Happy Place: An Experimental Camera with Consentful Interface

Description

For this assignment, I revised my original experimental camera. Using the flowchart above, I implemented new measures ensuring that this experimental camera was a consentful interface using the F.R.I.E.S. model. This revised version of the experimental “Happy Place” camera comes with more user interaction, information, and options to be a more ethically designed camera.

Click here for the link to the p5 editor and sketch.

Design Process

First, I wanted to make sure that the user data gathered wouldn’t reveal personal information about the user, namely their appearance. Luckily, the original design uses motion blur and a blendmode that obstructs the image of the user a decent amount, making it difficult for facial recognition software to use this information. Next was time to implement the changes in order to turn this camera into a consentful interface. Instead of starting the image capture immediately after the user allows access to the webcam via their browser, the camera starts with a screen that asks if the user would like to use the camera and informs the user about exactly what the type of data the camera uses as well as a warning about the potential dangers of using your webcam and capturing images. The yes and no buttons are plain and look almost identical. They are also level with each other as to not pressure the user into a particular decision.

If the user chooses no, they will see the screen below expressing respect for the user’s decision. Both the consent screen and the screen that appears when the user refuses to use the camera are very plain, free of any bells and whistles that may cause confusion or try to manipulate the user.

Lastly, there needed to be a way for the user to reverse their decision and take back their consent. I implemented this by adding an exit button at the bottom of the screen any time the experimental camera is on. If the user clicks the button, they will receive the same screen as above--the camera capture will stop, the screen will turn black, and they will see the message about respecting the user’s privacy.

Reflection

I’m a bit disappointed with myself that I didn’t even think to add a consentful interface to my experimental camera in the first place, especially in this day and age. It was also surprisingly easy to implement, so there wasn’t a good reason not to include it. I feel that it only enhanced the user interface, taking into account more of what the user wants and provides them with more of an opportunity to interact. My camera is called a “happy place” camera, so it is dependent on the user’s mood, yet I didn’t take into account whether or not the user truly wanted to use this camera, whether or not they were excited to interact with it. Aesthetically, most of the consentful interface is not a part of the experimental camera so it doesn’t really change the experience. Only the exit button is on the screen while the experimental camera is on, but it’s at the bottom and other than the button text and outline is tranlucent, so it doesn’t really affect the camera. The exit button as a part of the consental interface gives the experimental camera a nice finish as well, which it didn’t have before. Now, there is a clear beginning and end to using this camera, a nice addition to the original design. I also consider the reversibility one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of consent. Overall, it was a welcome addition that only improved the original design.