Design Process
Ompi is a modular communication device that integrates non-smartphone users such as the elderly, and people with limited motor skills into the digital communication of family and friends.
Ompi allows users to receive multimedia messages and send voice messages to instant messenger chats without using a smartphone, which is extremely difficult for non-smartphone users to use due to the complex menu structure and digital controls.
Ompi consists of a base station and several contact figures or cards. If a contact figure or card is placed on the interactive surface, a reader can recognize the IT address and connects to the specific instant messenger chat.
Connect to your TV!
To receive pictures and videos, Ompi can be connected to a television set. In order to support the user in interacting with the device, a voice assistance guides the user through the steps.
Connected to the wifi or mobile data!
And receive or send messages to instant messenger chats.
Ompi is modular!
There are contact cards or easy-to-grasp contact figures. The contact surface for the contacts can be changed from cards to contact figures and vice-versa.
The buttons are also modular and can be replaced as required. For example, the record or play icon can be exchanged for another icon.
The contact figures and cards are synchronised with the desired phone numbers and social media chats.
With its human-centred design, Ompi adapts perfectly to the needs of users and enables them to become actively involved in digital communication.
DESIGN process
BACHELOR THESIS industrial design HTW UNIVERSITY
Fieldresearch
I conducted several user and expert interviews with seniors and with a person with a motor disability to better understand the needs and hurdles of my users.
I visited Brigitte (91) in her apartment and accompanied her for a day. To evoke their memories and thus emotions, I printed several images of old as well as modern communication devices on cards and asked her to tell me what she sensed when she saw the images. The images helped to evoke the positive as well as negative emotions and thus took the interview to a deeper level.
I also offered her to use my smartphone to listen to and view a voice message and photo I had prepared on Whatsapp.To do this, I explained the necessary steps and observed her using the smartphone. Afterwards, I questioned her using a targeted questioning technique to better understand the problems with smartphone use.
"I just can't handle the smartphones. My motor skills are too bad and I hardly have the feeling in my fingertips to scroll."
Synthesis
I used the findings from the interviews in the synthesis phase to define the problem area more precisely and to identify important insights and design principles that helped me in the further steps of the design process. In addition, I created several personas and POVs.
The biggest problem is irregular communication between older people and (grand)children, as families have little time to call during the day and prefer to use digital media such as Messenger as a communication channel. Older people are not able to use digital media and feel isolated and lonely, but do not want to disturb their family and therefore do not call.
In addition I studied different market structures and aspects of digital communication tools to get a better picture of what communication tools exist and which ones best meet the needs of my target audience. I analyzed the different markets of telecommunications to define the market with the greatest opportunities for innovation.
design CHALLENGE
How might we integrate non-smartphone users such as elderly and people with limited motor skills into the digital communication of family and friends?
Ideation
In the ideation phase I conducted three workshops. One workshop took place in a Senior Computer Club in Berlin.
In the workshops, seniors aged 75-86 participated, as well as experts in the field of care and digitization and "grandchildren". The ideas of the workshops were built using the rapid prototyping method with Lego and other materials and tested on site.
Prototyping
My first prototype was used to test the core features of the operation and make the concept tangible. My goal was to make the interaction as simple as possible in order to test it with users and gain nine insights. The most critical feature I wanted to test was the use of contact cards. I did not consider the size, layout and design at this stage. First, I wanted to evaluate the core function through testing. The dimensions of the prototype were created automatically when integrating the electronics.
The prototype consisted of sensors, such as an RFID scanner, microfion, speaker, lights etc. and a mini-computer.
The minicomputer was programmed with a code that allowed the test person to receive and send a message on the Whatsapp TV. In addition, there was a voice that automatically explained the instructions of the required actions.
Testing
I tested the prototype with two 94-year-old women with visual impairment and MCI, 43 years old man with muscle spasm.
I installed the prototype and connected it to a computer monitor or the TV. Beforehand, I asked a family member to send a personal message via video to make the test scenario as realistic as possible.
user FEEDBACK
"It would make me very happy to see my grandchildren growing up, even if they live far away. I love the idea of being able to look at pictures of my grandchildren on my television."
Design
In the final phase of my work, it was exclusively a matter of giving the defined concept with its functions a meaningful form language and visualizing the final product design. Before I started developing the form, I researched for inspiration. To do this, I created a mood board with concepts, color samples and designs, which I mounted on a wall.
My goal was not to make the design look technical, but rather to encourage the user to interact with the product.
The design language should be organic, obvious, understandable, minimalist and habitual. To achieve this, I worked with organic basic shapes and radii. I also wanted to emphasize the organic design more strongly with warm pastels.
