- Start at Human Scale (5 minutes). Begin with immediate user interaction. Describe a typical use scenario. Focus on the person and their immediate experience. This is "scale 0" - the baseline.
- Zoom Out (12 minutes). Progressively expand the scope, considering impacts:
Room/Space level: How does it affect the immediate environment?
Building level: What is the impact on a household or office?
Neighborhood/Community: What is the effect on the local area?
City level: What are the urban or municipal implications?
Regional level: What are the state or regional effects?
National level: What are the country-wide implications?
Global level: What are the worldwide impacts (environmental, cultural, economic)?
At each scale, ask:
"What changes at this level?"
"Who else is affected here?"
"What resources are involved?"
"What systems interact at this scale?"
- Zoom In (8 minutes). Go smaller than human interaction:
Details level: Specific UI elements, micro-interactions.
Component level: Individual parts and materials.
Molecular level: What materials and substances are involved?
Atomic level: What is the environmental chemistry and energy involved?
At each scale, ask:
"What materials or energy are required?"
"What processes happen here?"
"What is the impact at this fundamental level?"
- Synthesis (5 minutes). Review all scales mapped. Identify surprising impacts discovered. Note scales where most concern exists. Discuss design changes based on insights. Document key findings.
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