Krypton

Krypton is designed for 3-8 years old kids. The goal is to design the next generation group interactive play experience for kids.

This toy design project was sponsored by Mattel, CA

Observation

To understand children’s play patterns and both explicit and implicit needs, observation was conducted primarily with pre-school kids at the age from 3 to 5. Kids take pleasure in group playing, role playing, continuous achievement of playing and they are sensitive to forms and colors. Girls and boys have different group play patterns- Girls like cooperating, while boys enjoy expressing individual competence. Kids would like to show off the toys. Whatever toys they get, they will invent their own ways to play.

Product in the Market

We collected examples and designed this position map. Traditional physical toys cover both individual play and group play. Most digital toys are for individual play except some high end video game consoles. We believe that there is a sweet spot for low end digital group play.

Concept Development

Borrowing the idea from video games, we developed the new definition of “remote”, which can be the bridge between kids and toys. The “remote” can be a toy or part of the toy and can be controlled by one or many kids. We developed 4 concepts from the idea of “remote” categorized in the number of remote and object. Our concern was how to encourage group play and provide new interactive feedbacks.

Snitch

“Snitch” is a passing-ball game concept which requires children to pass the ball to the kids with random sequence. The ball will tell kids who the next is through the changing colors of the ball and the gloves.

We also thought about setting different difficulty levels for kids, for example, inncreasing the color changing frequency. Kids can record their score on the ball, which is , how many times they have passed the ball, and try to break the record.

Behavioral Prototype

To give initial idea and context of this product to children, we developed the behavioral prototype by using projector to simulate the color change. The test was conducted with five children at the age from 3 to 5, in both genders selected by preschool teachers. They understood the concept and enjoyed playing with the ball. They were very sensitive and excited to the light from a projector. We set up a strict rule for the game. However, to our surprise, we found that our rule was too complicated to them and it was hard for them to catch the ball to continue the game.

Krypton Design

The Bracelet

The bracelet is like a watch. When you connect it you turn the light and RF transmitter on. There is a light insigde the bracelt. The tube transmits the light to the whole bracelet.

The Ball

We change the form of the ball to star-shaped ball to provide a striking appearance. Pipes transmit light from the core of the ball to the tips. One of the spikes can be detached for you to load batteries. The core is covered by hard plastic shell. The spikes are made of soft rubber which protects the chip and RF sensor inside.

Lighting Prototype

We made a prototype to simulate the lighting effect of Krypton, We placed a bulb inside the white foam- constructed prototype then we found that a pipe-shaped florescent light conductor transmits the light well. When the ball rotates, the traces of the lights are amazing. We were lucky that we came to very good effect at last and impressed friends. When people see someone playing this on the playground or in the park, they will be attracted and join, and consider buying one, too.

Rule of the Game

 

Before the game starts, all the kids in the game put on bracelets with different colors. There is an RF sensor in the ball. Different rings send different RF signals.

Once the kids start the game, all kids touch the ball to let it sense what colors are there in this round of the game. When the game starts, the ball changes the color. Kids should throw the ball to the person who wears the same color of the bracelet which matches the ball.

During the game, the ball can sense whether kids get the ball or not. If it can’t sense any color near it in 5 seconds, it assumes the kids fail to pass the ball and it shuts down. The game is over. Kids have to press the button to restart the game.

Kids can set higher level of difficulty for the game, for example, higher color changing frequency. We simplified the rule to make it fit kids from 3 to 8 years old.

This concept was manufactured by Hasbro and reached the market- Cosmic Catch

Medical Histology Devices

Histology is the medical process to preserve human tissue before it can be analyzed under a microscope. This design of a series of histology devices started with user observation in the client's own histology lab and 2 hospitals. Through the user observation the we not only educated ourselves about the basic process of histology, but also gathered the information of user experience which later provided the insights for our design. A signature element was introduced to the new product line as the brand visual language.

