ProjectProposal-SaliemThan
From CS 160 Fall 2008
Project Proposal
Contents |
A Game for Runners & Joggers ?
Target User Group
My target user group will be people who are runners and joggers, those who jog at least once a week, and sometimes run in marathons, or and consider running in marathons. While runners generally might like to jog by themselves, they might also like to jog with others, and train with others. Their friends may not run with them. There may be groups on campus that get together and run, but the times of the run might be out of locations, and might be out of the time constraints of the runner. Also, supposing the runner would like a partner to run with at the spur of the moment?
Problem Description
So the problem is that it is hard to find running partners at the spur of the moment. Sometimes, a runner will have such a packed schedule, that they will only find time to run very late at night, or at odd times of the day like 3:00 in the afternoon, or 1:00 in the afternoon. More likely than not, one's friend may be occupied at the time. So one tool that can be used by runners is to find a someone who might be running as well at the exact time they are running. Other tools such as http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ and http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=human_race help runners track how far they've run and such. But here, the problem is tapping into the knowledge of runners one can get in touch with, at a very late notice. It is especially difficult finding running partners you can trust.
Problem Context & Source
Please see the above for some complimentary solutions and aspects of a situation that influences the problem. In addition, the aspects of the user group basically is that they really don't have a regular schedule (ie. a 9-5 job). They might have a college level education and above. The time they have are stretches of an hour or two, or even just half an hour to run and jog at random times of the day. They love to jog for the sake of jogging. They jog to stay fit. They jog when they're frustrated or bored. They value being healthy. They value learning new things to help assist them in jogging. They like novel new ways and places to run. They don't have a set schedule.
Solution Sketch
All I know for right now, is that I definitely want two sets of access. When I run, I know I carry a phone with me, so, I think I'd want to develop an application that can be accessed via a phone. Then, any data saved or changed via the application can be accessible through a regular laptop browser interface as well. The interface will show a runner other runners who might be interested in having a partner to run with, based on location. The interface will also have to have built taking into consideration on how toaccommodate trust. The interface could also list marathons that are currently happening based on a certain location, so, if a runner wished to, the runner could join in on a marathon at the last moment if they wished.
