About the Sounds

About the Sounds

Capstone Project
An audio platform that explores the value of sound.
DESIGNER(S)
IN COLLABORATION WITH
MAJOR
Interaction Design
FACULTY
James Pierce
About the Sounds is an audio platform used to record and track voice memories for personal reflection and organization. Additionally, people may upload sounds they took from their current location into a public library, which is anonymous. This allows someone to explore environments and peek into the world of others through sound. In an increasingly digital world of personal smart devices, it can be easy to stay comfortable within our immediate boundaries. About the Sounds makes use of our natural curiosity to understand ourselves and the people around us by allowing us to experience moments we may have never come across before. When we think of capturing moments, photo and video are the first to come to mind; however, the way these forms are perceived heavily depends on the way they were shot and what’s kept in the frame. With sound, there is no frame. This makes the listener focus more on the nuances of sound and can often transport them into a moment better than other mediums could. The platform allows for freeform content while providing a highly organized and searchable experience. Through customizable tags, folders, and phrase recognition, people can organize sound in a way that current products are lacking. A transcript of the audio is provided with each sound and can be translated into one’s desired language. As all public sounds are anonymous, there is no feature to follow specific users. With current social media platforms, it has become a standard to place value on numerical rankings. About the Sounds works to shift this focus away from valuing content from specific individuals towards valuing the exploration of everyone and anyone. Through the friends' feature, you can invite close friends through a personalized invite. There is no ability to search for users or sync to an existing contact list. This platform is also adaptable to several different user styles. The Observer is curious and explorative. The Thinker is nostalgic and reflective. The Nurturer wants to build closer relations with existing friendships. The Builder uses this as a technical tool for learning or teaching. You could be a little of everyone depending on how you scale your involvement. As people, we are naturally curious about ourselves and those around us. We are also nostalgic and like to collect memories. About the Sounds acts as a tool for exploring and collecting our experiences through a novel medium of sound.
DESIGNER(S)
MAJOR
Interaction Design
FACULTY
James Pierce
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION OF DESIGN