juikunte_graduatethesisdoc
TRANSCRIPT
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Interactive Design and Media
School of Design and EngineeringPhiladelphia University
Jui KunteMay 11, 2015
Always Stay Connected!
Table of Contents
1. ABSTRACT
2. DEFINE
Mission
Observations & Problem Identification
Problem-Centered Approach
The Demographics of Aging
Target Users
Short Term Goals
Long Term Goals
SWOT Analysis
Success Metrics
3. PROCESS
Concept Sketches
Concept 1, 2
Final Concept
Target User Groups
Personas
Android Mobile App - Sitemaps, wireframes phase 1, 2, 3
Companion - Building Prototypes
User Testing
4. DESIGN
Branding
UI Kit
Android Mobile App Design Explorations
Android Mobile App Design
Android Mobile App Features
Companion - Product Renderings
Companion - 3D printed model
Companion - Hardware and its functions
Final Product
User testing Round 3 - Android Mobile App
User testing Round 3 - Companion
5. DEPLOY
Production Schedule (GANTT)
tween the older people who are lonely/socially inactive/technophobic
and their loved ones who are busy with their own lives. 3
ABSTRACT
Milaap is a two-way communication system, with tangible interaction that has
been designed to facilitate a simple communication between the older people who
are lonely/socially inactive/technophobic and their loved ones who are busy with
their own lives.
Through Milaap, I tried to work on a solution for this target of users, something
that can give the possibility to share simple emotions & feelings in order to create
intimacy. A way to keep the importance of the bond between the elderly people
and their children/loved ones, the imporatance of the presence of each other in
each others life, but, at the same time something not invasive, in order to respect
each others space and rough time schedules.
A possibility to increase the quality of communication between 2 persons that had
to face the distances, mental models and stereotypes.
WHAT IS MILAAP?
Milaap provides an easy and simple way to stay emotionally connected to your loved ones, which is one tap away. This unique product will allow users (elder-ly people) to efficiently use their mobile and keep track of their (technophobic) elderly loved ones without having to learn or master the skill of interacting with complex interfaces in the cell phone.
When the elderly person taps his/her mobile phone on the physical device after selecting a feature - call, video call, send text, media, medicine reminder, voice message and an emotive message, the respective action is performed for exam-ple, calling, recording voice message. and the device glows as a result giving a feedback to the user.
Also when the other user(their loved on/guardian) sends them a text, media calls, that respective companion lights up.
DEFINE
“Design for the young & you exclude the older, Design for the Older & you include the young”
- Bernard Isaacs
The mission of Milaap is to help families find means to stay emotionally connect-ed with their technophobic elderly loved ones and comfort them by reducing feel-ings of loneliness and isolation.
Milaap should enable personal and social interaction, support intergenerational
relationships, help old people maintain their dignity and sense of self worth.It can also improve dysfunctional com-municative situations.My aim is to achieve a natural and intui-tive use of the design, by placing the in-sight into tangible form as a product and mobile app fitting together seamlessly.
MISSION
Our generation has grown up in a world filled up with technology, we are used to deal with inter-active systems, computers and interfaces and we have created a common ground of knowledge with machines allowing us to interact with them.
On the other hand, Older adults have a difficult relationship with technology mostly because -
1) Hardware and software have not been designed to suit them.2) Current user interfaces for information communication are generally complex and inherently difficult to use.3) They are skeptical and hesitant to use phones/tablets/ computers cause of their fear of spoiling the device with wrong interactions.4) For a large part of the older population, technology is unfamiliar and “alien” and even when elderly people perceive the potential of technology, they consider the investment of personal resources needed to use a new artefact as too high.5) The language spoken by technology is unfamiliar to elderly people because it depends on a series of elements that are out of their culture.
OBSERVATION & PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
SURVEY CONDUCTED AT ATRIA- senior living community
During the project, I visited the Senior Living Community, Atria in Philadelphia.In the first visit, I spent time observing elderly people from different groups to get better insights and I interacted with them to learn and understand their situation and carried out the following survey by asking a few questions to the elderly and a few to their Guardians.
1) Basic situation of the respondent, occupation, income, living conditions,
personality, marital status, family structure.
2) Situation of their children or loved ones.
3) Contact with their children or loved ones.
4) How often do they visit their parents.
5) Most frequently used contact manners (phone calls, text messages, internet
chatting)
6) Reasons of living seperately with the elderly, conveniences and inconveniences
of this choice.
