Pez’s Speckles

Thursday, August 10^th 2011

Tony was bored in school. He was staring out the window, thinking what he’s going to do when he goes home. Tony snapped out of his thinking-immersion when his friend – James – startled him by letting out a boisterous laugh. “Check this out guys! I got a new touch-phone and a new full-touch mp3!”

As the first impression, Tony thought to himself, ‘hmm. Pretty shiny, I agree. But I think they’re a bit too big. Also, now he has to carry both if he wanted to listen to music outside – I mean, they look similar in the first place, why not merge it – like my Haptic Palm?

Haptic Palm: Size

Haptic Palm is a full-touch based cell phone similar to the already existing Haptic phones. However, Haptic phones tend to be longer than other phones. Thus, to remedy such inconvenience, Haptic Palm is a little bit ‘squished’ in a way that the width is increased and the length is decreased. It literally fits in anyone’s palm!

Haptic Palm: MP3

Unlike the conventional cell-phone-only formatted music and earphones, Haptic Palm breaks the barrier and plays mp3 files, not to mention how it has an earphone port. This way, people don’t have to waste any of their pockets by carrying both an mp3 player and a cell phone.

James looked embarrassed, but ignored my phone and continued touching his phone. Friends who surrounded him were envious of the fact that a cell phone can be operated by his fingertips. Although Tony hated getting cocky about his possessions, Tony showed James and the crowd the multi-touching function.

Haptic Palm: Multi-touch-ability

The function of the fingertips evolves on Haptic Palm. Unlike the conventional way of navigating through touch-based cell phones that involved only poking and dragging, Haptic Palm involves movements such as spinning, using two fingers, sliding etc. This way, people can have more fun, carrying out many more functions more efficiently at the same time.

Now the crowd was around Tony’s desk, not James’s. Tony realizes that he should have been more modest; but it was a bit too late, for the crowd was already tossing around Tony’s phone in attempts to get a hold of it.

Through the struggle, Tony escaped to James’s desk. “Fine, your phone’s better. Leave me alone.” Though Tony found James’s sullenness pretty cute, he decided to make it up. “Don’t be pissed about something you shouldn’t be pissed about dumbo. I’ll buy dinner tonight. Wanna come with?” James’s face brightened up in the speed of light. Tony thought to himself, ‘he’s still a choding (elementary school students [slang]) inside.’

 Friday July 28th 2011

Tony woke up to his Haptic Palm’s morning call. Before he changed his phone, he could turn off his morning call by just pressing the volume button; such easy method of turning the morning call off enable Tony to turn it off unconsciously, ending him up late in the morning quite often. Haptic Palm was different. In order to turn the morning call off, Tony had to solve a maze. That way, he could wake up completely without going back to bed.

Palm Morning!

Palm Morning! Is a special morning call included in Haptic Palm. Unlike the morning call that exists right now, it requires the owner to solve a mini-game in order to stop the morning call from ringing. That means that the owner cannot simply turn it off and go back to sleep, for the game and the continuous noise will wake him/her up. Games such as maze, spotting the difference would be ideal.

When he woke up completely, he realized that he set the time for the morning call completely wrong, and that he was late for his Hagwon (cram school). He ran to the subway station, and pulled his Haptic Palm out. He searched the shortest route from Sunae station to Apgujeong station and the price of the ticket.

Subway Map.

It is a self explanatory function, but also very vital.

Thanks to the precision of the Haptic Subway Map, Tony arrives to his Hagwon on time. To ignore any unnecessary phone calls during the lecture, Tony turns his phone to silence mode.

Palm Silence

This function will be very useful in cases where people have to silence their phones or turn it off – however, turning the phone off is disadvantageous in many ways such as missed calls. The Palm Silence alters the ‘mode’ of the phone, so that phone calls and text messages are temporarily blocked from reception. In cases of phone calls, just like those ‘the owner can’t pick up the phone…’ message, the callers will receive a message saying that the user is temporarily unable to pick up the phone. Thus, the phone owners can be isolated from the interruptions while informing the callers at the same time.

Thanking Haptic Palm for its handy function again, Tony successfully ends his lecture session and heads back home. In order to prevent cramming the next day, Tony decides to do a little bit of homework before he sleeps. While doing his homework, Tony confronts an unfamiliar vocabulary. Once again, Tony pulls out his Haptic Palm, and turns on its multi-functional dictionary.

