User Testing of Toy Prototypes

Exercise Nine- Olivia's Reciept #1

Narrative 1:


Narrative 2:

Grumble, my stomach makes a noise, it is talking to me, telling me that I need to eat. But, will my life be more complete with food, I think not. I will be more complete with money. Yet I have to spend the money that I don’t have and am not willing to spend on food, but I must eat. So, I get up and get dressed to go to the grocery store. My body moves slowly, I am dragging myself out the door. I arrive at the grocery store to find that everything seems to be so ordinary and over done. Pizza, hamburgers, fries and sandwiches. So, sick and tired of the same thing over and over again. Going up and down the aisle in search of something new. Lost in thought about prices and food when I found my first item, kebab. It looks so good I must get two. Excited from my new find it is a lot easier to find a complete meal. Chicken sate salad in aisle three and tea and exotic fruit from aisle five finishes off the day with a bang. It is time to pay and I don’t even care because $15.28 later I am finally satisfied.

Exercise Nine- Kaitlynd- #3

Narrative #1

It's 7:45 am, and Lisa wakes up to her most dreaded day of the year, picture day.  This day will haunt her in the yearbook forever.  Nothing ever goes right when you're preparing to immortalize your teen years in one horrible snapshot.  However, today gets worse.  Appearing in the middle of her cheek is a gigantic zit! Panicking and horrified she reaches for her cover-up, and realizes it is empty.  It's 8:00 am, and if she quickly dresses she can make it to Shoppers before school starts.  Racing down the aisle, Lisa finds her favourite brand of cover-up, and sighs with relief. Congratulating herself on winning the battle with her unwanted zit, she reaches in her purse for her pack of gum.  It's empty. Of course. She picks up a new pack that been advertised on tv, apparently it helps for whiter smiles, and she needs all the help she can get today.  The checkout is nearing, and Lisa counts out her change.  Four dollars.. she hopes it's enough!

#2

Lesley Receipt #14

Narrative #1

Fresh new roll of toilet paper and I’m good to go. Take my seat on the “throne” and search my magazine collection for a good read. I’ve already read Football International about sixty times, I basically have it memorised. I guess it’s time to move on, so Sarah’s story magazine it is. I hate reading all this junk about celebrities and who’s fat, anorexic or whatever. It’s always all about girls and their body issues. I haven’t ever heard anything about guys pissing over size 2. Moving on, let’s turn the page. What’s this? Tom Brady’s diet before a big game? This could come in handy. After all, my football championship is this Thursday. It seems to me that’s he’s all about the vegetables. I guess I’ll have to cut the custard, maybe I can meet somewhere in the middle. Sugar peas perhaps? Anyway, apparently they’ve got him on veggie soup, green beans, string beans, kidney beans and chilli beans. That’s a lot of beans. Man, just thinking about it gives me gas… good thing I’m already on the john.

photo credit : aaron van dike @ http://www.flickr.com/

Narrative #2

Every June, Claire gets a little older and this time she will be 5. This year, she wants to have a fairytale princess luncheon. One where all of her friends will attend dressed up as royalty with their favorite teddy bear.
The lunch will consist of soup, served with a side of melba toast, spread with margarine. Once they’ve finished lunch, they want to try tea and snacks. Refined sugar, English tea, sisi oranges and pastries filled with custard will be served. We’ll see how that goes, there’s always the milk incase the girls don’t quite have the taste for tea they were hoping for.
Once the lunch is done, they will play fairytale games and sing magical songs. On they way out they’ll be sure to grab a loot bag, filled with sweets and an enchanted story magazine. Claire will have the best birthday yet, hopefully.

Excercise 9 - Dennis' Reciept 15

Narrative #1

There's only a few more things before it's complete. Who new making edible bombs was this easy. All anyone needed to satisfy their thirst for blood and death are all in the isles 5, 6, and 7; dairy, produce, and wine. Some gouda cheese and yogurt for mold and concentrated fumes, liverwurst (specifically German) if heated and mixed with home made shrapnel will act like shotgun shell, and last but not least, a bottle of Sherry Pale classic wine to catalyze the ingredients and it doesn't hurt to have a glass or two before the whole thing explodes into a mess. Good thing I bought an extra bottle, this truly is the wine to end them all, I'll save this along with my Graffen beers to celebrate with once I'm done.