7) According to this situation the most worried aspects are?
8) Whether there has been an emergency.
9) Have you ever bought any service or equi[pment for your parent/elderly.
Older people are far from technology because of various reasons :
Age-related factors:
1) Ageing and perpetual, motor and cognitive changes affecting usability and accessibility.2) Ageing and acceptance issues3) The role of emotional experience
USABILITY
ACCEPTABILITY ISSUES
ACCOUNTABILTY
ACCESSIBILITY
OBSERVATION & PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
• Familiarity in interaction modalities• Familiarity in personal meaningful practices
According to Don Norman,
“Technologies are not capable to adapt their language to different classes of humans, unless they are de-signed to do so”
In my approach I propose to design the right language to let the device properly com-municate with older adults, who do not have the cultural tools to access the techno-logical world. In this way technology will be familiar also to those who are reluctant to undertake a relation with it. Also while designing the device, the peculiar social, psychological, cognitive, percep-tual and motor factors related to ageing will be considered when designing acceptable and accessible artifacts.
Familiarity / Familiar design :
Putting Familiarity into action :
• Look & Feel
• Interaction• Contents
PROBLEM CENTERED APPROACH
I would like to take the transgenerational design approach beacuse it :• Serves the widest range of ages and abilities• Bridges the transitions across life’s stages• Responds to the widest range of individual differences and abilities• Offers a variety of means to accomplish one’s activities of daily living
Transgenerational design :
Benfits of transgenerational design:
LEGETiBILITY
ADAPTABILITY
ACCESSIBILITY
USABILITY
COMPATIBILITY
Permits us to easily obtain or use an object, service, or facili-ty and move freely and normally throughout an environmen-
Permits us to easily access and use an object, service, or fa-cility regardless of our age or ability.
Offers cues that enable us to perceive our sense of place and provides messages of information, orientation, direction, and differences.
Demands that artifacts and spaces be yielding, tolerant, un-assertive, and amenable to our functional limitations.
Determines ease of use and range of fit and adjustability offered by a product or environment.
PROBLEM CENTERED APPROACH
Transgenerational design fulfills 7 basic design principles:
SAFETYFreedom from danger, injury, or damage under reasonable conditions by all who may be expected to handle, use, or operate them. Transgenerational designs anticipate a wide variety of physical and sensory impairments, providing safe, supporting fea-tures—even before they may be needed.
CONVENIENCEFreedom from disturbing, painful, or stigmatizing forms or features. Transgenerational designs provide physical and sensory comfort for those with impairments as well as the able-bodied.Convenient, handy, and appropriate use for all who would use them. This means con-venient use, transport, packaging, storage, operation, cleaning and repair.
EASE OF USESimple, uncomplicated, and easy to use. Designs should offer readable and under-standable instructions and directions, simple operations, and logical controls that do not confound our intelligence. Such designs do not tire our muscles or defy our dex-terity—regardless of our age or ability.
ERGONOMIC FITPhysical fit and sensory accommodation for the widest possible range of appropriate human dimensions. Ergonomic designs recognize that while our bodily dimensions and abilities reach their full limits during our late teens and early twenties, they also diminish as we age.
SUITABILITYAppropriate size, function, appearance, adjustability, accommodation, and symbolism suitable for the widest spectrum of anticipated users.
USER VALUEInfusing ‘utility’ with user-sensitive value-added perceptions, components, and fea-tures.User valuesatisfies consumers’desireby translatingexpectationsintopositivereac-tions, thus maintaining self respect, extending independence, and promoting satisfac-tion.
Principles of transgenerational design:
PROBLEM CENTERED APPROACH
Human Aging— A Recent PhenomenonNEVER BEFORE IN HUMAN HISTORY has our planet contained so many older people— or such a large percentage of them.
Fifty million aging Baby Boomers are sparking demand for products and en-vironments that accommodate their changing physical and sensory capabili-ties.
The Elderly Sub-PopulationTHE DRAMATIC INCREASE in the number of people reaching age 65 — coupled with their increased life expectancy — have expanded the classification of those age 65 and older to include three sub-populations commonly referred to as the “young old,”
65-70 74-84 85& above
THE YOUNG OLD THE OLD THE OLD-OLD
The first wave of aging Baby Boomers reached full retirement age in 2011. For the next 20 years, 74 million Boom-ers will retire. This means that 10,000 new retirees will be added to the So-cial Secrity and Medicare rolls each day.