Palm Dictionary

Palm dictionary can be customized so that it contains only the most essential function that is needed by its owner. English dictionary is a default function of the phone, while more languages can be updated via connecting to the computer. Also, assistance add-ons such as the ‘100 essential vocabulary for TOEFL’ can be downloaded and updated. This way, dictionaries in cell phones evolve from being just a mere way to look up words to an intensive way to study languages.

Though Tony doesn’t really like studying because of its tediousness, he thinks it is for his future and endures successfully. Haptic Palm is only a minor help, but if it supports Tony with the most efficiency, the effect will definitely show.

Tony is a 17-year old student. Recently, his dad bought him the newest phone in the Haptic series – Haptic Palm. At first, he was elated at the fact that he now has one of the coolest phones, not aware of how the phone is capable of much more things…

Tuesday, July 25th 2011

Tony woke up in the morning with a usual drowsy feeling. To get started off freshly in the morning, Tony starts stretching, and suddenly realizes that he might be forgetting something. Tony started to get anxious, unable to figure out what he is oblivious of. While Tony was struggling with his brain to recall what is missing, Haptic Palm starts ringing – so Tony picked it up. On the screen it said: JULY 25TH 2011 1PM ‘MEETING JAMES AT COEX’.

Palm Schedule:

One of the major functions in Haptic Palm is the advanced scheduling program ‘palm scheduling.’ Although most of the contemporary phones are released with the ‘calendar’ function that reminds people of whatever they save, this program is different. First of all, it is very easy to use. The contemporary calendar function is useful, but it is neglected because it is rather complicated and appeals as a ‘not-worth-the-time’ function. Haptic Palm enables people to go directly to ‘palm pad’ where they can access the ‘schedule pad.’ There, they can easily ‘write’ whatever they want to save and set the date on which they are to be reminded with an alarm. This way, people will be able to trust their phones in keeping promises and due dates.

After finding out that he has an arrangement with his friend James, he sets off to coex – where he promised to meet James. At his doorstep, Tony looks up, only to be greeted by a cloudy sky. Then, Tony takes out his Haptic Palm and accesses the ‘weather’ menu.

Palm Weather:

Weather forecast exists in forms of widgets in some phones, but right now, it is too weak to be supplied to everyone in every phone. Haptic Palm contains the weather function as a default function with only the most necessary information (Weather of today, the week, the temperature etc.). This way, people can still be informed even if they miss the news the evening before.

Tony finds out that it is likely to rain that afternoon, so he takes an umbrella; and what do you know, it starts raining! When other people are busy running to avoid the rain, Tony could stroll lightly under his umbrella.

By the time he gets to COEX, James meets Tony all wet. James asks, ‘dude, how did you know it was going to rain today?’ Tony just smiled and pulled Haptic Palm out of his pocket.

* I was on my Macbook and got an inspiration, and I thought it’d be lovely if I shared it despite its unlikely timing.

Don’t get me wrong by the title ladies and gents – I am referring to the touch-phone generations.

When the so-called ‘Touch-phones’ were released into the public, it was considered very revolutionary, for it thwarted the conventional image of a ‘cell phone’ that consisted of a screen and the button pads. Just like the first generation Haptic from Samsung, the radical change in the generations of gadgets took me by surprise.

Now that the Touch phones are widely supplied, I began to get tired of ‘touching’; rather, I began to question is it really meaningful if the users were limited to just ‘poking’ through the phones. For those who are confused, allow me to explain – phones like Iphone and Haptic uses the interface where users navigate through the phone via the touch screens. However, the motions of the touching were heavily limited to poking the in-screen buttons and sliding the in-screen bars.

So I had a thought – why not create more motions? That is, why not enable the users to use various motions with their fingers to carry out the tasks they need to accomplish with their phones? The technology is within reach, and I’m sure the people who desire touch-phones have fingers that are capable of touching more.

Take for example, the Macbook from Apple Computers. Macbooks employ the ‘track-pads’ for mouse control, and took a step further into enabling the users to use multiple finger motions to access different functions.

Watch this short video clip:

Multi-touch Trackpad On Youtube

If this function is successfully implanted into the upcoming cell-phone generations, the use of conventional buttons will decrease, and will contribute to the supply of full-touch phones.

