Passion Wheels: IoT Eco-System


Improve Baby Boomers and retirees’ mobility via an integrated IoT button which connects to automated taxi despatch services.





Individual Project


Time

4 weeks at CMU III

Role

Product Designer
Developer

Tool

Particle
Illustrator
Adobe Spark
Rhino

Design Approach





Problem Overview and Solution

Please press the play button to watch the video. ⇩



Understand the problem

Secondary Research

Senior citizens may not have family members, caregivers, friends, or neighbors who are able to transport them, yet, still want to be a part of community and want to contribute themselves in a meaningful way.

Although Pittsburgh public transportation system is considered a reliable, yet, it may be difficult or impossible for older adults to access them. The major obstacle is that the physical and cognitive limitations that made it difficult or impossible for them to use public transportation system.

There are so many organizations and people who would benefit old generations’ contribution to our communities.

87% never been online

77 percent ofseniors report that they would require assistance to try and learn how to use a smartphone or tablet.

One in every 5

One in five seniors
over 65 does not drive.

Average cost

Average costs is
$20 to $50 per ride.



Primary Research

Based on the previous secondary research, I further conducted user interview to understand their pain points with current transportation system they are using.

3 Retired Elderly Residents

2 Over 60 YO Residents

2 Former Uber Employees



Research Insights

They want to interact with community service

They want to have easy excess

They do not want to add any extra stress



Problem Fraiming

How might we foster elderly people's community engagement by connecting them with a existing automated taxi despatch services?

Design Principles

With research insights in mind, I developed 3 design principles to help me better define creating design experience.

  • Connect users with Uber / Lyft via a simple IoT product
  • Create a easy to use IoT device
  • Drew a clear yet big-picture of IoT eco system

Personal and their emotional needs

This story is about Linda. She wants to allow herself to volunteer as long as she could, but loss of her physical and mental abilities create barrier for her to do what she likes to do.


Isolation

She stays at home for the most of the times.

Left behind

She wants to contribute to community she care

Barrier

Even if she wants to help, she is slowly loosing her physical strength to drive.

Frustration

She thought that it must have been easier if she has a freedom of moving around

Solution

Her friend told her that Uber provides a button to call a car

Empowerment

She is happy to have her control back.


Key Features

  • Simplify the steps to call Uber or Lyft
  • Give ambient notification with an enchant product
  • Data Display: Public Awareness, Advertisement, Donation

Proto Development

Wirefraiming





Code



Foamboard



Demo







Reflection

From understanding problem space to implementation, I realized the real challenge to bring my idea to life. Designing an IoT product, especially integrating a product into a current existing system, requires undersding of limitation of infrastructure, regulations, and safety issues to develop a fully functioning IoT product. I hope I can expand my understanding of design, user interactions, and technical implementation into Passhion Wheels Button one day.