Ambient Happiness was a team project meant to interrupt the way people behave on Market Street— one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, where a cross section of people with diverse backgrounds are constantly cycling through the space. Amidst all this chaos, people rarely take the time to interact with each other, or even give a quick smile while walking down the street. As Interaction Designers, we asked ourselves, "How can we make people smile and interact with strangers?"

We made this interactive bus stop in hopes that this would make someone's day a little brighter.

Ambient Happiness was a team project meant to interrupt the way people behave on Market Street— one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, where a cross section of people with diverse backgrounds are constantly cycling through the space. Amidst all this chaos, people rarely take the time to interact with each other, or even give a quick smile while walking down the street. As Interaction Designers, we asked ourselves, "How can we make people smile and interact with strangers?"

We made this interactive bus stop in hopes that this would make someone's day a little brighter.

Ambient Happiness was a team project meant to interrupt the way people behave on Market Street— one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, where a cross section of people with diverse backgrounds are constantly cycling through the space. Amidst all this chaos, people rarely take the time to interact with each other, or even give a quick smile while walking down the street. As Interaction Designers, we asked ourselves, "How can we make people smile and interact with strangers?"

We made this interactive bus stop in hopes that this would make someone's day a little brighter.
 

Ambient Happiness was a team project meant to interrupt the way people behave on Market Street— one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, where a cross section of people with diverse backgrounds are constantly cycling through the space. Amidst all this chaos, people rarely take the time to interact with each other, or even give a quick smile while walking down the street. As Interaction Designers, we asked ourselves, "How can we make people smile and interact with strangers?"

We made this interactive bus stop in hopes that this would make someone's day a little brighter.

Ambient Happiness was a team project meant to interrupt the way people behave on Market Street— one of the busiest streets in San Francisco, where a cross section of people with diverse backgrounds are constantly cycling through the space. Amidst all this chaos, people rarely take the time to interact with each other, or even give a quick smile while walking down the street. As Interaction Designers, we asked ourselves, "How can we make people smile and interact with strangers?"

We made this interactive bus stop in hopes that this would make someone's day a little brighter.

Class

Class

Class

Class

Class

Objects and Space

Objects and Space

Objects and Space

Objects and Space

Objects and Space

Team

Team

Team

Team

Team

Brian Wong , Aaron Stevens

Brian Wong , Aaron Stevens

Brian Wong , Aaron Stevens

Brian Wong , Aaron Stevens

Brian Wong , Aaron Stevens

Project date

Project date

Project date

Project date

Project date

November - December 2013

November - December 2013

November - December 2013

November - December 2013

November - December 2013

Key roles

Key roles

Key roles

Key roles

Key role

Research , User testing , Visual 

Research , User testing , Visual 

Research , User testing , Visual 

Research , User testing , Visual 

Research , User testing , Visual 

Process and Iterations

Process and Iterations

Process and Iterations

Process and Iterations

Process and Iterations

Through iterative design, and rapid prototyping, our final approach for Ambient Happiness was to intercept people at the only spot people actually stop for a moment; the bus stop.

Through iterative design, and rapid prototyping, our final approach for Ambient Happiness was to intercept people at the only spot people actually stop for a moment; the bus stop.

Through iterative design, and rapid prototyping, our final approach for Ambient Happiness was to intercept people at the only spot people actually stop for a moment; the bus stop.

Through iterative design, and rapid prototyping, our final approach for Ambient Happiness was to intercept people at the only spot people actually stop for a moment; the bus stop.

Through iterative design, and rapid prototyping, our final approach for Ambient Happiness was to intercept people at the only spot people actually stop for a moment; the bus stop.

We started this project with one goal in our mind.

We started this project with one goal in our mind.

We started this project with one goal in our mind.

We started this project with one goal in our mind.

We started this project with one goal in our mind.

How might we make people smile and simply aware of others' present?

How might we make people smile and simply aware of others' present?

How might we make people smile and simply aware of others' present?

How might we make people smile and simply aware of others' present?

How might we make people smile and simply aware of others' present?

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

Week 1

We tried to understand people's behavior on Market street by observing them. After our observations, we then made several different prototypes using household items to experiment with different ways we could create small positive disruptions in peoples' day.

We tried to understand people's behavior on Market street by observing them. After our observations, we then made several different prototypes using household items to experiment with different ways we could create small positive disruptions in peoples' day.

We tried to understand people's behavior on Market street by observing them. After our observations, we then made several different prototypes using household items to experiment with different ways we could create small positive disruptions in peoples' day.