If you can’t make out the descriptions clearly, follow the link below:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/3765566690_2a0fa0b6a8_b.jpg

Product Description

Possible Color Choices

Until now, I’ve been providing all the general things about how my phone is going to come together in the end and work. Now, I decided to break the ice and actually put forth some speicific details. Since the visual things will be taken care of starting from next week, this post is dedicted to the functions that Haptic Palm will focus on.

1. Dictionaries

To avoid any wasting of space within the cellphone’s memory, English dictionary will be the default dictionary function within the phone. It will contain just as much, if not more, words as the contemporary capacity of the cellphone dictionaries. Also, to provide tips to the current exam preparing students, a little section for suggested IBT, TOEFL, TOEIC, SAT etc words will be placed.

Normally, the dictionary functions in a way that it helps the person to find the definition of a word ‘quickly.’ Put in a different perspective, it can be said that the dictionary is nothing more than a tool to use to comprehend a word for a decisive moment. Howver, since I was (and still am) a victim of harsh vocabulary training for the SAT, I think the dictionaries should be more than that.

First of all, the dictionary will enable its users to pick and save words that they want to memorize seperately. For example, Paul can make a ‘Paul’s weekly 100 words’ and look at it everytime he is reminded. This will not only be revolutionary for using a dictionary on cellphones, but also increases the efficiency in one’s learning process.

Also, through experience, I learned that the best way to memorize a word is reading, pronouncing, and writing the word at the same time. Thus, the dictionary will contain audio pronunciation for every word, and have a little notepad below its definition for the users to write out the word. This way, users can learn the vocabularies in a fast and a fun way.

2. Subway Map

It will take full advantage of the fact that Haptic Palm is a full-touch phone, and have an expansive view of the Korean Metro map. It will not only tell the users ‘how’ to get from one station to another, but also measure the approximate time the traveling will take. Also, since the price of the tickets vary depending on how long the user is to travel, the map will indicate it also.

3. MP3 Player

As stated in the flexibility section, mp3 players will attract many users. Some people consider it very uncomfortable to carry both cellphone and an mp3 player. Thus, it easy way of carrying both a phone and an mp3 player will be an enormous merit. Also, having only ‘simple’ functions such as the subway map and the dictionary may be very boring, so a simple and powerful method of entertainment such as the mp3 player will add vivacity to the phone.

4. Alarm Clock, Stop Watch

For full-touch phones, a stylus is a conventional necessity. Its primary function is enabling the users to ‘touch’ their way through the cellphone’s interface without damaging the phone. But I thought, the stylus had way more potential than being just a stick that pokes on the surface of the phone. Therefore, I’m going to design Haptic Palm in a way that the stylus can be adjusted on the backof the phone, so that the phone can be held upright like any other clocks.

The primary reason that I’m trying to implement this idea is to make Haptic Palm useful for certain timed circumstances. For instance, many students in the world are exposed to many practice tests, whether it be SAT’s, AP’s, or TOEFL’s etc. In these tests, timing is crucial, and that’s why students take practice tests in the same timed conditions. Haptic Palm will not only be able to stand up, it will also show the precise time – time that can be adjusted into different modes such as stop watch, countdown, time etc.

5. Schedule

The current function called ‘calendar’ is way too weak. People barely use it, and it became a function that is neglected. However, if such function is accompanied with proper notification function and good appearance, it can turn into a personal scheduling diary. Let’s say, John has a date with his girlfriend on a certain day. John records it in the schedule section of Haptic Palm’s scheduling function. On the day before, John’s phone vibrates and a pop-up saying ‘D-1 Date with girlfriend. Don’t forget!’ appears on the screen. This way, John can attend to his date without worries of ever forgetting it, but also use it to remind himself of other important things.

In this busy world, efficiency is key. However, people cannot develop as the technologies of this world, so in order to overcome flaws, people rely on technology. Scheduling function of Haptic Palm is like that. It will amend to the limited functionality of memory in people and make people more punctual and organized.

There is a saying in Korea: “Redbean cake without its fillings (팥빠진 호빵)” – it refers to objects that looks totally ordinary, but does not contain any useful functions or purposes. That’s how ‘concept’ phones like the one that I’m trying to create may turn out. To avoid such misfortune, I’m going to specify and list the ‘fillings’ that will be making my Haptic Palm meaningful.

