As a student in the University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, life can be difficult. Heavy workloads and frequent deadlines are stressful, and the studio environment isn't stimulating. NatureFrame is a small, desktop display designed to help augment the TCAUP studio environment by creating a changing scene throughout the day. NatureFrame also helps build positive work habits by sending break reminders, and reminding users when it's time to get back to work.
Life as a student can be difficult - our goal in creating the NatureFrame was to design something that could help improve the lives of TCAUP students, particularly improving their time spent in the architecture studios.
Process
Research
To better understand our target population, we used two research methods: a diary study, and a survey. This gave us the benefit of both depth and breath, by allowing us to get specific, detailed information about the day-to-day life from a few people, and general information from many people. Because no one on our team is a member of our target population, we thought having both depth and breadth in our study was an essential piece in allowing us to understand our population.
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Figure 1. Results from our Diary Study and Survey
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User Enactments
Based on the results of our diary study and survey, we created a 3-dimensional matrix (interaction levels, activity lifecycle and number of people in studio) of scenarios to test in user enactments. For each cell of our grid, we created a scenario that could be tested with a low fidelity prototype of the NatureFrame. Our user enactments showed us that:
- Architecture students appreciate having nature scenes while they work
- Architecture students do not want any additional decisions added to their days
- Over long periods spent working in the studio, architecture students require strategic breaks refresh their minds
- Architecture students would be interested in reflecting on their hard work to gain a sense of satisfaction
- Architecture students want an individualized product
Key Insights & Design Criteria
Based on our research and user enactments, we distilled our findings down into 3 key insights:
Stress & Studio Time
The architecture program is very stressful, and students spend an incredible amount of time in the studio. |
Decision Making
Architecture students don't want any additional decisions added to their day, even if the decisions are small. |
Break & Relaxation Time
Over long periods of time spent working, students require strategic breaks to refresh their minds. |
These key insights also led us to 5 final design criteria for the NatureFrame that we took into account when moving forward with our prototype:
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Concept & Key Features
The result of our research, key findings, and design criteria was NatureFrame: a small, touchscreen display that students can put on their desk. There are 3 key features of the NatureFrame:
Nature scenes that change throughout the day based on hours spent in studio and number of breaks taken, creating a changing environment for students as they spend their days working in the studio.
An automated system that turns on and off without user input based on the Bluetooth connection between the NatureFrame and the user's cell phone.
Reminders to take breaks at an interval set by the user (for example, a 10 minute break for every hour of work). Break ideas provided by the NatureFrame include taking a walk, chatting with friends, or completing one of the meditation sessions built into the product. If the user ignores the reminder, it will automatically remind more frequent with time goes by.
Figure 2. Frames from a sample animated scene
Prototype & Ideal System
Our prototype includes a computer monitor to represent the NatureFrame's touchscreen display, a laptop to represent the internal processor (controlled by a wizard when the user interacts with the "touchscreen" display), and a Bluetooth Beacon to represent the Bluetooth connection between the NatureFrame and the user's cell phone. We also used nature animations and an Electron app to prototype the front end display of the NatureFrame.
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Figure 3. Our NatureFrame prototype
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In our ideal system, the NatureFrame will be composed of a touchscreen display with integrated processor, as opposed to the separate display and processor used in our prototype. Additionally, the NatureFrame would pair directly with the Bluetooth of the user's phone
Reflection
While creating our prototype and filming our video, we also considered whether voice or gesture control would have been more appropriate than touch control, since the NatureFrame may be out of the user's reach depending on where they have chosen to place it. Additionally, gesture control would make it easier to interact with the NatureFrame from a distance, and voice control would allow users to interact with the NatureFrame without having to stop what they're working on. This is something we would explore and test further when developing a real version of this product.
In addition to considering other types of interactions, the next steps in making the NatureFrame a reality would be creating a wide variety of base nature scenes, as well as elements that could be applied as the user spends time in studio (animals, people, etc.). Along with the nature scenes, meditation sessions would also have to be created. These items would then be integrated with a processor that has a touchscreen and Bluetooth sensing capabilities which would allow the NatureFrame to connect with the user's cell phone.
Based on current Bluetooth and hardware technology, we believe that this NatureFrame design could realistically be realized within the next year.
In addition to considering other types of interactions, the next steps in making the NatureFrame a reality would be creating a wide variety of base nature scenes, as well as elements that could be applied as the user spends time in studio (animals, people, etc.). Along with the nature scenes, meditation sessions would also have to be created. These items would then be integrated with a processor that has a touchscreen and Bluetooth sensing capabilities which would allow the NatureFrame to connect with the user's cell phone.
Based on current Bluetooth and hardware technology, we believe that this NatureFrame design could realistically be realized within the next year.