During the next decade, increased life expectan-cy will strengthen the wave of aging Boomers and steadily increase their total number con-tained within the elderly sub-population.
The fastest-growing seg-ment of the total popu-lation is the oldest old—those 80 and over. Their growth rate is twice that of those 65 and over and almost 4-times that for the total population.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF AGEING
85& above
ASPECTS OF LIVING ALONEThere are over millions of older people living alone in their homes at retiremnet com-munities.This is because various reasons like - they have no family left, they are disabled or live remotely due to circumstances beyond their control.They feel trapped in their own homes and see other people less than once a week.
COMBATING ISOLATION
Loniliness and Isolaion can be extremely devastating to face especially when they are at a vulnerable age. 50% of the older people say television is their mani form of en-tertainment.Common results of lonliness and isolation are frustraion, depression or even suicidal tendancies
THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF AGEING
The Power of “TOUCH” & what it means for the elderly
Touch is perhaps the most powerful sense of all. Hugs, holding hands and other physical ges-tures of affection have the potential to ease our minds, make us feel less isolated and reduce stress and anxiety.
No matter how old we are, we all love to have our hand held, our backs rubbed or feel the warm embrace.
The message of touch is simple. As humans, we are programmed to form emotional bonds that strengthen our relationships. Verbal communication facilitates those bonds. Physical communi-cation confirms those bonds and Touching someone often conveys a message in a way words cannot.
I have used the aspect of touch in my design to establish a bond between the loved ones.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF AGEING
Our lives have become busier; people are constantly on the go and constantly overload-ed with information. Work schedules, bill pay-ments, deadlines, kids, studies, cooking and all the activities are big factors why people often complaint that they don’t have time to keep in touch even with their loved ones. Busy sched-ules make us stressed and forgetful. Where as on the other hand, our elderly loved ones, staying alone, with spouses or living in the retirement communities become lonely
and isolated also their social interaction re-duces cause of various factors like retirement, memory, physical, cognitive and economical constraints etc. They feel the need to stay connected with only those few loved ones: children, grandchildren, relatives and friends, to let them know they are doing fine and feel comforted. It is not always possible to call, message or email them because of their busy schedule or their hesitance to use technology cause of the varied reason mentioned above.
Older Adults and their Loved ones
TARGET USERS
The goal of this project is to support normal social development of isolated/lonely older adults by empowering them to connect with their loved ones.
1) The target users should be able to connect and relate to the problem statement and should consider it as an ideal way to stay connected to their loved ones.
2) Have a web presence for marketing purposes and easily accessible “How to use videos”
3) Be able to pitch the product to investors at an event (exhibition).
I intend to carry out extensive exploration of the product form and understand the technology, which gives them value added, services, makes their life smarter and supports for increased quality of life for the ageing population.
Milaap will have magnetic stackable discs that will display/project pictures, record and send voice messages with easy interactions (gestures). The use of Milaap will not only be limited to the older generations but to all ages.It will be recognized as a new form of communication all together.
SHORT TERM GOALS
LONG TERM GOALS
STRENGTHS 1] Intergenerational emotional connect.2] Technophobic elderly, do not have much user control over the device.3] Keeping in mind that the elderly people have no access to social media (like we use face book or other messengers to connect with other people) this device will be an easier way to connect only to a few chosen ones4] The technophile, loved ones can interact with it through a mobile app.5] One doesn’t have to wait and keep track of each other schedules.
WEAKNESSESS1] Older Adults will need to be educated before they start using the product.2] Some kind of disability might limit them from using it.3] It Needs charging and wifi access.4] It Might be an expensive investment.
OPPORTUNITIES1] Not many products that focus on the emotional connect between the elderly people at retirement homes or living alone and their loved ones are out there in the market.2] It can be installed by the Retirement houses administration while they get the elderly admitted there and give them a small training session.
THREATS1] Some might show some resistance to use technology to satisfy emotional connection.2] Training the elderly to use I pad and phones might discard the need of such product altogether.
SWOT ANALYSIS
+ve feedback and reviews from the target users at a promotional event
Around 100-125 for Milaap.