I'm only a few clicks away before I get away with it. The waiting is making me thirstier, I'm glad I picked up a jug of apple juice before I left the grocery store. Nothing beats apple juice on a warm summer night. Watching him from my roof and through his exposed living room window, I surely do have the best seat in the house.

My friend, there is only about 10 more seconds before you die. Such a pity...that's what you get for calling me a bad cook.


Narrative #2

Garrett Tonge - Receipt 6 - Exercise 9

#1

I set out on my way,
tools in hand and boots on my feet,
on a cold blustery day.
And all that I crave is my bed and some heat.

With a grunt and groan,
I get my truck in first gear;
If only Id known,
I have forgotten some stuff, this I fear.

Nothing for lunch, not a bite nor a drink,
My overalls lay on a rack.
I swear and I curse, then I set out to think,
Anything not to turn back.

A store harkens there, a beacon of light,
salvation is here in one shop.
A general store, full of things that I might,
need for today is a sure flop.

I pick up my goods; some coke to sip,
Some grub to make stew,
I pay my bill, my tax, heck heres a tip,
And for the road a cold brew.

#2

Steph's Receipts

Narrative #1

I have to grab lunch for the kids on my lunch break.  I promised I'd bring them lunch at school, and on time.  I'll have to stop into the grocery store but what will I get?  How much is it going to cost me to bring four kids lunch?  Fast food would cost more.  

Alright, in the store and I have ten minutes to pick up something and bring it to them.  Chicken sate salad, the girls will eat this, I'll grab two.  And for the boys...they like meat.  Ah!  These drinks are good, I'll get them two each.  Mini juice boxes so cute.  Kebabs!  For the boys!!  

And time to check out.  I have to break a fifty.  But I won't be late.  

Narrative #2

(to the tune of 'Black socks')

Exotic 

Tea & fruit juice

I'll have to buy 8 of 'em, I'm so thirsty

To eat I'll have two chicken salads

And the Kebabs look so good I'll have to get 2, get 2, get 2, get 2...

Steph

Katie's Reciept

Fletcher stop meowing. FLETCHER STOP MEOWING. How did i manage to eat that entire box of crisps? Ugh, it smells. Better change fletcher's litter box. Shit, out of cat litter. SHIT. Out of garbage bags. Guess i'm headed to the store. FLETCHER STOP MEOWING. Fuck it's cold. Turn left. WHY WON'T THIS WANKER TURN LEFT. I hate driving in parking lots. Don't hit my car with your trolly. DON'T YOU HIT MY CAR WITH YOUR TROLLY. Am I too angry? Mini Coconut? Sure. Buy Coconut. Fletcher needs dry food. Buy dry cat food. 2,25£? Fuckin' eh. Shit my hair never stays. Why do they put mirrors in grocery stores? Buy hairspray. Cat needs milk. Cat needs food. Cat needs food. Do I over feed my cat? I need a cigarette. Shit, out of cigarettes. Buy cigarettes. God I shouldn't smoke so much. Fuck it. Buy chocolate bar. Ritter is good, yeah? Candy&cremes as well. Must go to gym. Fuck I need garbage bags. Buy garbage bags. Shit, do I curse too much? Not very lady-like I suppose. No wonder Jonathan left. He's cute. But a grocery clerk. A GROCERY CLERK?! What is the matter with me?! Maybe my mother is right. Maybe I will be single and alone forever. With flat hair. And a fat cat. Call Mother.

