Design Lab: A Cultural Probe Kit

 A cultural probe is a qualitative research tool (diary studies) to trigger response from intended audience and help to gather data on a particular subject. Understanding their behaviours, culture, values and thoughts will help to reveal underlying concerns, desires and preferences, this will then inspire designers with new understanding, ideas and solutions.

Research topic: Digital Dementia
Problem: Over-reliance on Technology
Task: Design a mock up probe kit for Nur

Title of probe kit: RAM
Ram stands for random access memory. It can be compared to a person's short term memory and the hard disk (storage) to long term memory.

Duration: 7 days

Objectives / Aims to find out:

1. Habits of a digital savvy person and their extent of reliance on technology
2. How digital technologies are changing behaviours
3. What is important to people in life?
4. What motivates or drives people? Satisfaction? Achievement? Fulfilment? Sense of purpose? Sense of belonging? Rewards? Money? Ego? Recognition? Respect? Pleasure? Pain? Threats?

5. What are the things people are willing to spend time and effort on even if the process is painful/difficult/time-consuming?
6. Does pulling emotional strings and engaging more senses help with a fuller experience and people are able to retain memories better? 

Categories

a. Recall
b. Imagine this / Imagination
c. Document / Habits
d. Preference / React / Rate
e. Behaviours

Introduction:
I used a shoe box for the kit

Before I started, I borrowed this really fun book by Keri Smith from the library for inspiration in a bid to make the probe kit fun and less weary. It contains many interactive prompts and encourage you to explore the world in different analog ways we may have forgotten in our busy lives. It helps us to be creative with everyday simple objects we could find and undertake a series of adventures. 

Important house rules:

• Only open the designated package for that day. Do not peek into the rest.
• Do not refer to anything you have already opened/seen/answered except for ‘THE RECALL GAME from Day 1 package’ 

Other items included in the kit other than the mission packages, they may share the item usage for certain days. 

Breakdown for each day

Day 1:

Tasks:

• Let us stalk you: To know a little more about the user
• Recall: A List of 10 words / descriptions for you to answer. Identify the ones that you don't know or can't remember the answers. You will use a yellow highlighter to highlight the ones that they know but don’t remember the answers to. You have 7 days to remember the answers that you have forgotten. For each successful recall, You can open a Gashapon for a mini reward (Objectives/Aims: 1, 2, refer to top)
• Document: Take individual polaroid photo of a. Your lunch area today b. Your dinner area today (1, 2, 3)
• Preference: Circle 5 of your favourite mobile applications. They can draw your apps if they’re not listed here. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Recall: Besides opening your eyes, what was the first thing you do when you woke up this morning? (1, 2)

Day 2:

Tasks:

• Preference: Would you rather receive a gadget of your choice every month for a year or Receive it once every year and after 12 years, you will receive one every month for the rest of your life?  (Objectives/Aims: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, refer to top)
• Recall: What was your last activity before going to bed last night? (1, 2)
• Recall: Have you googled something today? How many times? Give a rough estimation. (1, 2)
• Imagine this: You just saved a middle-aged socialite, Jasmine Manning from drowning and she wants to give you S$10,000 cheque as a reward, what would you spend it on? Look through the items provided in this package and stick them to this list based on the item you would purchase first and a very short description on why. Is it because your current laptop is faulty or you are in need of a getaway? Write down a rouge estimation on how much money you allocate for each item. You can also draw your own products. (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) I wanna test the user on a later day if he/she is able to remember what was the name of person he/she saved, etc. 

Day 3:

Tasks:

• Document: Take individual polaroid photo of 2 things you appreciate on a daily basis and paste them here. You can write a description to share as well (optional). (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Recall: Did you feel bored today? What did you wish you were doing instead? (1, 2, 3)
• Rate: Choose your desired scenario between the two and rate the level of satisfaction for both scenarios.  (2, 3, 4, 5) This is to know if they prefer effort through their own achievement or if effortless prizes gives them more satisfaction) 
• Document: Take a polaroid photo of your work station today. (1, 2, 3)
• Preference & React: Rate your reactions to these photos. One of the scenarios: A kid chanced upon an apple on the tablet and asked 'mommy what is this fruit? it looks yummy'' she replies 'its an apple, let me find more photos for you.' when there is an actual apple in the kitchen behind her.  (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Imagination: Fill in the blanks - It was a __________, cold November Saturday morning. I woke up to the ___________ of ____________. The very first thing I noticed was _______________. I got dressed and went ________________ to _________________. When I reached there, I couldn't believe I'm seeing ______________. There were _______________ on the _________________. I continued walking and saw a friend I've not seen for 10 years, she was wearing a _________________ and holding ___________________. I decided to ___________ her and ___________________________________. After __________________, I grabbed ______________ and went to ______________________ for lunch. As I ate my lunch, I was also ____________________________. It was a ______________ afternoon and I'm feeling _______________  (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Recall: Memory Jar - Think of the saddest thing that happened to you and list down what provided comfort to you at that time? Don’t have to share the incident (1, 2, 3, 4, 6)