Atleast 75-100 &
Atleast 75-100 website visits/ page
SUCCESS METRICS
Emporia Telecom: Mobile Phones For Elderly UsersCell phones designed specifically to be very simple and intuitive for elderly phone us-ers. They have focused on removing complex menus and unnecessary options in lieu of making functionality clear. Cost : $150
Features of the phone:Hearing aid-compatible and extra-loud speakers assist those with hearing difficulties. High-contrast displays and a custom font improve legibility. Raised pressure points on the keys and audible click sounds when they’re pressed means the phones are suit-able for the visually impaired. Lastly, an emergency call button alerts up to five preset numbers when it is pressed for more than three seconds.
TAP TAP - Technology for two in loveSimply tap your wristband and your partner will feel it. - Tap tap is a pair of wrist bands connected via bluetooth to your phone. This concept is recently under manu-facturing and newbie in the market. It is limited to the usage of 2 people who can let each other know when they think of them. Cost : $130
Additional uses of TapTap other than its actual purposeTapTap is a technology to transfer touch between two people. It can also be an activi-ty tracker, a game controller or smart alarm.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
PROCESS
CONCEPT SKETCHES
WHAT IS MILAAP?
Milaap consists of physical Companion discs for the older people and a Mobile ap-plication for the guardians/loved ones
Companion discs have magnets and stay on the refrigerators or can be stacked. Each loved one is assigned a companion that is recognizable by a free-selectable color. 1) The Companion glows when a message is sent from the mobile app, by a loved one, hence giving out an indication that they are being missed. Also, 2) When the older adult touches/taps one of the Companion it sends out a notifi-cation on the mobile app of the respective loved one.
Glows on receiving signal
Each companion is assigned to a different user
Companions aremagnetic
You can send a message by touch-ing the companion. Single tap - sleep mode off, double tap- sleep mode onshort press - i miss you message.long press - rage and dissent
CONCEPT 1
Each companion is assigned to a different user
Companions aremagnetic
CONCEPT 1
WHAT IS MILAAP ?
Milaap provides an easy and simple way to stay emotionally connected to your loved ones, which is one tap away. This unique product will allow users (old-er people) to efficiently use their mobile and keep track of your (technophobic) elderly loved ones without having to learn or master the skill of interacting with complex interfaces in the cell phone.
Part 1 - For the Elderly People
This device is called Companion. It is a cube consisting of 6 features- one on each of its surface that the user interacts with by tapping his phone onto one of the option he chooses/needs.
When the user taps his smartphone on to the surface, Near Field Communication Tag is activated and gets scanned by the smartphone. And consequently, the task linked to that code takes place. For example, if the user taps the phone on “Call” then immediately the action is performed by the users smartphone and it starts dialing the number linked to it.
Features in Companion -
Call -Emotive connection -
Gallery -
Medication Reminder -
Voice message record - Emergency alert -
Instantly calls the number assigned to that tag.It sends a message notification and in the form of a simple vibration just to let their loved one know that they miss them. Opens photos/videos uploaded by that particular person in the mobile app.It will keep a track of their medicine timings, which will bemonitored by their guardian, when needed. All he is re-quired to do is tap after taking pills. Opens the voice recorder in the phoneIt alerts the guardian and keeps sending reminders after time intervals if the guardian does not respond to the alert if he is busy.
CONCEPT 2
COMPANION Tap your phone on to your Compan-ion when you choose your option to Call, View Photos ( media uploaded by your Daughter/Son/Loved one ), Text, Ping, or if you want to send an alert in an amergency
On tapping your Companion will glow giving you a feedback that your command has been processed.
And the corresponding action will take place
Your Phone
Android,
Windows
Blackberry
Mobile App
CONCEPT 2
Companion assigned to Brandon
Companion Assigned to Lisa
There can be multiple Companions (cubes). Each loved one can be assigned a seperate companion that stays with the elderly.
The companion glows everytime the user taps his phone on to it. This is the feedback he gets and hence he knows that the task is performed.
Companions are protable devices and the elderly people can easily carry them along anywhere. They can also be stacked.
CONCEPT 2
Settings
Notiifications
Display Picture
6 Features
Emotive Message Notification
MILAAP APP ICON
LOADING SCREEN
Settings
Notiifications
Display Picture
6 Features
Emotive Message Notification
HOME SCREEN
Emotive messageButton
CONCEPT 2 - APP DESIGN
FINAL CONCEPT
PART 1 : COMPANION -COMPANION is a physical model which consists of all the features displayed in the mobile app, interacting with the help of NFC tags and provides a visual feedback to the user .
Target Users of Companion:Target User Group 1 - It will be used by the elderly people along with the mobile phone app for Milaap.
