Demola Trail The Trail, Tampere (2026)

22/04/2016

At first our solutions to the problem (how to get people to cycle the Näsijärvi lake trail and measure it) were focused on how to make the existing service and website better. Then we learned, that our project partner had already considered almost excatly the same things as our team. Not only that, but they were also far into the stage of making these improvements a reality.

We were at a loss for some time. How do we continue to innovate without a clear goal in mind? Then suddenly an idea from a discussion about nostalgia sprouted and began to grow. Before long we had a whole bunch of ideas around the same framework. Most of our new ideas seemed to fit very nicely to our theme.

So what was the idea born from our discussion, you ask? Well, instead of going the usual path of an mobile app and modern technology, we opted for a more traditional route. To separate our project from others we wanted to give the user something tangible, something they could touch, examine and get excited about. What if the user acted as if they were a character on a huge boardgame consisting of real-world surroundings. Instead of the mobile app he would have a traditional map, real "points" he could collect and a sense of adventure? Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to our concept: Pearls of Näsi

Of course we realize that there's still a lot to do, many problems to be solved, but our framework is pretty clear. Now we have to focus on the concrete things needed to make our idea reality. How should our partner attain all the pieces needed? How the game should be advertised? How do we communicate the goal of the game and the focus group it is aimed at clearly?

To approach these and other questions first we are going to make an administrators guide that tries to make the process as easy as possible for the parties interested in using our framework. We'll also try to test the idea from a users perspective, by asking opinions from people outside our normal circles. If we have time left we have a lot of ideas for modules that can be added to the game that could be used to get the intrest of narrower focus groups. But first we have to answer the problems about the core game. Still we believe we are on the right track, I mean: who doesn't like boardgames anyway?

11/04/2016

The Demola jam got our ideas sparking. Bicycle-orienteering? Voice-tours? Collecting something? Some ideas were a little far-fetched, but luckily Ekokumppanit were there to remind us of reality. An app is too expensive. No, the project isn’t about Tampere centre (for the funding is for developing tourism in the countryside), and no, big hotels most likely won’t participate in our project.

An essential question when producing something is: Who is it for? The Pirkanmaa cycling route is for everyone, but what kind of campaign would interest the majority? Or if we try to please everyone, do we end up attracting no one? Different themes for different target groups, how about package tours?

If we try to interest everyone, we easily end up with some kind prizing system. Which is controversial, for people don’t usually do sports and tourism because of winning something but for the experience. Our goal is to make people realize what a wonderful cycling route there is to experience. But how to make them do so unless they really go and see it out themselves?

We got excited about many ideas we produced, sometimes so excited we forgot to think whether the audience would be equally interested. We ended up with a few down-to-earth ideas: A game–type theme and something concrete for the participants to keep.

Many things are still to be solved. How to collect information about visitors? How to lure the services in the entire area to join our campaign? And finally, how to choose only one out of all of our marvellous ideas?

04/03/2016

Jam time!

It’s been a while since the last post and a lot has happened, although we are still in the early stages. Last Saturday most of our team participated in the Demola Jam #1 event targeted to all Demola teams and projects.

That was a Saturday well spent, as the day was filled with fun and useful activities and exercises (as well as tasty food and snacks!) and I think we all learned a lot about developing ideas, prototyping and especially about how to be creative.

It was also interesting to get a glimpse of what the other teams are working on during the final “sh*tty prototyping” activity which really tested our creative skills as the demonstrations of our current ideas had to be built with quite simple tools and materials.

What makes our project challenging in this regard is that what we are working on is not a physical “product” in the traditional meaning of the word and the final result will most likely be something more conceptual. However, we created a prototype of a possible website with paper, marker pens, sticky notes and a clothespin – and got feedback that it was one of the clearest demonstrations of the day so far. :)

Earlier this week we met again with our group to fill the initial playbook. This was the first time we actually put in writing what we are aiming at and how we think we will get there. We also started to distribute roles and tasks a little bit. Later today we actually have a meeting with the project partner to discuss the playbook and we are all excited about that. It feels good to see the project becoming more concrete at every step and I think especially after the playbook meeting we will probably have a clearer picture on what will be our next steps!

23/02/2016

In English & Suomeksi... :)

Just last week our multi-talented group started planning out how to make the bicycling routes around Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi lakes more approachable for different types of bikers. The other aim is to find a solution in collecting reliable data of the amount of the route-users.

Now we have already come up with many ideas... The five of us have our own perspectives as bikers, travellers and students/professionals of our own fields. These are some of the areas we focused on today (not necessarily in this order, though):

1. How to get the local travel entrepreneurs and student/bicycle/etc organizations to join the common effort? How to best and most efficiently present them in public?
2. How to make the infrastructure and maps more appealing and easy-to-follow for all biker types from families to adventurers?
3. How to count the users of the routes?
4. What kind of ready-made routes and services would make it easier to decide to go for the trail?

Viime viikolla eri alan opiskelijoista ja osaajista koostuva ryhmämme alkoi suunnitella Näsijärvi- ja Pyhäjärvireittien houkuttelevuuden lisäämistä pyöräilijöille. Lisäksi tarkoituksena on löytää ratkaisu luotettavan käyttäjämäärän saamiseksi poluilta.

Useita ideoita onkin jo ehtinyt syntyä... Meillä viidellä on kaikilla omat näkökulmamme pyöräilijöinä, matkaajina ja eri alojen opiskelijoina/ammattilaisina. Keskityimme tänään muun muassa seuraaviin osa-alueisiin (ei tosin välttämättä tässä tärkeysjärjestyksessä):

1. Kuinka saada paikalliset yrittäjät ja opiskelija/pyöräily/jne järjestöt liittymään yhteisen asian edistämiseen? Miten parhaiten tuoda heitä esille julkisuudessa?
2. Kuinka parantaa infrastruktuuria ja karttoja helpommin seurattavaan muotoon pyöräilijäryhmille perheistä seikkailijoihin?
3. Miten laskea reittien käyttäjäkuntaa luotettavasti ja tehokkaasti?
4. Millaiset valmiit reittivaihtoehdot ja palvelut tekisivät pyöräilyreittien käyttämisestä helpompaa?

Osoite

Tampere
33100

Puhelin

+358400715240

Nettisivu

http://www.nasijarvireitti.fi/

Hälytykset

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Demola Trail The Trail