User Observation in Hospital Labs

Before this project, we knew nothing about “histology”. We visited the client in their own factory lab and had them explain the process of histology for us. There are several medical products in histology for different tasks and steps:

1. tissue processor- prepare the tissue
2. embedding station- apply heated paraffin to enclose tissue in a small square mold 
3. tissue slicer- cut blocks of paraffin with tissues into thin slices
4. waterbath- use warm water to melt paraffin slices and place thin tissue sample onto glasses
5. autostainer- stain tissue sample so that it can be observed under microscope

After we understood the basic of histology. We also visited several hospital labs, talked with people and watched them operating histology devices. The research result showed us a great opportunity to improve the current product line.

Concept Development

Several concepts were developed and presented to clients. For the autostainer (the product shown above), we designed several different configurations for electronic components. We also considered different positions for the monitors and different ways to open the lid. I had the idea of using a small window to allow quick access without opening the whole lid (top right)- based on our observation, sometimes the user needs to open the lid to access the tissue quickly. A dedicated window can be very helpful.

Luckily, I had the chance to work very closely with our on-site engineer. There were so many problems in every detail, like the screw size, material wall thickness that we needed to pay attention to.

Product Prototype

A real size foam core prototype was made for the autostainer. It helped us to understand the opening structure and the assembly issue. We also used this prototype to discuss and compare several alternatives for the arm monitor position.

Another foam prototype was made for the “waterbath” device to visualize the real size of our design.

We introduced a front curve on the product surface as a “signature element” to add to every product in this histology device line. We used 3D printer to print the front panel of the autostainer, to ensure that the feature would be visually noticeable and correct.

Final Design

The users need to leave their wrists on a sharp sheet metal corner on the waterbath device for hours, so the new waterbath was improved with a new nice front as a comfortable arm rest. We also changed the old “medical instrument green” on the original control panel buttons and the display text to a sophisticated red to let it match the brand identity color.

From this comparison of our design and the original product, you can see the new design enjoys a brand new look and more comfortable corners. It’s also lower and easier to use.

The final design of the autostainer, the linear stainer and the waterbath all share the “signature curve” to effectively present the brand identity. This histology device line is a very good project for us to utilize the user observation methods into actual product design. And thanks to the client to allow us control most of the engineering of the devices, the final products are not far from our design.

Dewbop Shower Media

Dewbop is a series of wall-mountable shower media devices designed for the bathroom environment. Dewbop provides a more specialized shower room music interface and usability built on a person’s needs in a bathroom while showering, bathing and brushing teeth, etc.

 

User Research

Can you find the right button when your eyes are covered with shampoo?

 
The problem of using a shower media player

We interviewed some shower media device users and tried some products in the market. We found that the shower media interface was difficult to use. There are too many buttons to confuse user, it’s hard to operate a shower media player with soapy hands. When you are washing hair, you cannot operate the music without seeing the buttons. Also, the devices are not stable while standing or hung on the shower head. When pushed, it goes backward and falls.

Dewbop Concept 1

Dewbop concept 1 introduces a new interaction method for a humid and wet environment. The player body is rotatable. You can tilt the dewbop toward left and right to jump to last song and next song. The LCD screen and speakers are integrated in the body. A strong locking suction cup fixed on the wall is the pivot of rotation. One can operate it with wet and soapy hands, even blindly. The whole body is an input module. With a well organized software interface, all the tasks can be done with the rotatable body and a single, generously proportioned knob. A time button is dedicated for time display only.

Below is a flash demo of Dewbop concept 1.

Dewbop Concept 2 

Inspired by a user talking about her shower experience under candle lights, the concept 2 is a music CD player with modular blocks. Each block is a button to control music. It emits weak light when you turn the lights off in the shower room

Dewbop Concept 3

The concept 3 is a shower CD player simulating the interface of a faucet as a music controller. What if the most classic interface- the caucet, controls the flow of music, instead of water?

Dewbop Concept 4

Concept 4 “Faucet” User Interface

Dewbop Concept 4 lets the users control music with its  faucet-like interface, just like concept 3, but with a simple form. It can be placed on the bathtub or wall-mounted.

