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RECOGNITION: Finalists (Top 8) in
ME-TIME
solution
The Team
Nikita Bhatnagar
Nidhi Kastiya
Khushali Parekh
Preshita Deshmukh
My Role
User Research + IA
Wireframing
Conceptualisation
App Design
Product Design
User Testing
Project Duration
4 months
April 2021 - Aug 2021
Tools Used
Miro
InVision
Google Forms
Adobe XD
Fusion 360
Arduino
Working from home isn’t easy, even for those who have been doing it for years. There are a lot of parameters to look at, such as, distractions, from chores to pets to families. Working mothers in particular have been facing a plethora of challenges that come with working from home. At work she is an employee, however when working from home she is juggling between the identities of a wife, daughter-in-law and mother all while trying to do her best on the job.
The aim of this project was to think about ways that would benefit people, specifically WFH mothers, to work peacefully, and be productive.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
Mothers with children aged 6-9 years want to not feel guilty for sacrificing work over their family and vice versa by setting up clear boundaries with their family that are acknowledged and respected.
RESEARCH
Fighting the internal battle of doing the best as an employee, a wife, a daughter and most importantly a mother can be overwhelmingly exhausting. Moreover, venting out may also not be an option for many owing to the lack of a support system, perpetual guilt and the already existing stigma around mental health in our country. To aggravate this further, owing up to struggles with mental health is a decision to be made, since this was her “duty” in the first place. For others being oblivious of deteriorating mental health or trivializing the reality of her struggles is part of the denial. Such dichotomous monologues can be extremely isolating for when she needs it the most.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
BRAINSTORMING
PRIMARY RESEARCH
Observing the users and their environment was critical in understanding the problems they face. We observed that most mothers would work in a common area as they did not have a designated workspace. They had utilised their dining table or living room as their work environment. We also noticed the objects they had in their surroundings along with their child’s belongings and toys.
We interviewed moms who were: Professors, Money/Tax Fraud investigators, NGO director & Senior in Customer Relations
BEHAVIOURAL INSIGHTS
KEY INSIGHTS
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Guilty of not being able to give it their all in all areas of life
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Family not understanding the seriousness of her work
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Society judgement: career vs family priority
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At home but not being available for her family
WHAT'S NEW?
WHY US?
FINAL
CONCEPT
USER #3
" It would be nice if my house workload could be divided somehow"
USER #1
" I get stressed a lot, nobody really understands how much pressure I have"
USER #2
" I don't want to yell at my son, but how to tell him that I have work and won't be able to play with him?"
A systemic solution that helps working from home mothers realise that they have the power to make time for their family and themselves while also making the family empathetic and respecting of her situation
WHAT IS THE CONCEPT?
4 ESSENTIAL NODES OF THE SOLUTION
Me-Time App
Home Assistants
(Alexa/Google Home)
Mother's Smart Watch
Wall Clock
EXISTING V/S INTENDED SCENARIO
TECHNOLOGICAL WORKING
LO-FIDELITY
APP SKETCHES
WALL CLOCK ITERATIONS
SMARTWATCH ITERATIONS
A low-fidelity prototype was worked upon using a NodeMCU board, heart rate sensor and LM 35 temperature sensor. The data was then observed and uploaded on thingspeak to get a constant data visualisation of the heart rate and skin temperature values. To indicate to the user if she is stressed or no, "you are stressed" is displayed on the screen and a led indication is also provided if the user does not see the screen.
HI-FIDELITY
BUSINESS VIABILITY
LEARNINGS
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When prioritizing user experience in the context of IoT devices, it is important to prioritize simplicity in interactions to minimize cognitive load for the users
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It is essential to implement effective feedback mechanisms to keep users informed about the status and actions of IoT devices
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By embracing diverse perspectives, we can create an IoT solution that is comprehensive, user-centered, and addresses the complex challenges associated with interconnected devices