Flexibility

The word flexibility that refers to functions of a cellphone can mean very many things. Specifically, what I’m trying to emphasize is, as I’ve mentioned in my slogan (everything in my hands (palms) ), is that whoever owns the phone gets to do whatever they want to do with it.

One of the biggest dissatisfaction that I have against my cellphone is the fact that although it does have an mp3 player ‘function,’ it limits the users in a way that all the music files have to be purchased, converted, and transferred in a ‘designated’ method. Designation will kill off many customers, and flexibility will put a smile on the people’s faces.

For instance, the Iphone from Apple was so popular that it became a universally admired gadget. Now, I do understand that some part of its popularity is Apple’s brand power. However, I think that the flexibility that Iphone provides to its users is the most powerful source of its popularity.

Iphones play mp3 ‘files’ WITHOUT any designated converting and transferring methods. Putting music in Iphone is just as easy as transferring music into normal mp3 players. Also, Iphones have something called ‘App stores’ that enables the users to download whatever ‘functions’ they want to their phones. This not only makes each individuals’ phones unique, but also incredibly efficient and useful.

I’m not trying to prove that the future generations of cellphones should all worship Iphone for its admirability. I’m saying, that Iphone will soon arrive in Korea, which will expose all the other existing cellphones in a grave danger of unbeatable competition. By allowing flexibility to Samsung’s (and other Korean phones) cellphones, such damage caused by competition can be reduced, if not prevented.

To be Continued.

Title of the Product: Haptic Palm

Although the word ‘palm’s’ pronounciation is very similar to that of ‘pop’ (Haptic Pop already being a released cellphone from Samsung in Korea), I think Haptic Palm is the only name that would suit my creation.

I. Eve of Creation

1. Why Haptic?

The reason why I insisted on going with the already existing brand name ‘Haptic’ is because of the fact that Samsung has been releasing its ‘full touch phones’ under the name, and it has been successful. Rather, if another ‘full touch’ phone were to be released, it would be awkward without the name ‘Haptic.’ Also, Haptic is now penetrated in the consumers very well, meaning that it has successfully appealed to the public. Starting from Haptic I, Haptic II, Haptic Beam, Haptic Pop etc.  As far as I’m concerned, one of the objectives of the YPM missions after all, is to create a phone that can be made, and that can sell.

2. Why Palm?

Palm, by definition, is ‘the inside part of a hand.’ I’ve encountered countless people who were using Haptic as their everyday gadget, and I couldn’t help from thinking that it was a little bit too big to be a ‘mobile’ phone. On the other hand, Haptic’s fully touchable system and its functions are still too useful to abandon. Thus, my final conclusion was that I wanted to make a Haptic – a full-touch cell phone that is compact enough to fit perfectly into people’s palms.

Just like how every store needs a sign, my phone – or should I call it my ‘product’ – needed a slogan.

The slogan that is going to describe my phone in one sentence, and that will be used as a guide for improvement is: “내 손안의 모든것.” (everything in my hands)

II. Objective

WIthout a purpose, even the most magnificent piece of work becomes meaningless. So before I started thinking about how the phone was going to look like, I thought of why, and for whom I am desinging this cell phone. After thorough contemplation, I decided to base my phone on simplicity and efficiency.

As a consumer, I’ve only used 2 phones; I used these two phones until I could navigate through the menus blindfolded. Thus, I can proudly say that I can analyze the ups and downs of each phones. Also, I was always interested in phones, so whenever I saw a phone that interested me, I picked it up, and saw what it could do, how it looked, and even thought about how it is attractive.

By experience and through hearing many people’s assessments of their phones, I learned that none of the phone can satiate the needs of every consumers. In other words, all phones have some functions that the consumers like, but also contains some ‘useless’ functions at the same time.

My goal is to ‘reduce’ such inefficiency. It not only discomforts the users, but also loses its purpose of being in the phone in the first place. If the phone and its functions become more efficient and relevant, people would be able to do more things with simpler, and lesser functions.

Pertaining to simplicity, I’m planning on improving the trivial functions and cutting down on the fancy stuff. Simple functions such as calendars, clock, memos, alarm clocks are more frequently used than functions such as ‘My Pet.’ Upon improving the ‘simple’ functions such as listed above, the phone would be able to be considered more useful.

Cellphones have become a ‘mandatory’ gadget in people’s lives. As phones develop, the tastes of the consumers also develop. As the world gets busier, cellphones should also develop in a way that would be able to handle such busyness via efficiency.