Final Concept
Prototype
The final design for the headphones have a rounded shape and an subtle style that we believe will appeal to our target audience. The headphones illuminate when in use to let others know the wearer is unavailable, a need expressed by our research subjects.
The headphones snap together and then glow to encourage interaction and we hope facilitate a positive and emotional relationship with the product.
The headphones communicate with a ubiquitous system that stores the commuter's music and also delivers information along the route, such as when the next bus will arrive and alerting the commuter when it is time to get off.
The headphones also communicate with other devices, such as the commuter's mobile phone or PDA, which are typically stored in the female commuter's bag and not easy to access. The headphones act as microphones for use when answering phone calls.
The idea for the controls is that they would be integrated with any bag design, and not a specific bag. The controls rely on texture and fabric that recede into the bag's design, and thus are not intended to be a design feature.
The interaction of the control is based on the location of the commuter's hand and natural body movement and mappings. Every action must be initiated by first completing a circular pattern to prevent accidental use of the controls. To play, stop, or answer a call, the commuter completes the first action and then taps the center. To increase volume, after the initial action, the commuter slides her hand along a textured edge in an forward, diagonal motion. To skip, she completes the initial circular action then taps the top of the controller. For decreasing volume and going to previous song, the she does the reverse, respectively.
The bag has a built-in LED, based on Philips phototonic textiles, that is activated when she runs her hand across from one end of the display to the other. The display fades out over time.
Process Sections
The Plügg Team
- Jamin Hegeman
- James Chan Wook Lee
- Sook Yeon Kim