Day 4:

Tasks:

• Recall: Memory jar - What is the most memorable thing that happened to you in life? (3, 4)
• Imagine this: A pickpocket stole your mobile phone, all your important information is in it along with precious photos and videos for the past 3 years, (rate how important is the phone to you on a scale of 1 - 10) you spent a lot of effort and time to track down the thief. You found the man at a hospital and realised that he is actually very poor and has a 3 year-old child suffering from cancer. Before you could say anything, the mal-nutritioned boy, being incredibly happy to see a rare visitor, greeted you with a huge toothless smile and mouthed an soft effortful hello. You cannot help but to notice his weak energy, skinny frame, dark heavy eye bags and bald head. You found out that this terminally-ill child, Jake has only 1 more month to live and he always wanted to have a pet dog. Due to caring for the boy, his father lost his job, expended his savings and resorted to stealing. He had to sell your phone to buy a puppy soft toy for his child. Would you report the father? If yes, what if Jake grabbed you with his cold, bony hands and pleaded you not to? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) This is similar to the pickpocket scenario but for this, I added visuals, descriptive words and a more emotional context. I wanna test the user on a later day what are the details he/she is able to remember. 
• Preference: Would you rather read a print book or Read an e-book?  (Objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• Recall: Can you remember the latest password for an account you just signed up? How many times have you replaced your passwords? Give a rough estimation  (1, 2)

Day 5:

Tasks:

• Recall: When was the last time you remembered a phone number? (1, 2)
• Preference: You're looking for a house to stay and you're given 2 options: 15 million dollars to buy materials, learn and build the house from scratch yourself, it will take you 4 years to build it but you can keep the remaining money (approx 8 million) after that and the house is yours forever or A free readily available house for you to move in but you will have to return it in 50 years time and there is no cash handouts. Why? (1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
• Recall: What was your happiest moment today? (3, 4)
• Preference: Circle 5 of the following that provides you the most comfort and satisfaction in life. You can draw/write your own favourite things if they’re not listed here. (1, 2, 3)
• Preference: Which activity do you prefer? Examples: A kid using colour pencils to draw vs a girl drawing on iPad, a lady doing work on her bed vs a lady working in a cafe. (1, 2, 4)

Day 6:

Tasks:

• Recall: Memory Jar - Recall a happiest moment in life, what was the first thing you do? Eg, winning lottery, passing driving test, etc. (1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
• Preference: Would you finish a painting/ a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle on your own or Winning the latest phone through lucky draw?  (1, 2, 3, 4, 6)
• Preference: Which mobile phone applications / functions do you rely most on? Name 2-3 (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Preference: Name 5 things that you can't live without even for a day and rank them. (please exclude basic necessities such as food, water, toilet or oxygen) (1, 2, 3)
• Recall: Do you remember the ‘Imagine This’ game we played on Day 2? Was it a man or a woman you saved from drowning that gave you a monetary reward? How much money did he/she reward you? Do you remember his/her name? What were the items you spent the money on? Do not refer back to day 2 package. (6)

Day 7:

Tasks:

• Recall: Memory Jar - Where is your favourite spot at home? What do you usually do there? (1, 2, 3)
• Recall: Do you remember the ‘Imagine This’ game we played on Day 4? Do you remember why did the pickpocket steal your phone? Try your best to recall as many details as you can. Do not refer back to day 4 package. (6)
• Recall: Make a guess on which mobile application did you use the most today? Check your last 24 hours activity in your phone settings. Was your guess correct? Yes/No  What were the top 3 applications used? (1, 2, 3, 4)
• Preference: Your favourite band is hosting a concert with 2 options. Option 1 - Free entry, VIP access, no smart phone usage for you. Option 2 - $300 ticket, no VIP access, usage of smart phones is allowed. Which one would you choose? Why? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
• also includes: Read last - Thank you card 

Conclusion: I think I had too much fun creating this probe kit that I didn't realise that when added up, these may be too much work for the user, I am going to remove some tasks and refine some of the questions and objectives.