W6.2 — Visual Metaphors
As David and I have defined the project brief we decided to think about the question, How? I was interested in using visual metaphors to bring the obscured operation and the hidden layers visible and experienceable to the people. I started to look around daily objects and continued with brainstorming the forms and interactions an object holds (fig 1 - drawer and cabinet, tree, soil). From the previous research, the Merkle tree structure can potentially be the form of the structure. Specifically in trees, how all the roots are beneath the ground, holding the information and networking / spreaded out underneath. Also, the entanglement of the roots and the dynamics of the branches. This led me think of the structure of the soil with different layers. In terms of the interaction to reveal the obscurity, I spotted drawers and cabinets which conceals the objects inside and only reveals itself with one certain action - pulling out, opening. Even perhaps the size of the structure being a portable size that can move around.
Fig 2. Interaction Ideation. Image by Sue.
Layers
Based on the paper we conducted we have divided the Blockchain System into four different layers. As we were prototyping we have found a flaw in the model we have made. This was that the data layer has to be come before the consensus and the network layer as the encryption happens immediately after a person makes a transaction.
Fig 3. Blockchain Structure. Image by Sue.
Fig 3. Blockchain Structure. Image by Sue and David.
Low Fidelity Prototype
Feedback
The most feedback from our prototype was to think about where this model lives and who the target audience is. Also to consider in which scale we are planning to build the prototype as from this the actions from the people will alter from it. I completely agreed to this point as depending on the form and the scale there will be various interactions that can happen between people and the model. Another feedback from Wan and Tiff was to bring in more criticality into the design if we want to raise a question for people to rethink what trust is in Blockchain.
In terms of visual metaphor, Tiff’s feedback really struck me - she suggested to think about the role of the elements in the system - the meaning of the shadow and light and the relationship between Blockchain.