First Concept - Music Frame

The music frame is a device that resembles a picture frame, but plays music encoded into a picture. This allows both meaningful ways to associate music with the object from which it comes, and an association between music and an image. For parents, the frame offers the ability to affiliate music with memories, such as music listened to on a vacation linked to a photo from that vacation. For children, the pictures can augment play by adding visual cues, such as an image of a superhero or sidekick while the children pretend to be super heroes.

Second Concept - Music Table

The music table plays music from established playlists depending on which family members have placed their identifying items, such as keys or toys, on the table. As different family members add their tokens to the table, the playlists are modified accordingly, such that no child-inapropriate music plays if the children are present, and the children can't play a single song repeatedly if their parents are present.

Third Concept - Cards

One of the strongest needs expressed was for a way to allow the children to play music without damaging discs or devices. A solution to this is a way to code songs onto entirely disposable printable cards. This concept can also be implemented with slight variations to appeal to both children and parents. For children, could have images to help the child know what music is associated with which cards. For parents, it offers portability between listening locations such as home and work without losing access to music that is left in an inaccessible location. For both, the cards offer simplified portability of music between the car and other locations.

Fourth Concept - Faceplates

To mitigate the problem of adults and children requiring different styles of interface, and the 'sticky fingers' problem of children transferring food, dirt, and other unwanted contaminants to devices they handle, we devised the faceplate concept. A single device could have two interfaces, either on different sides of the device, or one that is removable, covering the primary interface when in place. With this, both parents and children could use a single device, rather than having to purchase separate ones. Faceplates could be implemented on both primary devices and remote controls.

Fifth Concept - Soundtracks

Since our users often move between rooms while listening to music, a system that could track and follow them from room to room would reduce the difficulty involved in changing where music is playing. In the children's scenario, rambunctious superhero play could be augmented by music that follows them from room to room as they play. For parents, the player may be able to detect such details as the fine china set on the table, and play an appropriate formal dinner playlist, and follow the group from the dining room to the living room after the meal.