Process

After deciding on the data we hoped to convey with our ambient device, we explored different modes of communicating this information. We began with an initial idea of using LEDs to function as a counter. We moved away from this representation because the LEDs didn’t nudge the user to make a positive change to their behavior. We looked at motion and speeding up motion in order to communicate frequency in a more visceral manner. We found this to be distracting for the environment of a desk or office where we envisioned our device.

The team settled on the general form of a clock to communicate the information in a discrete and symbolic manner. Clocks are objects that are natural and familiar and help users navigate and allocate time. They very much have a home on our desks. In much the same way users check the clock to show a passing of time, user would check this ambient device to show a passing of time, but in the form of social media visits. We decided on using Emoji’s as visual imagery to communicate discrete instances of checking social media. Rather than using numbers as a counter, emojis abstract the data making it personal to the user. The expressions of the emojis, gradually change from happy/positive to sad/negative as the number of social media visits increase. Emoji are part of the social media lexicon so we wanted to make use of this powerful metaphor in our ambient device to communicate personal information to the user.