Multimedia Experience: Community Needs

Final Community Poster

I am taking into consideration the needs of the body modification community so that I can begin brainstorming ideas for online activities that will reinforce a sense of membership, allow for the reciprocal exertion of influence, fulfill their stated needs, and create a shared emotional connection.

NEEDS:

Choosing the best local tattoo parlor.

solution: Community provides online testimonials about their preferred shop and also rank or vote for their favorite, allowing other members to use their recommendations.

Finding a specific tattoo artist.

solution: If a member wants to locate an artist who specializes in a certain type of tattoo or piercing, they can use a website search function to find the perfect artist for what they are looking for. Tattoo artists can use keyword 'tags' to promote their experience and skills, giving members the ability to find them.

Ask questions

solution: Members can download an iPhone app that allows them to ask questions to other members who are logged in and get immediate responses.

Advice about most and least painful places to get tattoos/piercings.

solution: An iphone app with an image of a human on it and the user can touch the screen on the part of the body they are curious about. Then there will be a ranking system of 1-10 that will tell them how painful it is to be tattooed or pierced on that part of the body.

Getting an idea drawn by an artist

solution: a member can post an idea on the website or through an iPhone app and then artists can turn their idea into a drawing or a design and post it as a reply to the original idea, giving them exposure.

Finding inspiration

solution: members can browse galleries of images based on keywords. An iPhone app will allow for random pic viewing in a slideshow shuffle mode.

Searching for the perfect tattoo

solution: a member can use an advanced searching tool to find a tattoo design that matches what they want to get. Once they find it, they can press a button that will send the design as a fax to the tattoo shop so that the tattoo artists can price it for them.

Tips on proper care of tattoos/piercings

solution: very active members can subscribe to a daily text message service that sends them a tip of the day for improving their specific tattoo/piercing hygiene.

Sharing pictures/video/ideas

solution: an iPhone app will allow community to upload videos/pics directly to the site so that they can be shared with members. Tattoo artists can get a special webcam that will stream live video on the website so people can watch them working.

Sharing stories and personal experience

solution:Members can create blogs that they update and share stories on. Other community members can subscribe to the blogs they find interesting.

Job offers/Employment

solution: Shops can post job openings or opportunities for employment so that members in the community can find them easier.

Finding other members

Sometimes members of the community may not have visible tattoos or piercings that immediately identify them as members, so they need to be able to share their body art or stats discretely in public. Or for more obvious members, they may want to show off their stats to random members they come across in public.

solution: members can have a piercing with an earring or piece of jewelry that sends information and stats between community members when they come within a certain distance of each other. For example, 2 people on a bus with the special device will receive a text message with the other person's stats. (how many piercings and/or tattoos they have, their age, their favorite shop, etc.) Members can set up preferences online to choose what information they want their device to share with others (contact info, stats, name, etc.)