connecting homes with the future

SMART HOME Project

Edited by:

Jing Liu(Silence)Melissa VerásteguiJue Wang (May)

Printed in Loughborough University

©2013 Loughborough University and BT Labs

©2013 Loughborough University and BT Labs

Foreword // 1N Home

Students of the Cross Disciplinary Project from the Loughborough University have collaborated together with BT Company to develop 3 technology projects: Smart TV, Wiring and Smart Home. The cross disciplinary project aims toward helping us expand our scope of knowledge and skills beyond the boundaries of our own professional disciplines. This project combines individuals who come from different disciplines, such as industrial design, interaction design, and sustainable design. Through this useful way, we could achieve a great experience, learn how to collaborate with a worldwide known company such as BT Technology and how to communicate with the team members. Moreover, this is a great opportunity for us to undertake a ‘real’ project using a range of different knowledge and approaches.

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©2013 Loughborough University and BT Labs

Foreword // BT Labs

BT Group plc, trading as BT, is a British multinational telecommunications services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is one of the largest telecommunications services companies in the world and has operations in over 170 countries. Through its BT Global Services division it is a major supplier of telecoms services to corporate and government customers worldwide. Its BT Retail division one of the largest suppliers of telephony, broadband and subscription television services in the UK, with over 18 million customers.

BT Group PLC, 2010

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Contents

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Contents

Action Plan ....... 09

Team Member ....... 11

Research ....... 13

Smart Home Types ....... 14

Personas ........ 15

Research Summary ....... 16

Concept Development ....... 18

Final Concept....... 20

Scenarios ....... 22

Video ....... 24

Devices Interface ....... 26

Software Interface ...... 28

Colour & Style ....... 30

Marketing ....... 32

Time Plan ....... 08

Team Member ....... 10

Design Brief ....... 12

Research ....... 14

Research Summary ........ 16

Video ....... 18

Scenarios ....... 20

Interface ....... 22

Software Interface ....... 24

Design Summary ....... 26

Marketing ....... 28

Action Plan 9

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Team Members 11

Jue WangBA Industrial and Technology designHobbies: Dancing, Photography, Traveling, Fashion.Skills: Sketching, Photoshop, Illustrator, drawing and illustrationE-mail: may_333@126.com / mobile: 07857867597

Melissa VerásteguiBSc Industrial Design

MSc Design and Innovation for SustainabilityHobbies: Traveling, movies, music, DIY activities and ecoDesign

Email: em.verastegui@gmail.com / mobile:0759 338 2209Skills: 3D modelling, Solidworks, open source technologies.

Experience:2010-2013 Poliflex SA de CV: electrical installations product

design for plastic injection. MSc scholarship funding.2008-2011 Solar powered led lighting system. Design of

aluminum injection case.

XiaodanZhang, and you can also call me Shannon.My major course is Industrial Design and Technology.My hobbies are travelling and watching films. And I prefer reading magazines and layout design.My future plan is to do the job about typesetting, especially focus on layout design.My mobile phone number is 07593651297, and my email is x.zhang-12@student.lboro.ac.uk.

YusiHuangMSc Interaction Design.

I have lots of interest, such as drawing, surfing on the internet, chatting with friends, reading some novels,

music, watching English moviesor TV. In addition to these, I also like to play PC games.

When I finishmy master degree, I would like to gain some experience from company, then be a teacher.

Email: y.huang-12@student.lboro.ac.uk./ mobile:07746359634

Simon GeilenStonemason

BA Product DesignMA Industrial Design and Technology

Hobbies: Kickboxing, motorsportEmail: s.geilen-12@student.lboro.ac.uk

Skills: design conception, 3D modelling, rendering, rapid prototyping, model making, brand design, brand language,

marketing, graphics and illustrationSoftware: SolidWorks, Pro/E, 3D Studio Max, KeyShot, Hypershot,

AutoCAD and Adobe Creative SuiteExperience: Worked as stonemason, woodworker, student advisor

for CAD and RP, freelance designer for graphics, web and merchandising design, as well as media designer in marketing

and PR

Xi ShaoMajor：Industrial design and technologyHobbies:PhotographySkills:3D modelling, rendering,marketing, graphics and illustrationSoftware: Pro/E, 3D Max, Rhino, KeyShot, Hypershot, AutoCAD and PS Phone number: 07743112779Email: x.shao-12@student.lboro.ac.uk

JingLiuBA Industrial Design and TechnologyHobbies:pets, Yoga, travel, DIY, PC game, and everything looks cool and beautiful.I plan to set up a small store in thefuture. Alltheproducts in my store are madebymyself, every single productisunique in theworldwiththeblessing of happiness.Email: J.liu-12@student.lboro.ac.uk mobile: 07746359634

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Research

Through the workshop of Design for Happiness given by Dr. Carolina Escobar at Loughborough University we explored different useful key words to develop our research. As part of our exercise we separated 10 concepts as a pie chart to extend our idea clearly.