Functions of companion :1) When the phone is tapped on the companion - it lights up to give a feedback to the user2) When Milaap Android mobile app receives a notification, that particular companion lights up.
PART 2 : ANDROID MOBILE APPMilaap mobile app consists of 7 features that will assisst my target user groups to communicate with each other.Call, Text, Media sharing, Medicine reminders, Voice messages, Video call and a simple emotive message like - I miss you.
Target Users for the mobile app:Target User Group 1 - It will be used by the elderly people (they are the Primary users of the app)Target User Group 2 - It will be used by their loved ones/guardians (they are the Admin for the app)
Interaction with Companion :When the app receives a notification, it sends a signal to the companion which in turn lights up.
TARGET USER GROUPS
TARGET USER GROUP 1
Elderly people - Age group (65 & above) who live alone, with their spouses or in the senior living communities, poeple who feel lonely, who are technophobic.
TARGET USER GROUP 2
Their loved ones, guardians, family, friends etc.Younger generations who are comfortable with technology and use technology on a daily basis.
KAREN MILLS84, Lives in Philadelphia
Karen was born into a loving family in 1930, in Philadelphia, PA. She was the second of the three children and the only girl. She had a blissful childhood where she knew of no fears and ev-erything a little girl could have wished for. She grew up to be a lovable teen-ager, went to university and had many friends. She later went on to marry her childhood sweetheart Mark and had two children.
Soon their children were grown up and moved away to start their lives. Karen and Mark continued to enjoy retirement to themselves. Sadly their time was cut short as Mark was diagnosed with Luke-mia.Karen continued to live alone after her husbands passing.
Karen is still active, and enjoys weav-ing and gardening. After she lost her husband, she was admitted to an old-age/ retirement home in Philadelphia.
Her daughter, Lisa visits her twice a month.She uses a computer only to view pic-tures and videos sent by Lisa, but was mostly dependent on her husband to show it to her. She used to spend hours watching her granddaughters pictures and videos.Karen has difficulty seeing small text but yet her eyesight does not affect her weaving.
She does not like to use a mobile phone, but Lisa persuasively bought her a nexus 4, so that she could at least receive her calls and stay in touch. She is not comfortable with texting and prefers talking on the phone.
Now she misses her grandchildren a lot and feels frustrated by not being able to see their pictures/videos/audios any-more.
PERSONAS - Target User Group 1
LISA40, Lives in New York
BRANDON48, Lives in Austin
Lisa, Karen’s daughter lives in New Yorkand visits Karen at Atria, senior living community twice a month. She calls Karen everyday to keep track of her health and to check on her if she is taking medicines.
Lisa is usually very busy with her tight work schedules and her 2 kids.
Brandon, Karen’s elder son lives in Austin.And visits Karen once in 6 months. Bran-don’s kids miss their grandma and often tell Brandon to call her or ask Lisa to get her on video call, whenever she visits.
Brandon rarely calls Karen once or twice a month. And misses her a lot because Karen does not like to talk on the phone much.
PRESONAS - Target User Group 2
ANDROID MOBILE APP - SITEMAP
ANDROID MOBILE APP - WIREFRAMES PHASE 1
USER COMMENTS :Access to notifications was missing in the initial round of testing with the paper prototypes.
Few of them suggested that the login process was not required for this app.
CHNAGES MADE ON THE BASIS OF FEEDBACK :Loging in everytime was completely rled out and it would just be a 1 time registration after the purcahse of the product.
ANDROID MOBILE APP - WIREFRAMES PHASE 2
ANDROID MOBILE APP - WIREFRAMES PHASE 3
CHNAGES MADE ON THE BASIS OF FEEDBACK FROM WIREFRAMES PHASE 2:1) Inclusion of a dsiplay picture on the homepage.2) Simplified 1 time registration process with just 1 field and 1 click.3) Access to Menu from all Main funtion pages4) Separate Notifications page5) Inclusion of User profiles page, Settings for Display and Sound and a logout
ANDROID MOBILE APP - WIREFRAMES PHASE 3
COMPANION - BUILDING PROTOTYPES
COMPANION - PROTOTYPES
USER COMMENTS :These half spherical Companions lacked steadiness and stability inspite of being aesthetically pleasing.Each feature displayed on the single face.
USER COMMENTS :The cube has the benefit of 6 surfaces to display features in just 1 product but its confusing to find the right feature you are looking for.
