Considering the popularity of digital photography, we explored new design space to increase users’ engagement with the moments of taking pictures and the memories from them. Exploratory user discussions were conducted with open-ended questions about usual photography experience. Based on the analysis of the discussion, design workshops were done to generate conceptual ideas by brainstorming and visualizing user scenarios. As a result of the study, we suggest conceptual digital camera and photo frame that enable tangible manipulation of digital pictures. Motivations and rationales of concept development were described with a set of research questions about the influence and user response to the conceptual ideas. Interactive prototype implementation and user study will be followed as future work.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- Behavioral and Perceptual Change: How will the visual manipulation influence photography experiences?
zzWill times of watching pictures increase? What kinds of emotions will it evoke?
- New aesthetics: How will people consider digitalized abstract images comparing to original ones?
zzWill they appreciate new aesthetics of digital visualization or refuse them as inferior replications?
- New patterns of communication (through ambiguity): How will people feel intimacy with each other through zzabstract digital image manipulation? How will users interpret tangible manipulation of digital photos?

DESIGN OBJECTIVES
- How to capture excitement and engagement of moments and how to reflect them in pictures
- How to keep those memories alive and vibrant afterward
- How to offer opportunities for tangible manipulation of digital images

FRAMEWORK of PHOTO APPLICATIONS

EMERGING PATTERNS of PHOTO EXPERIENCE
- Augmentation of photo taking: contextual photo
- Editing as creating new memories: edit on the spot
- Building new social network through photo sharing
- Tangible representation to mediate intimacy

USER BEHAVIORS (PROBLEMS & NEEDS)
- Popular use of online photo sharing sites
: Pros) vivid life records accumulated, convenient keep-in-touch
: Cons) internet-centered experience, excuse for fewer gatherings, quality-based relations
- Excitement and engagement right after taking pictures
: Forgotten afterwards and hidden in computers
: Need for pervasive environments with physical interface
- Various casual objects to carry and display photos
: Insightful metaphors to bring out intangible digital photos

<how people keep/display/carry photos in relation with physical objects>

CONCEPT EXPLORATION
keywords: intimacy, tangibility, ambiguity, and sprituality
concepts: contextual/ambient/tangible photo frames