Annika's Reciept

http://flickr.com/photos/optionthis/2529726420/sizes/m/

Narrative 1

Cell Phone Grocery Shopping

"There is no way I will be making a gourmet breakfast for everyone tomorrow so you can forget eggs. It'll be frozen waffles, like it or leave it..I need grenadine syrup..GRENADINE! That red stuff in shirley temples..I need it for my tequila sunrises I told you that weeks ago Harold...I made a list what did you do with it?...Ughh, Well you already have most of it I think but make sure you DO NOT forget the mayo, LEMON ice tea, apple juice, cream cheese, rubber bands and nail polish remover for that stain on the bathroom counter...I hope you're writing this down harold because the guests will be here in two hours and there won't be time to go back to the store between now and then....its hard to calm down when I'm waiting for my ingredients and people are going to be here in two hours!..alright I'm sorry..two hours harold..okay bye"

Narrative 2

First Time Grocery Shopping on My Own

As I walked into the supermarket near my new apartment for the first time, I felt secure that my mom's healthy food choices would guide me to make the right selections.

Vegetables, because there is no way in hell that I'm putting on that freshman fifteen. Cucumbers are great for puffy eyes..oh and they're healthy..I can't remember what radishes taste like, oh well they're a pretty colour. Okay I'm going to need cream cheese so I can make a cucumber sandwich..oooh brie cheese...aand smoked cheese :)...I might as well get them all, cheese is loaded with protein. Oh they have Naturis Yoghurt, mom will be so proud of me. Mmm chocolate milk..apple juice, ice tea. Yup my thirst will be quenched for a few days. Okay real food..here we go, salami snacks..I'll need some mayo to go with this..and pickles...helloooo waffles! Perfect breakfast meal..oh and they're assorted, beautiful. Oh salted crackers for my cheese, lovely. K, I still need shampoo and nail polish remover cause I forgot them at ho-HOLD UP, rubber boots for $4.98?! I think so!

First Grocery Trip Equals = Success

Exercise 9 - Wendy's Receipt #13

VISUAL:



resource: GERAS @ www.sxc.hu

PROSE:

If there was one word to describe my roommate, it would be determined. She was prideful and it got to the point of where she would never turn down a challenge. Fortunately for her, she was good at what she did most of the time...except preparing a meal. Ironically, her mother was a chef, but the genes never seemed to have passed to her as well.

It was her half year anniversary with her boyfriend the next day, and she was adamant about cooking for him. Looking back, I suppose this disaster wouldn’t have occurred if it hadn’t been for my prompting and general attitude of disbelief.

“You’re cooking? You may as well murder him and be done with it.”

She set off the next morning even before I was out of bed. Two hours later I was finally jarred awake by her fussing in the kitchen. Sure enough, she had food. (To be frank, I was a bit relieved to see that some of what she bought needed little preparation -- sausage rolls, chocolate croissants, chicken wings, and another cooked sausage and meatloaf. This however did nothing to prevent anything.)

“The tomato bologna looks good. On its own.”

I had no idea what kind of dinner she planned on making, nor did I want to ask after witnessing a concoction of fish stew, sardines, and gouda cheese. After ensuring that the contents of my stomach would stay put, I wisely chose to make other plans for that afternoon. If all else failed, she had a monkey boy vinyl statue and several stamp sets to make it up to him anyway.

I came back that evening to find two-thirds of the residents on our block of houses standing on their lawns staring at our house. At our kitchen window in particular. The one with a billow of grey smoke coming out of it. She too was standing grimly on our lawn, and I was horrified at her.

“Just stick with cooking with the microwave. Please.”

For once she had a comeback that left me speechless. “But I did,” said she.

Excercise 8 - Profile

Name: Alexandra
(Foreign Hip Party Goer)
Age: 20
Home: Apartment at Finch Station

Love: Food, Music, Parties, Quirky Things, Vintage Junk, Cigarettes and Alcohol

Hate: Not Having Money to Spend, Cell Phones, Alarm Clocks, and Hangovers

Music: Kanye West, Mos Def, Korean Rap, Big Bang

Clothing: Vintage Apparel, Headbands, Wide Brim Hats, Skinny Jeans, and Scarves

Food: Sush, Jajang Myun, Cereal, and Ramen



Name: Darren
(Charismatic Businessman)
Age: 24
Home: Condo on Bay Street.

