Script for Presentation
Introduction:
We all chose to take on Virology as our biological process. Over the holidays we all looked at different aspects of the process- but ultimately we ended up taking on the idea of how viruses spread, both online and in the real world.
Urban Location:
We looked at Pubs and Bars, Public Toilets and the Underground- Our main reasons for choosing the underground was it seemed to be an efficient system, but one that still has faults.
The Underground was a pretty easy location to research, but to research effectively was difficult since there is such variety within the system, each station having a different layout and appearance. We began research by each recording, in some way, a tube journey- for ourselves. Once we had picked up on some of the issues we went and asked other underground users their thoughts.
Research: Blogs
In our search for information we visited the Science Museum in which we found information about viruses in the Science and Art of Medicine exhibition and the Welcome Trust. Visiting the actually underground was probably the most useful for progressing project. Getting first hand information about the experience was invaluable, and being on the tube from a research point of view is a very different experience from an ordinary tube journey, as you tend to notice more problems than you have anticipated finding.
Research: Interviews
As a team we managed to get a wide selection of interviews. At the start of the project we got interviews from Professor of Molecular Virology, Sheila Graham- Scientist in the study of microorganisms, diseases and vaccines, specialising in HIV/AIDS at Pasteur Institute Vietnam Branch, Dr Behzad Nakhaei a general surgeon and Professor and Biology Student: Diba Bezhad-Noori. All this was really helpful in gaining a deep understanding of our topic. A friend that chooses not to use the Underground explained his reasons when we interviewed him, giving us an insight into what we would need to change to make it a more appealing option. Him and other people we interviewed who do use the tube brought up sound complaints- that the tube was too loud, that the carriages were stagnant and out of dated and that the experience of being underground causes some people stress and anxiety.
Process and Location Collision
Through our interviews with tube users and non users we decided to look at improving the tube experience rather than the system. Viruses are normally associated with illness, so taking the process and manipulating it into a positive change was an engaging process. It's interesting to recognise the similarities in the structure of the underground and our bloodstream.The tube carries people around to different locations, just like how our blood would carry blood cells and viruses all over the body. That's what we found most fascinating about the virus in general, how they spread and their adaptability
Design Prototypes and Iterations
Because we each had come up with many ideas to improve the tube, we were not short of prototypes. We visualised our ideas in different ways, making computer mock up’s or drawing the ideas. At this stage we had begun to think of what other senses we could include in our improvements to the underground. Along with the visual prototypes we looked at sound prototypes and later used scents as prototypes.
Audience Testing
We did not need to travel far for audience testing, since our audience was tube users and most Londoners are in that category. We asked people within the university and people standing near the entrances to the underground. The most positive feedback was for the screen in the Underground showing vine videos, showing people really care about the visual aspect of the underground. The idea of having music on the platforms was not as popular. Because of this we began looking at what other senses experienced on the underground and how we could improve the tube from the point of view of them.
Refinement and execution
Since we had gotten such positive feedback the humorous vine videos idea we looked at the senses- touch, smell, sound and sight individually. We each took on one sense, and within that sense, a way to subtly improve the underground experience. In the end the two ideas that got the most positive feedback and that seemed the most feasible were the scent and visual change lighting. It was then that we came up with the idea of creating a company, Viral Enhancement, as a way to implement these changes as well as introducing an app as a way to inform tube users of these changes and enable us to obtain feedback on the changes.
Outcome
We propose to implement in a select few Underground stations a trial run of a popular scent, such as chocolate/coffee/vanilla in the entrances and platforms of the stations. The scents will be installed in these locations with an Aromajoin system which will subtly emit the scents into the Underground, and drift down the station with the air flow. Along side that we will also introduce a lighting system that emulates the lighting outside, that will be used in the carriages of the tube and platforms. This will help people with anxiety by creating an environment that feels less like it is underground. Along with this we will have an app that allows users to give feedback to the changes, allowing us to adapt the changes to suit the users of the tube.
Evaluation
Our outcome has been inspired by the way that viruses spread, it is very similar to how scents spread- through the air. Also viruses are able to adapt and our lighting system is also adaptive to light. Our App allows us to adapt all our outcomes to fit with tube users and their potential future needs. Initially we tried to achieve too much with our ideas, but when we cut them down and focused on the senses the project began to progress. We have spent a lot of time on this project getting feedback so we are sure that the outcomes we have created will be appreciated, even if that is only in a subtle way. By making these discreet changes it will make the atmosphere of the underground a calmer one, and thus, more enjoyable for the people using it. One initial problem we had was that the Underground has such diverse requirements throughout different times of the day but we are proud that our solutions are unobtrusive and work in any time of day in the underground.
(Alex Forsyth)