4 research outputs found
Investigating the design of Smart Objects in the domain of forgetfulness
PhDWhen we forget things, we feel anxious which can impact our day negatively. Some
individuals believe they are forgetful, so emphatically, it disrupts their day. There has been
little discussion about perceived forgetfulness in design and HCI, combined with few studied
smart objects to aid with memory. However, embedded systems, radio frequency identification
(RFID) and HCI research provides inspiration towards creating a solution. Challenges of
creating a day-to-day smart object that can enhance a userās lifestyle are explored and
recommended design guidelines for creating a smart object in a specific domain are the focus
of this thesis.
Using an experience-centred approach, āMessage Bagā and āTag Alongā are two
purpose built object-based memory aids that have emerged as a result of investigating the
design processes for smart objects. The work examines smart objects in the context of
forgetting what items to pack in a bag. A solution presented is a device consisting of an RFID
system involving (a) pre-tagging essential items; (b) scanning those tagged items and; (c)
viewing a corresponding light illuminate, to communicate to the user. Although the conceptual
model is simple, success depends on a combination of technical design, usability and
aesthetics. These scanning interactions result in a person feeling more confident as suggested
through autoethnography reporting, real-world, third person engagements - single user
walkouts, conference demos, professional critiques, and residential weekends with potential
users (focus group) studies conducted.
My work involved extensive autobiographical research and design-led enquiries.
Testing was undertaken with investigative prototypes, followed by field testing high-fidelity
prototypes. This involved an in-the-wild comparative study involving six users over several
months. Results show that people feel more confident and respondents claim no longer
needing to continually check items are packed, thus āgaining timeā, and feeling less forgetful.
Although the application of RFID is not new to ubiquitous computing, this
implementation, styling and system immediacy is novel. This thesis presents the development
of ten prototypes as well as design guidelines. The research provides a solid base for further
exploration, and includes discovery of the importance of a userās style universe and extreme
ease-of-use. I conclude with the presentation of early positive results including; (i) the unique
form factor becomes a reminder itself and; (ii) usability coupled with the intuitive nature of the
system is shown to be essential. We found that when you are creating a smart object, usability
and an intuitive nature is even more important than in a standard system. When dealing within
the domain of forgetfulness, this is paramount.This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
(EPSRC) through the Media and Arts Technology Doctoral Training Centre from the School
of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Queen Mary University of London
Investigating the design of Smart Objects in the domain of forgetfulness
When we forget things, we feel anxious which can impact our day negatively. Some individuals believe they are forgetful, so emphatically, it disrupts their day. There has been little discussion about perceived forgetfulness in design and HCI, combined with few studied smart objects to aid with memory. However, embedded systems, radio frequency identification (RFID) and HCI research provides inspiration towards creating a solution. Challenges of creating a day-to-day smart object that can enhance a userās lifestyle are explored and recommended design guidelines for creating a smart object in a specific domain are the focus of this thesis. Using an experience-centred approach, āMessage Bagā and āTag Alongā are two purpose built object-based memory aids that have emerged as a result of investigating the design processes for smart objects. The work examines smart objects in the context of forgetting what items to pack in a bag. A solution presented is a device consisting of an RFID system involving (a) pre-tagging essential items; (b) scanning those tagged items and; (c) viewing a corresponding light illuminate, to communicate to the user. Although the conceptual model is simple, success depends on a combination of technical design, usability and aesthetics. These scanning interactions result in a person feeling more confident as suggested through autoethnography reporting, real-world, third person engagements - single user walkouts, conference demos, professional critiques, and residential weekends with potential users (focus group) studies conducted. My work involved extensive autobiographical research and design-led enquiries. Testing was undertaken with investigative prototypes, followed by field testing high-fidelity prototypes. This involved an in-the-wild comparative study involving six users over several months. Results show that people feel more confident and respondents claim no longer needing to continually check items are packed, thus āgaining timeā, and feeling less forgetful. Although the application of RFID is not new to ubiquitous computing, this implementation, styling and system immediacy is novel. This thesis presents the development of ten prototypes as well as design guidelines. The research provides a solid base for further exploration, and includes discovery of the importance of a userās style universe and extreme ease-of-use. I conclude with the presentation of early positive results including; (i) the unique form factor becomes a reminder itself and; (ii) usability coupled with the intuitive nature of the system is shown to be essential. We found that when you are creating a smart object, usability and an intuitive nature is even more important than in a standard system. When dealing within the domain of forgetfulness, this is paramount
The Ultimate Guide to Informed Wearable Technology: A hands-on approach for creating wearables from prototype to purpose using Arduino systems
Master wearable technology with this book including colored images and over 50 activities using Arduino and ESP32, build useful, stylish, and smart wearable devices, and create interactive circuits that react to us and our environmen
Message Bag: Can Assistive Technology Combat Forgetfulness?
Forgetfulness can be a cause for concern when it begins affecting our daily lives. Forgetfulness is associated with feelings of embarrassment and shame [1] and yet there is little attention given to forgetfulness in a healthy population. Forgetfulness is a lived experience and something that happens in our day to day. Therefore we propose the āmessage bagā, which will be carried throughout regular daily activities, with an aim to alleviate the cognitive load, in an effort to eliminate forgetfulness. We describe a prototype for a device that will be tested in the wild. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.2 [Information interfaces and presentation]: User Interfaces ā prototyping, user-centered design