Love: Organization, Clubbing, Restaurants, Blackberry Bold, and Audi

Hate: Cheap Beer, Missing Socks, Malfunctioning Alarm Clocks, Fast Food

Music: Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and oddly enough still loves the music he grew up to, Rage Against the Machine.

Clothing: Lacoste shirts, Dress Shirts, Sport Coats/ Blazers, Watches, and a pair of Chuck Taylors

Food: Seafood (Lobster, Crab), Sushi, Caesar Salads, and Red Belly Black Wine)

It's a little hard to see since I took photographs instead of scanning them in. Sorry about that.

Concepts:

1: Customize Your Own Monster (a toy which involves 3 decks of cards; head, torso, legs) and it is up to the user to mix and match monsters how ever they want

2. Make Me Feel Better Bear ( a stuffed animal that says comforting things to people when they are hugged or squeezed, it also relates to what problems you have.)

3. Mix Your Own Drink ( for people who want to be creative in mixing drinks, spin the wheel, land on a colour, and the coloured drink in the Mix Your Own Drink bottle, do this 3 times or more to get a satisfying new drink)

4. Portable drum kit (a small container that includes mini drum sticks, and a speaker for your mp3 player to drum with any music you want. The container itself has drum indicators to make different noises at different parts of the container.)

5. Choose Your Own Murder (Originally from the choose your own adventure books, it allows the user to turn to pages to any page to create their own murder story)

Excercise 6 - Dennis' Toy

Exercise Seven- Katie & Kaitlynd

Exercise 9: Andrea's Receipt #5

It’s my little sister’s 12th birthday party, and I’m in charge of getting snacks. I need to satisfy 30 little teens with the greatest snack bar of life. So my mom gave me $100 to spend on junk food. Nice. It’s time to go crazy, my shopping spree for sugar and drinks starts now. I’m standing in the grocery store staring down at the 20 metre aisle dedicated to all the junk food in the world. This is like a game, uhhhh, what do kids go insane for these days? Well, I think chocolate is a safe bet. Wait. Holy jeeze. De Mer Chocolates? Hazelnut dark and milk chocolates? Chocolate bananas, chocolate raisins? Schogetten chocolate and Ritten Sport mini bars? Oh dear, I’ll just get a couple of each and let them decide. Ahhhh! After Eight’s! I’ll get two for myself. OK. The next section has biscuits and crackers. Those seem healthy enough, I’ll get a couple of Brinky Biscuits, assorted biscuits and syrup biscuits. Caramel! I’ll grab some caramel biscuits, bars and candy for myself again, no one has to know. What’s an almond paste cake? Sounds interesting enough, kids should try new things and not be picky eaters. I’ll get some healthy fruit yogurt for them as well. Now, for the beverages. OK this IS a birthday party and I’ll need something unhealthy and yummy as well. Coke should get the kids hyped up for the party. And OJ, apple, peach and pineapple juice sounds good. My favourite is peach, so I’ll get more of that! So I’m hoping this is all comes out to less than $100. Well it should, because chocolate and juice shouldn’t be too, too expensive. The cashier is taking a billion years to ring in everything and as I wait, I’m staring at the receipt that’s slowly shifting out of the machine. Beep, shift, beep, shift, it’s massive! But fortunately the total was only $76,26! Still, it was almost $80, and only for snacks for a birthday party! My parents are going to freak! BUT WAIT! They gave me $100 *smiles* I should be fine. Party time.

