Astro Cabs Project: User Models |
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User Profile: Ryan Ryan is a 14 year old boy. He lives in Modesto, California, where he is a student at the local high school, just starting his freshman year. He's excited about this, his enthusiasm is reflected in his uber level of participation in school-related activities. Ryan enjoys hanging out with friends, skateboarding, skiing, mountain biking, video and music (Ryan's apprenticing as a DJ at the high school's radio station on Friday nights). He tends to be quiet but popular socially. Ryan runs circles around his parents with all his activities, but they both encourage and support him. Ryan's household income is $82K. Both his parents work, his father in the computer industry (project manager) and his mother as a midwife. His parent's careers require that they work unusually long and often times unpredictable hours. Ryan is two years away from obtaining a driver's license. His parent's can barely keep up with his whereabouts, let alone his transportation needs. They trust Ryan completely, he's a model son, but they are a little worried about Ryan relying on older, potentially "unsuitable", friends for rides to and from activities. User Profile: Kim Kim is a 37-year-old community activist and director of a co-operative housing community for single mothers in the suburbs of Chicago. Kim graduated from the New School of Social Research with a dual degree in sociology and business, she's an entrepreneur at heart. Kim's annual income is $40K, she and her 7 year-old daughter, Zoey, live within the community. Kim is steadfast, determined, and resourceful. She has been successful in soliciting local businesses to donate technology for the learning center, materials to build a playground for the day-care center and seeds each year for an organic vegetable garden. Kim's passion, enthusiasm and cheerful demeanor are infectious. The women of the community have rallied behind her efforts, developing marketable job skills while improving their living situation. Several of the women have begun small businesses. Kim is concerned the '62 Toyota truck will not be able to keep up with the demands of each new project and the opportunities presenting themselves to the women and families of the community. User Profile: John John is a 24-year-old junior account manager for a large commercial real estate firm in New York City. He is ambitious, energetic and often works 12 hour days. The firm sees potential in him and he doesn't want to let them down. John's life is transportation intensive, he meets with clients throughout the day, often at opposite ends of the city and to travel to other regional offices of his company, requiring several trips to the airport each month. His annual income is $42K. John lives in modest apartment in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood. Garaging a car in the city is an impossibility and transportation services late at night are limited, difficult at best. John's parents live in Upper State New York, and he is devoted to them, particularly his mother. She has recently been diagnosed with the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease. He never really considered his parent's health until now, he wishes he could visit more often. User Profile: Opal Opal is a 58-year-old widow and retired hairdresser who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. Opal is from a large family, 10 siblings in all and her own children have graced her with 14 grandchildren. Since early childhood, Opal displayed talents as a gifted healer and has long been regarded as contradora among her people. Opal lives comfortably on Roy's teaching pension. Before passing on, Opal and her husband were inseparable. Together, Roy and Opal, shared a love of horticulture, anthropology, folklore, song, watercolors and travel. Opal is still an active, energetic, and ferociously independent person. She owns a car, but isn't comfortable driving it. She is entertaining the notion of moving back to her hometown of New Orleans, but is concerned about moving away from such an extensive mass transportation and becoming house bound. |