Mobile App

I have decided to create a mobile app instead of creating the space counting board because I did a research and ask a lot of people will they rather look in the app or look at the space counting board. The result is that they prefer to look in the mobile app rather than the board because they can search for the restroom when they in the middle of nowhere.
So I have designed a Westfield's restroom app.

Draft of how the system work

Here is a draft that I drew of how the system will work for the mobile app and the space counting of the available stalls.

Left image is a rough draft

Right image is a better draft

 

parallel study

The parking system uses ultrasonic sensors and placed at each parking space to gather the most accurate count of available spaces. The system also includes LED indicators installed above each individual parking stall. The indicator flashes red or green to signal to drivers if a space is available or not. This provides advantage to drivers to see is there any available space fromt the one end of the isle, and thus avoid cruising down a fully occupied isle.

Choices for the visual info system

This image show the 5 choices for making the visual information system.

The first is the Reed Switch. The sensor will located at the corner of the door and the wall, when both sensor touched, then the light will change

The second is the Motion sensor. It will located on the ceiling, when people go in to the restroom's stall, then the sensor will sense that something is moving and the light will change.

The third is the Micro Switch. It can install into the latches, when the latches touch the other part, then the light will change.

The fourth is the Touch Switch. It is similar to the micro switch.

The fifth is the airplane latches ( I don't know the name of the system). It is a classic switch that have red and green color at the latch, when you turn the lock either way and it will change to Occupied or Vacant. But this is not what I want, so I crossed-out this one.

The one that I chose is Ultrasonic, I found this system when I searched online for the parallel study. This system is used to use in the parking lot. It located on the ceiling of each parking space, when the car parked, the sensor will turn the light to red.

Veteran's day

During a long weekend. I went to Westfield and other malls to observe the restroom's flow.

Some people felt impatient

Some people walk to the front and see if the stalls are really that occupied

Some people squeeze-in just to wash hands

Some people holding a lot of shoppings bags

Some people don't want to wait and leave

A lot of males wait outside the restroom playing with their iPhones and wait for their ladies.

Ultrasonic Sensor

I have made a small model of the ultrasonic sensor!!!
It was so amazing when I done it.
On the left side, it is an Ultrasonic sensor. It is a distance sensor.
On the right side, it is an Arduino circuit board. It needs to load a code to the Arduino software on the computer and set how far you want the ultrasonic sensor to sense.
For example, I set the distance to 10cm. When my hand is away from 10 cm, then the light will turn green. When my hand is within 10cm, the light will turn red.
My idea is to put the sensor on the top of the stalls and set a distance. When people go in, the sensor will sense the distance and it will turn red.

Meet with professor Chen

Professor Chen is one of my expert.
His knowledge of electronic helped me a lot on making the information system.
He gave me few options of making a information system when I told him what I want to make.
- motion sensor
- micro-switch
- magnet
- ultrasonic

At the end, I choose ultrasonic for my solution of the information system.
Ultrasonic is a distance sensor that some parking lot will use.
I have research a lot of parallel study of parking lot, and I found ultrasonic is a good way for my solution.

here is a link of the parking system website:
http://qedfactory.com/pgs_space_counter.html

Mid-Term Presentation

I'm gonna KO you today!!!!!!!!hahaha....

Expert replied!!! & Mid-term practice

OMG!!it was so hyper that the expert replied me!!! I was finding a Mall expert for sooooo long.... and finally one of them replied!!!
His name is Qaalfa Dibeehi, he is a chief operating and consulting officer of Beyond Philosophy™, a pioneering global customer experience consultancy with offices in London and Atlanta.
He answer my questions as an expert on customer experience.
I'm really appreciated it!!!
Now I have to go for my second expert which is professor CHEN!!

OH! by the way....tomorrow is the first day of mid-term presentation!!!
Even though is not my turn yet...but I feel nervous already!!!>.<"
I have to practice, practice, practice!!!
GOOD LUCK classmates!!!