Exercise 3.9: Gretchen's receipt #5

Narrative 1

A mini coconut for you, mini hazel nut for you and a mini peanut for you. It was 9:00 pm and I was bored as ever. It was the first Halloween where I had to give away the candy and it was a pain in the ass. I hate staying at home doing this, I wanted to go out to the Halloween party my friend was hosting but, I’m sitting here right now chowing down on some mini kit kats and a pack of chocolate raisins. I had done late minute candy shopping when I found out I had to be trapped in this hellhole. I always enjoy shopping for some low price candies and specials when it comes to a holiday. I grab the strawberry gummy bears, which I cannot keep my hands off of and the chocolate caramel bar. I have decided that since I will be miserable on this day I might as well get fat off of candy. My basket was getting quite heavy and I had noticed that all the candies I had gathered were mostly for me and only me. I turned around to see what I could get that was cheap and stuff that these children might like these days. I have always hated coconut but I decided to get the chocolate coconuts just in case. A small pack of Smarties was what I eyed and also the caramel candies. I had no idea what kids liked these days. I hardly eat any candy unless I am in my depressed stage or it’s just one of those times where I want to get fat. I start walking towards the cash counter and I glance at this woman’s basket. She had gotten two packs of Fr. De Mer and Schogetten chocolates. I have never even heard of those brands in my life. It’s either she is in love with those kinds of chocolates or the kids in her neighborhood are going to be angry and grumpy customers.
I put down the bowl of candy as I could feel my thighs getting larger. I walk over to the kitchen and their lies some left over pizza. Ugh, I just put down the candy and a slice of pizza isn’t going to make a difference to my thighs. I scramble everywhere to find something else to eat. Next to the knives were some mini sport bars. Huh, it was weird how they came in mini form, I didn’t know they did that but I guess some people can’t handle the whole bar. I chow down on one and then another. There goes another knock at the door and I answer it with another fake smile on my face. What the hell are syrup biscuits? Well whatever here you go kid enjoy.


narrative 2

Anthea's Photos of Deconstructing Fun

Exercise 9, Andrea Rodriguez

Narrative 1: Visual

Narrative 2

A novel's fragment:

“Oh well, there is nothing good about being your own house’s handy man.” He said looking at her like she was some kind of stranger.

“I guess this is the job you took when you marry me,” she answered, “a writer does not have idea of how to properly assemble a bookcase. But I bet her husband does.” She said ironically.

They walk through the supermarket. She was looking for the bust that keeps her senses up and alert to brilliant ideas: instant Coffee. He was trying to find the tools to prove her wrong.

Once he realized he had got nothing but a hand saw, he looked at her. “So I guessed it won’t be a bookcase until next week, when I get real tools.”

She laughed. “Do you mind bringing me creamer for my coffee while I get the bread?”

“As a matter of fact I do mind, that bread last week was awful. Why don’t we get something different that that bread?”

“Cookies? Tea biscuits? French baguette?” she asked wondering about.

“Tea biscuits sound great”

Once they got everything they needed, they moved to the register.

“A total of 7.22” said the cashier smiling at the two.

“These are on me” he said.

“Are you sure?” she asked with a laugh she couldn’t hide.

“Of course I am,” he answered looking through his pockets.

“I think that in order to pay, you will need your wallet, which at this moment is on top of the night table laughing at you.” she murmured.

“Do you mind?”

“No, I don’t” she looked at him and smiled. Then she looked at the cashier “I will be paying interact, thanks.”

Once they got out of the supermarket, they sat on the car and review the shopping. Her red label, ready to make, coffee, the tea biscuits, the creamer, and of course the hand saw.

He was unable to build a bookcase, but he was able to make her laugh, and that is what really matters.

Andrea's Toy sketches

1) Stick it up = similar to ball in a cup
2) skeleton = parts come apart, it is design for artist
3) wood tetris with dice= the dice tell you what part you have to use to build up, build and build until it falls.
4) Shoot it
5) animal? = different parts of different animals coming together in one. kind of a mr. potato head. a lot of parts, a lot of options.