ESA (Electronic Shopping Assistant)

ESA (Electronic Shopping Assistant) is a device designed to bring online electronic product reviews to consumers in store. It bridges the gap of physical and cyber channels and help consumers compare and study electronic products and make decisions.

This project was sponsored by RTC for the retailer environment observation and research, with the  topic “Retail store as a communication medium”.

Opportunity and Benefit

 

For consumers
Because of the complex features and short life cycle of electronic products, shoppers need to do research before purchase. Consumers usually do online research first, and go to electronic stores to try products. It usually becomes a repetitive action between online research and in-store research.

For retailers
Information is becoming ubiquitous in both physical and electronic channels. Physical stores need to take on the competition from online stores, who can provide lower price for the same products. For physical stores, most of them sell products both online and in-store. However, there seems to be a gap between the two. What if there is a bridge to take the advantages of both channels?

The Game Changer

ESA (Electronic Shopping Assistant) is a device owned by retailers to provide online product information to in-store consumers. Combined
with physical store and online service, consumers can get the online information on ESA with their online accounts. They can track product information and personal research history. This device also works as
an in-store guide. It shows promotion, warranty, and other retailer information to consumers.

User Scenario

	Create an online account in retailer’s website research and create a list of candidate products.
	Get ESA in store and log on the device with online account. User information and saved product list are shown on the device.
	Use barcode scanner to scan products and read product online review.
	ESA helps user compare product features, prices and create a shopping cart list.
	The consumers can use ESA to check out with their billing information. The research and purchase history is updated with online account for further customer service.

Behavioral Prototype

Settings

To simulate the real environment, shoppers are carrying shopping bags, hand bag or backpack. Three concept prototypes are placed on the table as the store shelf. Models are built to simulate the trial products.

Process

1. Shoppers are assigned the bags to carry on;
2. Put on the device;
3. Walk around and read the device;
4. Scan the product with device;
5. Compare the products and read the reviews  
6. Answer a cell phone call
7. Change the prototype and repeat 1-6 process
3 users participated, all were video recorded

Conclusion

Lanyard with long or flexible cord for users to pull and scan the product is the best solution

Design Criteria

ESA is owned by retailers but used by consumers. The ownership and responsibility brings some interesting issues:

1. Easy-to-Learn interface
People have plenty of time to learn how to use a cell phone or a camera. But ESA must let the consumers to pick up the interface quickly since consumers don’t own the device;
2. Durability
People don’t take good care of a public product. The material use of ESA should be durable, like a museum guide;
3. High-Tech Looking
As a product for expert consumers, its material and finishing should suggest hi-tech built quality

Components
1, Memory or local network access
2, Barcode scanner
3, Screen
4, Lanyard

Design Sketches

One scanning button, a two-way touch-sensitive navigation button and 4 programmable buttons (including shopping cart and favorite product list) are designed to support the software interface interface. The two-way navigation button is used to scroll menu and text. Some variations of the style are discussed here.

The principle is to keep it clean and user friendly. Foam prototypes were made for further analysis and test for ergonomic factors.

Modular Foam Prototype

Modular buttons, bodies, screens and lanyard buckle are made to compare different combinations.

Button Layout

	Extend the lanyard buckle to make the device look thinner.
	Taper and round bottom edge for better gripping, leaving the surface at the top flat for scanning part.
	At first, scanning button is above the screen to help people hold it firmly while scanning. The problem is that your thumb needs to go all the way down for other buttons.
	The second solution integrates the scanning button with other buttons. But they seem too low to operate. The user cannot hold the device well as they need to keep fingers in lower half position.
	The final solution is to move buttons to the middle of the device. There are two separate screens for different purposes- one monotone LCD screen for showing text information; the other color LCD screen for showing product images. Two way navigation button and scanning button is combined into a touch-sensitive button to simplify the layout.

Final Form

The final form is narrowed in width for better gripping. The body is also deeper and rounded at the back and bottom. It’s more like a simplified remote control than a cell phone.

2D Rendering and User Interface