We tried to understand people's behavior on Market street by observing them. After our observations, we then made several different prototypes using household items to experiment with different ways we could create small positive disruptions in peoples' day.

We tried to understand people's behavior on Market street by observing them. After our observations, we then made several different prototypes using household items to experiment with different ways we could create small positive disruptions in peoples' day.

Week 2 

Week 2

Week 2

Week 2 

Week2

We chose the Montgomery Street bus stop to prototype our ideas because that is where we found the most diverse group of people congregating. We deployed our first electronic prototype equipped with two sensors to see if people would be willing to interact with it while waiting for their bus. After more observation, we started to discuss different gestures and interactions that would bring people together.

We chose the Montgomery Street bus stop to prototype our ideas because that is where we found the most diverse group of people congregating. We deployed our first electronic prototype equipped with two sensors to see if people would be willing to interact with it while waiting for their bus. After more observation, we started to discuss different gestures and interactions that would bring people together.

We chose the Montgomery Street bus stop to prototype our ideas because that is where we found the most diverse group of people congregating. We deployed our first electronic prototype equipped with two sensors to see if people would be willing to interact with it while waiting for their bus. After more observation, we started to discuss different gestures and interactions that would bring people together.

We chose the Montgomery Street bus stop to prototype our ideas because that is where we found the most diverse group of people congregating. We deployed our first electronic prototype equipped with two sensors to see if people would be willing to interact with it while waiting for their bus. After more observation, we started to discuss different gestures and interactions that would bring people together.

We chose the Montgomery Street bus stop to prototype our ideas because that is where we found the most diverse group of people congregating. We deployed our first electronic prototype equipped with two sensors to see if people would be willing to interact with it while waiting for their bus. After more observation, we started to discuss different gestures and interactions that would bring people together.

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

Week 3

Week3

Finally, we used Arduino (a programmable micro-computer) to integrate our sensors, lasercut the pieces of acrylic, and hacked a LED light strip. 

Finally, we used Arduino (a programmable micro-computer) to integrate our sensors, lasercut the pieces of acrylic, and hacked a LED light strip. 

Finally, we used Arduino (a programmable micro-computer) to integrate our sensors, lasercut the pieces of acrylic, and hacked a LED light strip. 

Finally, we used Arduino (a programmable micro-computer) to integrate our sensors, lasercut the pieces of acrylic, and hacked a LED light strip. 

Finally, we used Arduino (a programmable micro-computer) to integrate our sensors, lasercut the pieces of acrylic, and hacked a LED light strip. 

We installed the final project at Montgomery bus stop during rush hour and left it alone for 2-3 hours. Many people interacted with it and we saw perfect strangers playing and laughing together. This made us really happy and proud of ourselves. When we witnessed people's behavior change, we saw our project as a success.

We installed the final project at Montgomery bus stop during rush hour and left it alone for 2-3 hours. Many people interacted with it and we saw perfect strangers playing and laughing together. This made us really happy and proud of ourselves. When we witnessed people's behavior change, we saw our project as a success.

We installed the final project at Montgomery bus stop during rush hour and left it alone for 2-3 hours. Many people interacted with it and we saw perfect strangers playing and laughing together. This made us really happy and proud of ourselves. When we witnessed people's behavior change, we saw our project as a success.

We installed the final project at Montgomery bus stop during rush hour and left it alone for 2-3 hours. Many people interacted with it and we saw perfect strangers playing and laughing together. This made us really happy and proud of ourselves. When we witnessed people's behavior change, we saw our project as a success.

We installed the final project at Montgomery bus stop during rush hour and left it alone for 2-3 hours. Many people interacted with it and we saw perfect strangers playing and laughing together. This made us really happy and proud of ourselves. When we witnessed people's behavior change, we saw our project as a success.

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection

This project was the most memorable project from CCA. Installing the whole set on the bus stop was pretty difficult yet precious experience. Witnessing people's laugh made me acknowledge the impact of interaction design on people. 

This project was the most memorable project from CCA. Installing the whole set on the bus stop was pretty difficult yet precious experience. Witnessing people's laugh made me acknowledge the impact of interaction design on people. 

This project was the most memorable project from CCA. Installing the whole set on the bus stop was pretty difficult yet precious experience. Witnessing people's laugh made me acknowledge the impact of interaction design on people. 

This project was the most memorable project from CCA. Installing the whole set on the bus stop was pretty difficult yet precious experience. Witnessing people's laugh made me acknowledge the impact of interaction design on people. 

This project was the most memorable project from CCA. Installing the whole set on the bus stop was pretty difficult yet precious experience. Witnessing people's laugh made me acknowledge the impact of interaction design on people.