Gretchen's Toy concept

Exercise 3.9: Christian's Receipt # 4

Receipt 4

Narrative 1

It is freezing cold outside. Inhumanly so. 11pm and the snow is pouring down; really it may as well be raining. Nothings open. Nowhere to eat. No one is answering their phone. I have a bottle of wine in the fridge... something abandoned weeks ago at some last minute party I threw. All I need is a night of comfort and booze. I hate breakups. The whole scenario is ridiculous and overly contrived. Its like following directions really...they say this, I say that, someone cries, and I end up drinking and eating the night away. Corner store it is, thatll have to suffice in assuaging this sense of loss. I dont even know why I care, its not like breakups are ever unforeseen, nor even a surprise in the moment they happen. By myself some flowers, and a whole lot of crap. The guy at the counter is clearly piecing it all together. Sausages, gingerbread, chocolates, flowers, eggs and coffee. Hah, he probably thinks I have someone back at home and am making a night of it. Oh if only he knew... well he would be sadly dissapointed if thats the picture hes painted. I have no desire to hit the street again, mind you its not like I'd rather be subject to his judging gaze another minute. I'll watch a movie... thats it... what movie though? I hate romantic comedies... maybe a horror? But I cant stand horror movies.. they freak me the fuck out. Sigh... TV dvds it is... Arrested Development I think. Amazing how we do all of this ritualistic preparation for grieving. When really.... dont we already know the end goal? Arent we already there? Im over it. I just wanna go to bed. Well. Maybe after the box of chocolates.

Narrative 2

images courtesy of www.sxc.hu

Exercise 3.9: Kyla's Reciept

So I woke up very excited for the day. Why? Well because only the hottest boy ever was picking me up for a date that afternoon. Who you might ask? Why non other then the notoriously good looking George Trifts!

But my happiness quickly turned to horror when I looked in the mirror. I had a huge zit! A zit! Overnight!?! How could this happen?! Could it have been due to the bacon I had for breakfast the night before? Or the oily chips before bed? Either way it was bad and this zit looked like it wanted to erupt like a volcano. I knew what I needed to do. So I rummaged in my makeup bag for my coverstick. When i found it I found myself even more horrified when I unscrewed the top...it was empty! I didnt have a drop left to cover this mammoth of a zit! This was awful! George was going to pick me up for our lunch date in only a couple hours and I had a volcano on the end of my nose! I looked like Roudolph! I knew that if George got a look at the zit he would run for the hills. My solution, the local drug store. Luckily I live only a few minutes away from Shopers Drugmart so getting a new coverstick wouldn't be too hard.

I ran to that drug store as fast as my legs could carry me and when I finally caught my breath I asked the closest sales assistant which aisle the coversticks were. When she responded that they were in aisle 8 my legs suddenly got a new surge of energy. Seeing the coverstick on the rack made me see angels and I could hear the halleluia chorus. My saviour! It almost shined.

Quickly I speed walked to the cash, dancing in line as if I needed to use the washroom. An older women was standing in front of me scraping all her change out of her purse as if having the exact change would win her the "exact change award." So I did what everyone does while waiting in line, eyed the candy. And that when it hit me..mints! The last thing I wasnted was for George to lean in for a kiss at the end of the date and smell the remnants of whatever I chose to eat at lunch. So I grabbed a supper mint pack and flicked two toonies at the cashier. I didn't even wait for my change there was no time. George would be at my house in just an hour and I wasn't even ready.

Ex 3.9 Komal receipt # 2

Narrative 1:
Oops I did grocery without writing down list that what I needed to buy for mom and dad coming up. I was so tired of school and job. I didnot had time to look for things first and shop so whatever I saw at first sight, I just grabbed it on my way back from work. Actually I had time but I was so lazy to do so.... ahhhhhhhh so now let me check the receipt and see how I have done hmmmmm well i didnot do that bad, orange juice or pear juice can be served when they arrive, roasted chicken is good to serve along with soup and crisps, cake is also there to be served after food. Beer and coke I can serve with food. I didnot do that bad actually. Thank God I donot need to go out again in cold.


Narrative 2:
Oh its been tiring day and I need to buy grocery as few things like milk etc are finished. I think as soon as I reach home, I should beg my dearest hubby to do it for me and take the little one along with him. I am sure he is gonna take more than an hour to look and shop. I can relax in that time. Great idea!

Picture taken from theinsider.com