BRIEF

Match a piece of Internet of Things technology with a target set of users.

This project was completed in a three person team over three and a half weeks as part of Interaction Design Studio I coursework at Carnegie Mellon University.

Our team selected ultra-wide band micro-location technology from five provided forms of Internet of Things technology. Through a chip smaller than a fingertip, micro-location allows objects to be identified within 10 centimeters.  A two minute video was required to pitch our proposed product. 

SOLUTION

 We matched micro-location technology with an audience of doctors, physical therapists, and patients. Our product, Aline, is a wearable that health professionals can program with physical therapy exercises for patients to perform at home. With Aline, health professional can build high-value relationships and ensure that their patients avoid re-injury while exercising at home. Patients recover faster and future medical costs are decreased.

SKILLS

Matchmaking, scenario building, video storyboarding, script-writing, video and audio recording and editing, animation

TOOLS

Sketch, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro

PROCESS

Brainstorming and Scenario Iteration

Our team considered a range of technology, problem spaces, and products. A major challenge is that the IoT space is very full and many of the solutions we thought of already existed. We also faced scenarios where the problem was not served best by the technology provided to us in the project brief. After brainstorming, we landed on the idea of using micro-location to cultivate better posture in office workers.

Initial Scenario

Alice spends most of her day sitting at a computer and knows that she slouches and is concerned for her appearance and health over time. To address this, she uses a micro-location wearable that alerts her as soon as she starts slouching, training her to maintain better posture. 

From this initial scenario our team was excited about the posture problem space, but our current problem of everyday posture was neither urgent nor specific enough.

Further Exploration

Exploring medical scenarios where posture correct might be integral, we researched the possibility of using a wearable for proper posture for ventilation in post-acute respiratory surgery. Our research showed us that this problem was too medically complex for the project scope, and that the required postures for recovery would not be a good fit for the technology. Instead, we moved forward with a physical therapy scenario.

Second Scenario

Tim has just returned home after having scoliosis surgery. His physical therapist set him up with a wearable that they calibrated in person so he can continue his physical therapy exercises at home. Tim exercises while wearing the device, which buzzes if he overextends and allows him to review his movements. His physical therapist can monitor his progress in between office visits. Tim recovers safely, quickly, and avoids future medical costs from re-injury. 

At this point, we also settled on our product name: Aline (a play on "align" and a straight "line").

StoryBoard Iterations

From our updated scenario, our team began building storyboards for the video pitch. Below are a selection from the storyboarding process.

Final Scenario, Video Storyboard, & Script

When presenting the storyboard above, we heard introducing a specific condition (like scoliosis) for physical therapy was distracting to our audience. Our team broadened the scenario to more general physical therapy, and added a soccer-loving protagonist sidelined from his sport to increase empathy. 

Additional changes we made to our final video:

• We initially created a storyboard without any narration, hoping for our visuals to do all of the storytelling work. Ultimately we found narration helped tell the story efficiently.

• To remove confusion about how Aline would detect incorrect movements, we added narration and an animation showing how the physical therapist calibrates the device with the patient. 

• To engage the viewer more at the beginning and end, we added an opening with the sounds of a soccer game and images of the protagonist looking wistful in a more characteristic setting. We also added a final scene showing our joyful protagonist returning to soccer.

I was the lead scriptwriter for the video and storyboard below.

FINAL VIDEO