Meet with professor

Yesterday I finally met with my professor. I was so frustrated about the panel of experts because I cannot find any experts that are related to my topic.
I tried to emailed the Westfield Mall concierge, Business Psychology and other author/officer but none of them replied. So professor ask me to go the mall and try to make an appointment with the mall manager. Also professor ask me to go to the downtown parking lot or SFO parking lot for the parallel study because the parking lot system is similar to my restroom problem.
So I hope I really can meet with the mall manager and get some information about the parking lot system.

FINGERCROSS!!!

Can't find an expert!!

Today I have received a reply from the Business Psychology professor. Unfortunately, she said she cannot help on my questions. She said she do not know anything about malls or locations of restrooms or anything like that.
I'm so frighten now!!!...Who else can I contact with??...
I have lost my way!!! I don't know which kind of expert I should look for!!! I need help!!!!

PERT CHART

Frustrated!!!!

Before start on the research...I thought my problem statement is kind of interesting...

But now....I feel so frustrated =[

Because is so hard to find information that is about a shopping mall's restroom!! Which make me lost my way of researching.

But fortunately, I found a Business Psychology expert from UCB. Hope she can solve my problem and lead my way out.

Dangerous Week 1

During the first "dangerous week"...I have done the PERT CHART, SURVEY, and I tried to contact some of the experts...but it seems unsatisfactory to me...=[
It is really a dangerous week!!!...Now I'm so frighten that I can't find an expert to interview.
But I won't give up!!!...Keep it up everyone!!! we can do it!!!=]

Oh! and here's my survey...
If anyone followed me...please help me to fill it up!!
It only takes you guys few second....appreciated!!=]

https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8Cjq5EJWiWguHRP

Timeline

Final final problem/purpose statement

This is my final final problem/purpose statment...

Because the previous one got rejected =[

So I change my way and go for MALL restroom...and it got accepted!!=] hurray!!


Problem Statement: Shoppers who wait in lines for the restrooms at Westfield Downtown, may not be aware that there are in fact stalls available, or that there are other restrooms nearby on other floors, creating long lines of frustrated patrons.
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this research was to develop an information system for restroom users of availability and access.

Problem Statement

I am glad that the topic that I want to do the most was accepted. However, there was minor mistakes and I struggled to restructure my problem statement.

Here is the statement that I have restructured:

Graffiti
Problem Statement: Subway and Tunnel have always been targeted by urban artists to create art, thereby creating an image of vandalism associating with graffiti.
Purpose statement: The purpose of this research was to examine methods to detract urban artists from vandalism and inform them other ways to create art.


And thanks for the classmates for giving me a lot of ideas and helping me to rephrase it=]

3 Problem Statement

1.Graffiti
Problem Statement: Graffiti has always been a problem in San Francisco. A lot of people have a negative image of graffiti because they correlate graffiti with crimes and disorder.
Purpose statement:  The purpose of this study was to determine and evaluate a proper space for urban artist to show their art and to appreciate this special form of art.

2. Bart
Problem Statement: San Francisco BART seems to have no clear indication of the routes and the current station, moreover, the transfer points are unclear to locals and especially foreigners.

Purpose statement:  The purpose of this study is to research and develop a system for people to have a clear indication at BART.

3. Obesity
Problem Statement: The problem of obese kid in San Francisco is getting more and more severe because of the lack of exercise and the increase consumption of junk food.

Purpose statement:  The purpose of this study is to promote healthy lifestyle and habits to reduce the problem of obesity.

Intro

My name is Estela Choi. I came from Macau when I was a 12. I attend to City College after graduated from high school, then transferred to San Francisco State University with a major of DAI Interdisciplinary. I find my self interested in a lot of stuff such as designing poster, business card, webiste, etc. I usually inspired and amaze by a lot of different style or trend. But Nigo, the designer of A Bathing Ape from Japan is probably one of my favorite designer and style that I think I am going to achieve. Because I really want to have my own brand like Nigo does. And I am going to graduate after this semester, I want to get a job in any design firm to gain more experiences and improve my skill and network within the industry. I think six words to describe me can be: creative, open-minded, willing to learn, elaborative, responsible, hot-headed.