The Idea

• Subjective personal metrics. The user tends to a small selection of personal "scales", based on criteria such as happiness, horniness, creativity or anger.
• At its core, a very simple idea and interface.
• Multiple criteria. These will be customisable, but a default set will be available:

• An extensive database of criteria with wiki-like management. User has complete control over which criteria appear on his profile.
• A strong social element. Users can invite friends to join their network and see their current moods. Interesting output such as recent activity and emotional compatability levels with others will be available.

The Idea

Synopsis

A personal analytics site that allows users to maintain percentage scales related to their own condition. The user can customise his account with criteria of his choice, such as 'happiness', 'creativity', 'tiredness' or anger. Using a simple "slider bar" interface, the percentage values of these scales can be updated at any time.

Users can access intriguing metrics based on their (and their contacts') data. Interactive charts can be customised to show how values for different criteria change over time. Maps will be populated with similar information to show users' perceived conditions in a geographical context.

The site represents a structured approach to status updating.

Strapline

How are you doing?

Big Scope!

On this simple idea, some neat features can be built. The intention is to establish an extensive set of data visualisations through which the websites mood information can be accessed and explored.

Personal Analytics

Interactive charts á la Google Analytics will provide an opportunity to go into Flash and AJAX.

User Mapping

Integration with the Google Maps API.

Integration with Other Social Networks

A Facebook widget will be developed to show the user's status. The fields presented here will be separately customisable.

Advanced Qualificatons

Why is the user 90% happy? There's lots of scope for adding meaning to this statistic. For example:

The user asks to be prompted when he enters a statistic. Once he's "set his level" on the happiness bar, he's prompted for either a link or a text explanation. He pastes in his Last.fm profile link, which the app recognises. The Last.fm API is accessed and it is determined that the Beatles' White Album is making him happy.

In theory, status updates could be attached to any multimedia content. For example "Exhilerated: 90% [Updated 19/01/2008]" could be linked to a GPS log of a walk in the Peak District.

Users' advanced qualifications could be compared. For example, "wom_tuyts also gets happy when he listens to The Beatles".

Meeting the Brief

The concept has been developed to meet all aspects of the brief. Key aspects of this include:

"A brand is a package of recognisable attributes about the person..."

This is a key aspect of this idea. A person can be defined by their characteristics, and that's what this service can explore.

"Should ... involve some particular user activity or task..."

Does that.

"Incorporate ... mechanism for deploying links from existing social networking sites"

Particular emphasis is being placed on Facebook integration, but other services could also be used.

"Consideration given to commercial viability"

The service can be monetised with discreet contextual advertising. Because users' specific moods are identified, the placement of highly-relevant advertisements will be possible. For example, a peak in the user's stress level might provide opportunities to advertise local yoga lessons or tips on breathing exercises.

"Could offer some unexpected 'mashup'"

Google Maps and Facebook integration are obvious examples. There may be more.

Precedents

• Mood widgets on blogs and other sites. "I'm Feeling: Depressed :(", that kind of thing.
• Google Analytics. Presents analytics, but in a completely different context.
• Twitter. Allows these kinds of micro-updates, but in a more freeform and unstructured way. Twitter asks "what are you doing?"; this asks "how are you doing?".
• We Feel Fine. An art project focussed on the display of data relating to emotions.

Technologies

The website will run on the following technologies:

• LAMP.
• PHPwith CakePHP. This framework will provide a powerful and streamlined development environment. Its MVC architecture will allow for the development of lean, maintainable code.
• XHTML and CSS. The site will be presented using standards-compliant markup.
• XML and RSS. Will be used for customisable data output.
• JavaScript with jQuery. Enhanced interaction will be provided by JavaScript and AJAX. The jQuery library will be used to produce lean and maintainable JavaScript code.
• Adobe Flash Player. Content that cannot be rendered effectively with HTML will be presented with Flash.

Additionally, the following tools will be used extensively in the development process:

• Eclipse. An open source IDE for PHP development.
• Subversion. A revision control system that will allow the group to collaborate on the development of the same files.
• Adobe Flash. An application for producing rich media and interactive content.
• phpMyAdmin. Web-based software for managing SQL databases.

Roles

To maximise learning, a flexible approach will be taken to the development process. Everyone will have the opportunity to work on every aspect of the website. That said, lead roles have been assigned based on group members' skills and interests. The go-to guy (GTG) for each area is as follows:

• Dine. Javascript programming, advertising integration.
• Julie. Flash programming, API integration.
• Paul. CakePHP development, markup.
• Tom. Visual design, branding.

Target Market

The site is conceived to be as universal as possible in its appeal. That said, the features offered are likely to appeal to those enthused about technology, data visualisation, social networking and personal branding.

Research on the demographics of social networking use suggests that those aged 18-55 would be key targets, and this will be reflected in the design of the site.

Why Should We Do It?

• It's a fairly orginal idea.
• A fun and interesting web application. Long-term data could provide an opportunity for serious reflection!
• The development process is very scalable. The core aspect of it is very achievable, but there's scope for as many advanced features as time allows.
• It would allow us to tackle a wide range of discliplines, including things like Flash and AJAX.
• We'll be able to interact with a range of other sites and APIs.