USER COMMENTS :The stackable magnetic discs got all the positive feedback from the users. Some-thing that could be worked on was re-ducing the number of discs by using both the faces of the disc instead.
COMPANION - PROTOTYPES FOR USER TESTING
USER TESTING - STAGE 2 conducted at - ATRIA SENIOR LIVING HOMES
USER TESTING :KAREN, 84 tested the polystyrene prototypes to choose the best form depending on the - aesthetics, convenience of use, stability, portability and gave a feedback respectively.
On the basis of feedback collected from the users at the Atria Senior Living Com-munity, I started developing the form that would overcome all those shortcom-ings.Like -1) Stability of the form2) Portability3) Lessen in number4) Lesser confusing (with options upfront- not required to struggle to look for what they want)
DESIGN
CONCEPT 3 - SKETCHES for COMPANION
Inspiration of form taken from nature - A Beehive / honeycomb
The Beehive keeps the bee’s united. It depicts - connection, bonding, union which is the meaning MILAAP
MILAAP BRANDING
Milaapis a word of Hindi orgin meaning union of two or multiple things in this context, union of two generations.
FONT TYPE :THE AMAZING GRACE
LOGO :The two parts of the heart connected in the form of a jigsaw puzzle represent the two generations - the elderly and the and their Loved ones.Two parts of hearts connecting represent
COLOR PALETTE :# 6e7882 - Grey# ff6760 - Orange# fff - White
MILAAP APP DESIGN EXPLORATIONS
UI KIT - ICONS & BUTTONS
MILAAP ANDROID APP DESIGN
Milaap is a paired application which has 3 types of users - Admin, Primary, Secondary7 features - that can be accessed by all the users.
PALETTE
#ffffff #fe5d56#2c2f37 #45cbb1#2c2f37 #eb4c88 #5b93cd
NOTIFICATIONS
EMOTIVE MESSAGE
MAIN FEATURES
MENU
MILAAP ANDROID MOBILE APP MAIN FUNCTIONS
Login / RegistrationIts a one time registration with username, display picture and phone number after the purchase of the product. The admin (Target User Group 2) takes care of the registration process. He adds the Primary user (Target User Group 1) and Secondary (Target User Group 2) at the time of registration by simply adding their phone number and username. The Primary and secondary user receives a text message and they can download the application which is already paired with the Admin.
ADMIN (Target User Group 1)
PRIMARY USER (Target User Group 2)
SECONDARY USER (Target User Group 2)
MILAAP ANDROID MOBILE APP MAIN FUNCTIONS
7 Main functions
CALL View Log
VIDEO CALL View Log
I MISS YOUAn emotive message
TEXT The user can view messages, they can either select a template to send/edit or can type in a new message which can also be saved as a template for later use.
MEDIAUser can directly view recently uploaded media on the landing page for media.They can also upload new media- like images and videos which can be used or shared by the other user. They can view older photos and videos from the respec-tive folders.
MEDSThis feature helps the users to keep track of their medicine schedulesUsers (target user group 1 and 2) can set up/edit a reminder for medication, the target user group 2 receives alerts on their phone and companion, when its time for their medication.Users can view their daily log and also the older log to keep track of their medicine intake.
VOICE MESSAGEUsers (target user group 1 and 2) can record voice messages and send/receive which can be viewed in the log.
MILAAP APP USER FLOW
ADMIN (Target User Group 1)
Admin can upload
pictures at the time of
registration which will
reflect in the app when
the other users down-
load the aplplication.
PRIMARY USER (Target User Group 2)
SECONDARY USER (Target User Group 2)
This is a paired app which requires only one time registration at the time of purchase.The user is not
required to login again. The admin adds the primary and secondary user by entering their name and
phone number. The phone number acts as a password.
MILAAP APP USER FLOW
TEXT VOICE MEDSMEDIA
MENU HOME
EMOTIVE
NOTIFICATIONS
COMPANION - PRODUCT RENDERINGS
IMPROVED WITH CORNER RADIUS
SHARP EDGES
COMPANION - FINAL PRODUCT RENDERS
NFC TAG
COMPANIONS ARRANGED IN HOMECOMB PATTERN
COMPANION -3D PRINTED MODEL
ARDUINO
NFC TAG
COMPANION WITH HARDWARE
RESISTOR220 Ohms
ARDUINO UNO
LED orNEOPIXELS
FSR (PRESSURE SENSOR)
HARDWARE - ITS FUNCTIONS
NFC TAGSEach tag performs a different task assigned to it which is linked to the Milaap Android Mobile App
NEOPIXELSThey light up inside the Companion when it receives asignal on the mobile tap or when it receives notification
Li ion BATTERYPower supply to the Micro controller circuit. It can be switched on and off with the switch
ARDUINO UNOMicro controller
FSR It is a pressure sensor, it senses the tap of the mobileand sends signal to the neopixel to light up so that the the user know when the task is performed
BLUETOOTH It sends a signal from the app to the microcontroller,when the app performs the desired action
FINAL PRODUCT
HOW MILAAP WORKS
TARGET USER GROUP 1 (elderly people) can choose either of the six fea-tures on the companions and tap their phone on the respective companion.
