An Introduction to the Book "GPS: Tracking Love"

GPS: Tracking Love is a case study in how design research can be used to create an "alternative" portrait of a newly wed couple, my friend's Brennan and Fawn. Initially, both were curious as to why they were selected to participate claiming "Why us? Our lives are boring."

As this book will reveal, their lives are far from boring. For example, it is not every week that Brennan goes gambling at Hollywood Park and forgets to tell his wife- or to have that trip immortalized through a still image.

And while this is an extreme and sexy example, illuminating the idiosyncratic behaviors of their daily lives laid the foundation for a larger conversation about how we live, how we communicate and how we move through space. As a media designer, these new insights into people and their daily practices are extremely exciting.

This book walks the difficult tightrope of what is wants to be- an alternative portrait or a speculative design brief for future GPS systems. I'll offer a third option- how the strategies and methodologies of design research can inspire co-creation between designer and participant.

Using the strategies and methodologies of design research, insights were generated through such activities such as mapping exercises, drawing the future and shared reflections on the participant generated GPS imagery. These reflective conversations not only provided context for the still imagery but offered new methods and new approaches for invention.

It was this act of making and reflecting by both designer ad participant that enhanced both the alternative portraits and speculative design.

Ultimately, this book is a personal piece between the three. However, it is by upholding the idiosyncratic and personal that may reveal larger themes that we can all relate to as humans.

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In this case study, a newly wed couple was given a LandAirSea GPS tracking system to place in their car for one week. Importing this data into Google Earth, the following pictures reflect his (blue) and her (cyan) natural tracks.

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Zooming in reveals some compelling images. Above are those instance where their paths cross.

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Of course, it would be hard to ignore the unintended symbolism painted by their natural movement. Could this be her broken heart ?

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And for him, a machine gun? This data, as well as other information elicited using probes, was used in the design of the book "GPS: Tracking Love." For more information on this project, please click on the links above.