User Groups

In the second phase, the group identified the three main User Groups that would interact with the device: The Buyer, The Seller and the Manager. We developed broad guidelines about how different user groups would communicate and share information about sales and purchases, since that data and its method of presentation forms the core of the community market-building effort of the project. Basic information would be provided to potential buyers as they browse items for sale, as well as information about the Seller's previous sales and feedback from past buyers. The team also explored registration, identity and privacy issues, working to balance users' need for privacy and security with the team's desire to create an open   marketplace.

Details of the consignment system began to take shape during this phase: when making a purchase, the Buyer would pay a commission to the Manager on top of the Seller's asking price. If an item doesn't sell after a specified period of time, the Seller could choose to cancel the sale for a small fee or reduce the cost of their item over time, after which the item would be donated to charity and a receipt given to the Seller for the value of the item.

The team received a lot of feedback about the dangers of leaving open boxes unattended in public places. We wanted to prevent or at least discourage wasteful use, vandalism and illegal uses of the device. We believe that the reputation system described above, combined with required user registration and the fees associated with setting up and canceling sales should prevent abuse of the machine.

Next : Scenario Planning

(c)2006 Mouna Andraos, Christopher Cummings, Sean Salmon