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Nunes, M. (2008)
Sharing Digital Photographs in the Home Through Physical Memorabilia. Master’s thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, September.
Type: Masters thesis.
Note: Nunes was under my supervision.
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Abstract.
Digital photography has largely replaced film for the average picture-taker. This technology allows people to easily take and store numerous photos, and gift-give photos to distributed friends and relatives over the internet. Yet, digital photos have lost many of the affordances for opportunistic face to face sharing within the home. In this thesis I investigate how new technologies can encourage digital photo sharing in the home through links to physical memorabilia. First, I present the design and implementation of SOUVENIRS, a system that lets people link digital photo sets to physical memorabilia. These mementos trigger memories and serve as social instruments; a person can enrich their story-telling by moving the physical memento close to their large-format television screen, and the associated photos are immediately displayed. Next I present a study of families’ practices of photo sharing and memento use, as well as their reactions to the Souvenirs design. Finally I re-examine our design premises and present a redesigned Souvenirs to better fit the real practices of photo and memento use in the home.