Connected Home

Jan 2020 - May 2020
We created a high-fidelity prototype to examine the user experience of a connected home and explored how it can improve the quality of life for families coping with medical conditions. We brought this interface to life in the VR environment using VRED to conduct realistic simulations and gain insights into the user experience.
Problem Statement
Many smart home solutions currently on the market are not tailored to meet the specific needs of families coping with medical conditions.
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Research Questions
What are the key considerations for designing a user interface for a connected home for families coping with chronic medical conditions?
My Contributions
Concept planning, asset design, game development, desk research, conducting playtesting
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Tools
Axure
VRED
Figma
Analyze
ResearcH
We set out to develop a connected home solution that not only focuses on the fridge interface but also integrates seamlessly with other smart devices in the home. Our solution is specifically designed to improve the quality of life for families coping with chronic medical conditions. Unlike other commercial applications that may only focus on household task management like ChoreMonster or medical management like CareZone, we have taken a comprehensive and holistic approach by integrating a variety of features and functionality.

Therefore, we outlined the key functions of the application:
  • manage and track medical conditions
  • schedule appointments, store and share medical information
  • store and share medical information
  • manage household tasks, groceries, and daily commutes.
Additionally, the fridge-specific features we have added, such as adjusting the refrigerator temperature and checking contents with a fridge camera, offer a level of convenience and ease of use that sets our app apart from others in the market.
User Personas
We created four user personas to represent different members of a family coping with a chronic medical condition. We used this to guide the design of a connected home application that addresses the specific needs and challenges faced by families with chronic medical conditions.
Design
Features
Connected Home Features
  1. Manage calendar
  2. Track chores and medications
  3. Manage groceries
  4. Track daily communte
  5. IIn case of emergency
Fridge-specific Features
  1. Adjust refrigerator temperature
  2. Check contents with fridge camera
Multiple Device Interaction
  1. Send grocery list to phone
  2. Check fridge camera
Affinity diagram
To identify relationships of the possible features and usage scenarios, we utilized affinity diagrams. Which led to the flow model.
Sketching
After detailing the functions the application will support, we sketched very low fidelity interfaces.
Network diagram
Since the application covers a wide range of functions and can be used across different devices, creating the networking diagram was deemed necessary.
User Testing
Screening: Users with prior experience in VR
Tasks and Think Aloud:
1. Calendar Interface
2. Refrigerator Settings
3. Grocery List
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Interface Follow up: A series of open ended questions and questions using Likert scales on usability and preference
Next Steps
In the future, we aim to refine the current prototype according to user feedback.
  • Add more functionalities on the camera such as zoom in/out, selfie mode
  • Utilize more diverse climate data
  • Provide alternative modes of location such as teleportation
Moreover, we will deploy qualitative methods to investigate our design question:
JP 2023