The diagram describes the core motivations for having a smart home, the concepts were taken from a set of cards which showed different concepts that could enable the brainstorming, in this way as a team we could came up with different words and features that would led us to the final concept.

After discussing our ideas we chose 2 keywords to guide our project: freedom and autonomy. These two workds were defined as our standpoints after this useful workshop. We all think when you get back your home that could release pressure and pursuit your inner peace. You don’t need to be tied down with work or tasks. The autonomy system could supply a comfortable way to control the entire home, users would not feel trouble when they have to turn off lights or turn on TV personally.

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Smart Home Types

Based on the different targets given by BT and a research about the most common users interested in technology and consumers of technology as well, we built up four levels in order to explain our main targets.

The first level is basic, it means people own fundamental equipment, like smart phone, and there is a regular interest in electronic devices.

The second is advanced, which stands for users who has moderate awareness of technological innovations, they could afford some kind of smart products.

In addition, the third is advanced 2, which is more professional than second one.

On the top of our level are the experts of the area that they have high level of education, pursue high quality of life. Combining the BT household types, we have set up in home ones that respectively are student, young professional and professional. We paid more attention on the young professional and professional target user.

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Personas

After the trarget users analysis, we develop the profile for our target consumers which are focused on the ages between 20 and 50. The first person is Jessica, who is a student and prefers the smart devices are funny, appropriate price and powerful functions. Secondly, Smith, who has a stable job and likes going to gym, watching movies and playing game. He has passion to try the different smart devices. Finally, Johnny is an engineer, who prefers to spend a lot of time with his children and likes to experiment and interact with new technology. In terms of our three personas, we could look for creative ideas and inspirations associated with special consumers.

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Research Summary

In order to meet the challenges faced by consumers when interacting with smart technology this project focuses on the design of a novel product that simplifies the access and control of home automation systems for BT customers.

There is a vast variety of digital smart devices, each with its individual interface, aimed at numerous different customer types, who each make buying decisions based on a wealth of personal motivations and interests.The comfort of a holistic smart home system can currently only be enjoyed by customers with great personal wealth and/or extensive interest in the technology.There is a great opportunity to create a product that can make full smart home functionality available for the average user, simplify the interaction with the existing smart technology, as well as making every-day life better.

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Research Summary

In order to meet the challenges faced by consumers when interacting with smart technology this project focuses on the design of a novel product that simplifies the access and control of home automation systems for BT customers.

There is a vast variety of digital smart devices, each with its individual interface, aimed at numerous different customer types, who each make buying decisions based on a wealth of personal motivations and interests.The comfort of a holistic smart home system can currently only be enjoyed by customers with great personal wealth and/or extensive interest in the technology.There is a great opportunity to create a product that can make full smart home functionality available for the average user, simplify the interaction with the existing smart technology, as well as making every-day life better.

Research Summary 17

Concept Development

As we divided the tasks according to the different skills and backgrounds of the members, a group of members decided to sketch proposals and ideas for the physical product. Then we collected all the ideas and discussed them as a group, where all the members were able to suggest, ask, change and expose their ideas related to the product design.

We had a brainstorming about how the product might look and how the users would be able to wear it, our options were a headset, a ring, a bracelet, a pin, a clip and even a necklace. After developing all these ideas we decided to develop the bracelet and the clip idea.

Once we decided this two products formats the members developed a second stage of sketching were we discussed how to distribute the interface features such as buttons, lcd display, size and colour.

After the sketching stage, we started the 3D cad modelling stage which led us to the final concept product.

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Concept Development 19

Final Concept 20

Final Concept 21

Scenarios

We developed different scenarios to simulate the application of our product design in the real life. These applications show five different scenarios where the product design is used in common situations. The first three scenarios are shown in the video where a regular user has the control of her living space remotely, she is able to control features such as lighting, television and music.

In the graphic scenarios, we design two functions that are emergency for kids and baby monitor, users could use remotely control system connecting your mobile phone in order to keep family member safety. The bracelet could remind users what you should do after the light is lit up.