As a result companion glows and the Milaap app performs the consquent task for example : For “ I Miss you feature“ it sends a notification to the other User (TARGET USER GROUP 2- their loved ones/ children/guardian)
Tap your phone
NOTIFICATION
Also when Target User Group 2 sends a text, media, reminder or calls, the respective com-panion glows so that the elderly person knows he/she has received a new text/media/voice message.
FINAL PRODUCT
ALL COMPANIONS TOGETHERINSPIRATION FROM HONEYCOMB
USER TESTING ROUND 3 - ANDROID MOBILE APP
USER COMMENTS :According to Angelique, Milaap mobile app was straightforward with all the options upfront. She
pointed out that the profile picture felt like a button or a clickable area and something would popup.
She suggested I could use it to open the profile page.
After careful analysis and few more user testing sessions with different people, I came up with a
solution that clicking on the profile picture will popup a notifications page so that it will be easier for
the user to keep track of things (updates about all features together at one place)
USER :Angelique (45), Atria, tested the Milaap mobile app and gave a valuable feedback
that I have incorporated in my final design.
NOTIFICATIONS
USER TESTING ROUND 3 - COMPANION
USER EXPERIENCE :KAREN was initially hesitant to use any product for communication purpose because
she thought that she was old school and would rather prefer writing letters to her
nephew and daughter.
After, I introduced the idea behind Milaap, and gave her a small demo of how it
would work and how little effort she would have to put in to let her nephew or
daughter know that she was missing them or be updated about their life, she was
eager to try it by herself and was happy about the experience.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION RESPONSIVE WEBSITE
Milaap production description responsive website for the promotion of the product - Milaap mobile app and the companion.
www.mi-laap.com
PACKAGING DESIGN
PACKAGING FOR PROMOTION OF MILAAP
PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
App Programming + UserTesting
3D modeling & Productmockup
Nov Dec Dec Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Apr Apr1-30 1-15 15-31 1-15 15-31 1-15 15-28 1-15 15-31 1-15 15-30
Branding, Product Sketching, Wireframes
Research Document &concept development
3d printing + Video
Documentation
Arduino Programming (trials + final)
Prototypes + User Testing
TASKS
WORKS CITED
“The Power of Touch and What It Means for the Elderly.” The Power of Touch and What It Means for the Elderly. Comfort Keepers, 10 Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.comfortkeepers.com/home/info-center/articles/power-of-touch>.
Beers, Mark H., and Robert Berkow, ed. 2000. The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, third edition. Whitehouse Station, NJ.: Merck Research Laboratories.
Dychtwald, Ken. 1999. Age Power: How the 21st Century Will be Ruled by the Old. New York, NY: Jeremy Tarcher/Putnam.
Rogers, Wendy A. ed. 1997. Designing for an Aging Population: Ten Years of Human Factors/ Ergonomics Research. Santa Monica: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES).
Joseph Pirkl, James. “Transgenerational Design: What Is Transgenerational Design?” Transgenerational Design: What Is Transgenerational Design? Web. 15 Nov. 2014. <http://transgenerational.org/viewpoint/transgenerational.htm>.
THANKS
Special thanks to -
Professor Neil Harner’s support and guidance throughout the process of this project.
Professor Robert Hardcastle - whose generous advices and kind encouragement ac-companied me till now
Professor Timothy Bieniosek - For his help with Arduino and getting me through the hardware aspect.
Nick - for his expertise in - and assisting with 3d printing.
My classmate’s - for suggestions on my visual design and the user testing.
Many thanks to all the respondents’ precious opnions. Krista and Karen from Atria Se-nior Living Community dedicated their time and contributed to user testing.
Mid term project Jury members - who offered me an appropriate feedback.