HOME MEET
#Product design
#HCI design
#Mixed reality
Jun 2022
HOME MEET is a window for people who work from home(WFH). It creates a connection between home and the world. By knocking on, writing, and waving to the window, people can experience the presence of others and interact easily. With HOME MEET, people can immerse in an office working atmosphere while working at home.
HIGHLIGHT
Open the window, connect to the world
Wave to the window, see everyone
Knock on the window, call the colleague
Write on the window, send the message
BEHIND THE SCENE
Background Research
Coronavirus has made WFH the New Normal
User Interview
WFH workers need basic interaction
By analyzing the interview outcomes, we discovered 2 main needs. However, they are contradictory.
Perceived Problem
How might we create the experience of working together even in different locations, so that people can enjoy the pleasure of interaction while staying at home?
Generate & Converge Ideas
Evaluate 3 possible design concepts
During the process, we tried to add some images and sound on some objects, creating the experience of working together. After evaluating, we discovered that "window" serves as a metaphor and medium for fostering interaction and maintaining users’ privacy.
Final Concept
By re-enacting office scenes outside the window to sense the presence of others, it creates a series of interactions based on the inherent window experience.
Software Development
3 modes to protect user's privacy
In collaboration with an OpenCV engineer, we brought our interface concept to life by implementing the 3 images modes: clear, blur (default), and close mode.
Hardware Development
Identified the most suitable curtain format
Based on the interface concept integrated with the window, we explored how users could interact with and open the curtain. After developing four different prototypes, we found that the second prototype was the most effective, as it saves space and allows users to interact with the window more smoothly
User Feedback
The blurry images are like visual version of white noise
REFLECTION
Identify key factor from many ideas
Although we capture users’ core problems, we developed a failed desktop product by adding too many functions to it. After some frustration, the advisors asked us to forget all ideas and focus on the top value (interaction with others) we want to create. This experience was invaluable as it taught us how to pinpoint the core goal. We learned how to clarify the key factor from many ideas. Most importantly, I should keep this in mind for future works.
THANK YOU !
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MADE BY MAO HUANG