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Scenarios

The scenarios show two functions which are the baby monitor and emergency for kids when users are using the bracelet or clip. The function of baby monitor is a convenient way to take care of baby instantly, when users go out for dinner or deal with other things, you just set up the system then contact it to your mobile phone through the WIFI, and you could get the baby’s condition in real time. The function of emergency for kids illustrates the situation about when kids lost, the kids just press the emergency button in bracelet, it will through the Wi-Fi signal deliver to your parents’ phone, according to the Google map they could look for them easily.

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Video

Our video illustrates how to operate the functions of lighting, TV and music remotely, the first lighting and TV function show how users could press the bracelet button in order to turn on the lights before the user comes back home, then when the user opens the door of her home, she will feel the home welcome them and the sense of warm companionship. In addition, we use cameras to operate and monitor the surroundings of home. If users have a business trip for a long time, they can open these home appliances as well because it can pretend owners at home in order to prevent the thief. The third one is music function when they are drinking and reading they can switch on the music remotely with an easy action by pressing the button of the device, the device will show the function and the user can choose the music function and they could enjoy the music at the same time.

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Devices Interface

As the main purpose of the 1n touch concept is to simplify the use of and interaction with smart technology, the design and interface of the bracelet and clip were also kept as clean and simple as possible. Both devices feature an identical interface layout, as they were designed with the same functionality in mind.

The interface itself is divided into four different parts that allow a logical and seamless interaction with the 1n touch. The first point of contact is the round and indented ‘select’ button, located on the longitudinal centreline of the front surface, which allows the selection of one or more of the five on-demand functions saved on the device. When the desired function is selected, the multi-colour LED display shows a simple message to ask the user whether the function should be activated. By pressing the semi-circular ‘confirm’ buttons, arranged symmetrically on each side of the ‘select’ button, the user can then confirm and activate the selected function. Whether a function is active is indicated by the five ‘function’ LEDs, which each have a different colour ‒ one colour for each individual function.

A Seebeck element is situated on the back of each 1n touch device to extend the charging cycle by generating electricity using the heat difference between the users’ skin and the surrounding air.

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Devices Interface

As the main purpose of the 1n touch concept is to simplify the use of and interaction with smart technology, the design and interface of the bracelet and clip were also kept as clean and simple as possible. Both devices feature an identical interface layout, as they were designed with the same functionality in mind.

The interface itself is divided into four different parts that allow a logical and seamless interaction with the 1n touch. The first point of contact is the round and indented ‘select’ button, located on the longitudinal centreline of the front surface, which allows the selection of one or more of the five on-demand functions saved on the device. When the desired function is selected, the multi-colour LED display shows a simple message to ask the user whether the function should be activated. By pressing the semi-circular ‘confirm’ buttons, arranged symmetrically on each side of the ‘select’ button, the user can then confirm and activate the selected function. Whether a function is active is indicated by the five ‘function’ LEDs, which each have a different colour ‒ one colour for each individual function.

A Seebeck element is situated on the back of each 1n touch device to extend the charging cycle by generating electricity using the heat difference between the users’ skin and the surrounding air.

Devices Interface 27

Software Interface

Making the process of interacting with smart technology easier begins with the 1n touch setup software. To cope with a wide range of users, from inexperienced to advanced, the software has an easy-to-use step-by-step interface that guides the user through the different setup stages.

The first step is the smart home synchronisation ‒ after clicking the ‘synchronise’ button the software automatically synchronises all smart devices in the users’ house and links them to the 1n touch. At the second stage the user is given a choice to enter either the ‘standard’, or the ‘advanced’ menu. In the ‘standard’ menu the user can pick five on-demand functions from a pre-defined list, or buy additional functions from the BT store, while the ‘advanced’ menu gives experienced users the option to create own customised functions. Once the desired functions have been defined, the software displays the functions next to a colour code, with one colour assigned to each function. By confirming this stage, and by clicking the ‘finished’ button, functions and colour code are saved onto the device and the 1n touch is ready to go.

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Software Interface 29

Colour & Style 30

Colour & Style 31

Marketing

The concept of the website is focused on using BT's home page to advertise our product, put our product in the middle of the BT's products link, help users notice our new product. We do not design other website page for our product, because we consider about users behavior, we do not want to change their process when the users surf BT's website.

We also design another page, it is the entrance for our product information, users may get used to BT's product information link. We just add our product into the original page, want not only let users notice our product but also do not change their feeling when they surf BT's website.

The concept of In Touch App Store bases on the customization and user-centered design.Our smart device can implement 5 functions and for each function users can download corresponding App depending on their various needs.

Also we found that BT produces smart device such as smart TV and provide some internet packages but each product and service do not connect together. This App store intends tocombinethe other BT products andservice and try to build a BT smart system to ensure the users have a better smart home experience.

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Marketing 33

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