Overview
The purpose of video prototypes is to explore storytelling through visual and auditory elements, only; an effective video can communicate the functionality of the prototype while advertising it in an appealing way. This particular assignment explores video prototyping with the iOS application: The Power Nap.
The Power Nap App is an app designed to promote wakefulness, productivity and learning by allowing users through 30-minute naps. The app plays ambient background sounds, such as rain, as the timer counts down to 0. When time runs out, an ambient alarm goes off, providing a peaceful alternative to the loud and obnoxious iPhone sounds.
Who
For people who want a rest or to take a break while still being productive.
What
An app that times naps and plays ambient, peaceful sounds.
Why
Naps that are under 30 minutes promote the most productivity and wakefulness.
Storyboard
The film for this assignment focuses on a visibly drowsy actor. They open the Power Nap App on their phone, and set a timer for 20 minutes. They nap with the ambient sounds playing in the background, and when the alarm goes off, they wake up refreshed.
Video Prototype
Below is the video recording of my video prototype.
Analysis
Process
I recorded clips of my dog, Fuji, at various times of the day. As a senior dog, she typically sleeps a lot, so capturing the time when she yawns before/after a nap required a bit of pestering. Another thing I had to keep in mind was making sure she would fall asleep with Power Nap active and by her side. Something surprising during this process was that I did not anticipate the white noise of the app to immediately play after starting the timer, so it frightened Fuji to the point where she couldn’t sleep with the phone next to her. The next time I found her sleeping on the sofa, I made sure that the sound of the phone was low so that it wouldn’t disrupt her and continue with the filming process. I decided to film a few more bits outside of the storyboard of Fuji running around and doing tricks successfully to show the element of “wakefulness” after a successful power nap.
Improvements
My video prototype needs more polish in both the transitions and storyline. One of my peers noted that they weren’t sure what the name of the app was, so I learned that the transitions during post-production should deliver more clear messages for the viewers. I also realized that the transitions with words were difficult to read because they disappeared from the screen very quickly. In my next iteration of the prototype, I added visual effects and cues instead of words to communicate the actor's thoughts and moods.
Effectiveness
Truthfully, I don’t think that my video prototyping is effective in communicating the productivity aspect of power naps because the main actor is a dog. In future iterations, I would consider filming from a dog's perspective and beginning the video with a problem that is resolved by using the app.