The Change of Topic


Due to several reasons, we change out topic into a very interesting topic--Kopitiam.

Topic

Kopitiams in Malaysia, like in Singapore are found almost everywhere. However, there are a few differences in kopitiams between both countries. In Malaysia:

* the term kopitiam in Malaysia is usually referred specifically to Chinese coffee shop;
* food in kopitiam is usually exclusively Malaysian Chinese cuisine;
* kopitiam menus are usually not as informative as those in Singapore, where pictures of food items are the norm;
* Food courts and hawker centers are usually not referred to as kopitiams.

Recently a new breed of kopitiams has sprung up. The popularity of the old fashioned outlets along with society's obsession with nostalgia and increasing affluence has led to the revival of these pseudo-kopitiams. The new kopitiams are fast-food outlets which are reminiscent of the old kopitiams in terms of decor, but are usually built in a more modern, hygienic setting such as a shopping mall rather than in the traditional shop house.

This has come after the creation of so-called "coffee culture" by western coffee chains such as Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. The kopitiams offer a viable alternative wherein the coffee culture could be experienced with local flavour and for a more affordable price.

To offer the true kopitiam experience, modern kopitiams mostly offer authentic local coffee brews, charcoal grilled toast served with butter and kaya (a local version of jam made from coconut milk and eggs) and soft boiled eggs. Some have extended menus where local breakfast, lunch and dinner meals are served.

The pioneer in bringing modern kopitiams in Malaysia is an operator with the brand name of Uncle Lim. Many follow the concept and today there are no less than 100 brand names operating in various parts of Malaysia.

Research
Kopi tiam
A kopitiam or kopi tiam is a traditional breakfast and coffee shop found in Singapore and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. The word is a portmanteau of the Malay word for coffee (as borrowed and altered from the Portuguese) and the Hokkien dialect word for shop (店; POJ: tiàm). Menus typically feature simple offerings: a variety of foods based on egg, toast, and kaya, plus coffee, tea, and Milo, a malted chocolate drink which is extremely popular in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore and Malaysia.
Later, "kopitiams" had more other stalls within them. The would be a very important section selling drinks, then there would be some stalls selling one-dish meals like noodles soup, chicken rice and dishes like fish head curry, satay and so on. This is then the modern day coffee shop outlook. It is usually not air-conditioned, but the food is certainly tasty and you will enjoy your meal under the fans too! Coffee shops nowadays are also easily found in HDB estates, whereby residents go for meals. The 'breakfast" practice in the past could still be carried out. Every morning, toast and coffee would still be sold, but no longer in the traditional way!

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_tiam

http://www.kopitiam.biz/index.htm

http://www.malaysiakopitiam.com

http://www.kopitiam.com/

http://seameo-project.sngs.sch.edu.sg/eatingplaces/eateriesfinalefinale.htm

Demographics

Our target user will be range from age 18 years old to 40 years old. Nowadays, the citizen of Malaysia is always tension, stressful and busy. Rest is always a waste of time to them. In order to catch the eyes towards our application, we have to create a virtual Chinese style coffee shop named Kopitiam. In addition, sound is a very important element in our website.

Furthermore, everyone is always hoping their lifestyle will be relax and fulfilled with leisurely and carefree. We used to say that time is golden but we always wasting our time on doing nonsense instead of treasures it. So, what we are going to do is just like a real coffee shop, this is the area where you can go to meet other people with similar interests, goals, and objectives. The Coffee Shop puts you directly in touch with the other users who are interested in the same topics you are.

In addition, the ages from 18 years old to 40 years old are the high consumer through the expenses of having hi-tea in Malaysia kopitiams are much cheaper than having in the classical coffee shop. By paying lesser money but having a warm, comfortable environment, kept spotlessly clean and well maintained services, which is a worthy price for them. Our service will be prompt, yet friendly and personalized, delivered in a genuine, enthusiastic and caring way. The entire experience makes each person feel they are, at that moment, the most important person in the world, inviting them to come back again and again.

Interactive

We will present our application like a game. The game can be easily to use. The main idea of this application is not a game but yet it does introduce the elements of Kopitiam thru a way like you are playing the game. There’s no winning or losing in order to get into another level like the arcade games we used to play with. It’s just an interface of the environment of a typical Kopitiam with all the cute and funny symbols to represent the subtopics we want to present.

Subtopics

(Elyn Yong Yee Ling)

Food (represented by plate icon)

- Same like the drinks button, when you click on the icon, a pops up window will comes out with the menu of food sold in a typical Kopitiam.

Sound

- We will record the sound of the environment of Kopitiam and put inside as the background music.

(Gan Li Mei)

Drinks (represented by a cup)

- When user click on this button, there will be a pops up window to show all the drinks that sold in a typical Kopitiam. When the user clicks on one particular drink, it will show the ingredient and the making process of the drink.

Virtual Kopitiam (interface)

- Design the virtual Kopitiam with all the features above.

(Lee Siu Yun)

Information (represented by the owner of the Kopitiam who standing in front of the cashier)

- User can click on the owner and walk to him; he will tells some information regarding the history of Kopitiam, operating time and date, their loyal customers and more other relevant information regarding Kopitiam.

Photo Gallery (represented by a photo frame in the virtual Kopitiam)

- User can see the pictures we shoot at a typical kopitiam, where we also did another cartoon version of the pictures. We simulated the scene and turn it into cartoon created using director as well.

(Group)

Introduction

-We will do the introduction together and will come out with the best introduction or combine it together.


Flow Chart
Interface design


When user comes in the kopitiam, they will sit down on a chair in virtual kopitiam. This is the table design for the kopitiam.There is some links in the main page which is a virtual kopitiam. User can select on the link to get information from the virtual character in kopitiam.


The owner of the kopitiam will sit at the counter in virtual kopitiam. The counter is at the right side of virtual kopitiam. The design of the counter is refer to the real kopitiam’s counter. There are sweets and biscuits on the counter.

This is a link for user to click on it to get information from owner. A pop-up window will appear after user click on it. User can get information from owner through the pop-up window.


There is a drink store in virtual kopitiam. User can click on it. Another pop-up window will appear. User can select some drinks in the window. If user wants to know some information of the drinks, user can click on it. Another pop-up window with the cost, ingredient and how to make will appear.

This is a food store in virtual kopitiam.
User can get any information about food from this food store. User can click on it to get a poop-up window with information of foods. The cost and ingredient of foods will show in the window.

The sketches and story board are submitted to out tutor. So is being left out and can't upload here.:)

Next post, we will talk more regarding the making of this project.