be nice? 

Difference in Tempos [Post 9.0]

What's the difference between Portishead's Heather Nova cover and this Jason Mraz song?

Do you hear the difference? Do you feel the difference? Where do you feel it? Is it different at all?
What does it make you think of and are all personal music experience personal?

Schedule for Degree Project [Post 8.1]

This is my calendar of dates I have sent to myself. Dates may change 

Interesting Inspiration [Post 8.0]

Presentation Update [Post 7.0]

My last presentation lacked answers and accidentally took charge for a solution to my project. I need to give myself more time to list more possibilities and answers and not just pick up one and run with it. Part of the reason for this is the allotted amount of time I want to start making and "get on with it" for the design system part but I realize that that is the most important part, the backbone and structure of the project.

Here's the critique feedback I received:

- This is not about what the form is definitively, still remain open to what the final artifact is.
- You're not so much "teaching" as musch as you are trying to customize and add personality to the interaction.
- More visuals in presentation from now on.
- What makes people want a physical copy rather than instant gratification from .mp3?
- Make sur you research the genres so it really fits and isn't just stereotypical.
- Create scenarios, so you can really focus.
- There is an issue of exchange and community / building value into packaging. (Pick what issue you want to tackle because these are two different issues).

presentation1_seniordegree

"Progress" [Post 6.0]

The process on my project has taken the place of a questionnaire with the following questions:

1. Do you like getting packages in the mail?
2. Would you rather: get a package from a stranger through an online music site or get a package from someone you know?
3. Scrapbooking or blank canvas?
4. Do you enjoy finding new music for your personal enjoyment or is showing people the music that you find more fulfilling?
5. Do you enjoying being classified or are you intrigued by personality tests?
6. When learning about a new genre, what kind of details are you most interested in?
7. What are your top five favorite genres of music?

After getting over 40 replies back, I made a collection of the most common answers and variable answers to consider in the quest to target an audience and their needs.

Do you like getting packages in the mail? 

-100% Yes. (Feels like birthday or Christmas) 

Package from a stranger or someone you know?

- Stranger is creepy

- If it's from a music site then, yes.

- From someone I know. (Makes me smile)

- Someone you know, it's more personal and tailored to the person getting it

Scrapbooking or blank canvas?

- Blank canvas (so much more possibility).

- Scrapbooking

- Blank canvas

- Scrapbooking if someone helps me get started

- Blank canvas inspires creativity 

Do you enjoy finding new music?

- Yes

- Yes

- Takes too much time to find music I like.

Classified or personality tests?

- Personality tests are intriguing. (6)

- Personality tests have more detail.

- Personality tests are fun and can be interesting.

- Personality tests can get old and just the same thing reworded

- Think they're accurate

What do you want to know about a new genre?

- You have to be able to dance to music to understand it.

- Where did it originate? What is the background? (2)

- The words and the meaning of the song.

- It's history

- The lyrics

Top 5 genres?

- Folk, Classical, Easy Listening, Classic Rock, Independent

- Country, 80's, 50's, Pop, R&B

- Classic Rock, Folk, Opera, Classical, Traditional Pop

- Classic Rock, Alt. Rock, Christian, Country, Top 40

- Country, R&B, 70's, 80's alternative

- Country, Gospel Easy Listening, Musicals, Classical

- Folk, Alternative, Rock and Roll, Jazz, Rockabilly

- Country, Pop. Hip-hop, Rock, 80's

- Ska, Post Rock, Dubstep, Ambient Electronica, Hip Hop

- Pop, R&B Soul, Alternative, Country, Hip Hop
- Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, World, New Age, Latin

Systems like 'Ping on iTunes creates an easy way to tell users about songs they'll like. Also, with Genius, users are made a playlist focused on similar songs. 

From feedback of my presentation, I will be changing my question. I just have to figure out what route I'm going to narrow myself down to and what road my senior degree project takes.