WIP boards for Project Modai (http://projectmodai.tarng.com)

2. Current mobile devices The problem
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MO.
Mobile technology is always evolving. However, devices are still just chunks of Most are discarded and replaced after
metal and plastic that lack any human only 18 months.
Recent advances in touch screen interactions have made qualities, and thus there is no deep
using mobile devices fun and enjoyable. emotional connection between user
and device.
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3. The solution
Project Modai explores a future user
interface and industrial design of a
mobile device. It attempts to lengthen
and enhance the relationship between
you and your device through forging an
emotional connection.
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4. The brand
The Modai brand is youthful, energetic,
and, most importantly, human.
These principles guided the emotive
qualities of the user interface design
and the industrial design
Logo
The logo represents the social and work
paradigms of everyday life, and the avatar
in the interface that represents them. It is
playful and also references the use of fingers
for interactions.
Color palette
The colors are calm and approachable,
representing the friendliness of Modai.
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5. The 4 issues
The device knowing You knowing the
what you need. device’s needs.
The current app-based ecosystems on Current devices are limited in ways
most devices provide great content to get your attention: lights, sound, or
and experiences, but it’s tedious to vibration. These are either disruptive
wade through screen after screen of or ineffective, and hold no relation
apps. The device has no idea what you to the message the device needs to
needs, and that your needs change convey.
depending on the context you are in.
Meaningless Technological
interactions. advances.
Most interactions happen through Even with the deepest emotional
taps, buttons, and switches. For the connection, the rate at which
most part, the action itself has no technology becomes obsolete makes it
relationship to the end result, and the difficult for any bond to form between
interaction method holds no cues to user and device.
what will happen when you actuate it.
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6. The device knowing
what you need.
Content
Paradigms
Modai has two paradigms: social (Fundai)
and work (Prodai). This parallels with
people’s daily lives and the need to
balance the two.
Fundai Prodai
Modai sorts content to the relevant
paradigms so you get work emails when
you’re at work, and not when you’re
hanging out.
Like Superman
The transition between paradigms is
inspired by Clark Kent’s transformation
into Superman through taking off his
work clothes.
Pull the Paradigm Zip up/down to change Fundai Prodai
into and out of Modai’s work clothes.
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7. The device knowing
what you need.
Fundai The Avatar
is a humanized representation of
the device status. (More about
Volume slider
sits on top of the earpiece slot, utilizing
Modai OS is a dynamic, human user this later). feedforward to indicate its action.
interface that gives you exactly what
you want, when you need it. Fun modai,
Fundai, filters and delivers social content
Clock
just for you.
indicates time through digital,
analog means, and the sun/
moon. Also accesses the alarms.
Widgets
change depending on your context. This Things to do
weather widget appears in the morning contains all tasks, appointments,
when you are planning your day. meetings, and reminders relevant
to the current paradigm. Also has
shortcuts to relevant apps.
Relevant item
contains items most frequently
used in your current context
(time/location) and things to do.
Repository
Message stream
contains all other applications on
pulls from many customizable sources the device.
including mail, text, Facebook, Twitter, RSS.
Giving you info you need, fast.
Paradigm zip
allows switching between the
social (Fundai) and work (Prodai)
paradigms.
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8. The device knowing
what you need.
Prodai The Avatar
is now indicates that you are
in the work paradigm: Prodai.
Professional modai, Prodai, shows you all (More about this later).
the content you need to succeed in your
work-related endeavors.
Paradigm zip
allows switching between the
social (Fundai) and work (Prodai)
paradigms.
Tasks
contains all your work-related action
items.
Message stream
pulls from the same sources as the Projects
Fundai stream, but filters out all lists out all the projects you
non-work related messages. are working on. Supports
collaboration on multiple devices
with shared task lists/deadlines.
Relevant items
contains work-related items most
frequently used in your current
context (time/location) and
tasks.
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9. The device knowing
what you need.
Here
Concierge
Modai proposes an area in the UI called In the morning Contextual suggestions Good night
the Concierge that delivers contextually When you wake up, Modai greets you, and Modai can give you suggestions based on your If you notice, this nighttime screen doesn’t
relevant content based on previous gives you the things you care about in the context. If you are at a bus stop, it may give have the weather widget. That is because
morning: what the weather will be like today, you a shortcut to the bus schedule. If you were Modai has learned that you don’t need the
usage and habits in different times and messages you’ve missed, things to do today. walking by the dining hall around lunchtime, it weather application at night (because the day’s
locations. would pull up the dining menu for you. Modai weather has already passed). The Concierge
cares and will try to give you all the information only delivers contextually relevant content.
you want as easily as possible.
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10. You knowing the
device’s needs.
Modai muscles
The peelstand is made of santoprene
with impregnated muscle wire within.
Peelstand The muscle wire can move by itself
and hold its form.
The peelstand allows Modai to physically
move by itself and expands possibilities
to tangibly interact with the user. It lets
Modai express its emotions and needs.
Muscle wire
is a shape-changing wire that is
electrically activated to move
on its own.
Lend a hand... or not
The peelstand can move by itself, or you can
physically actuate it.
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11. You knowing the
device’s needs.
Wake up!
Throughout the night, Modai slowly “gets up”.
It sounds the alarm at its apex, which you can
snooze by slightly pushing Modai back.
Kickin’ back
The peelstand also acts as a kickstand for
entertainment purposes: both ways.
Notifications
By peeling back ever so slightly, Modai
can indicate, face up, down, or nudging you in
the pocket, that it needs your attention: whether
it’s a text, a call, or a contextual suggestion!
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12. You knowing the
device’s needs.
Avatar Battery life
Not the blue ones. Modai’s graphical The avatar integrates battery status visually.
avatar visually represents the device’s The status is linked with the emotion of the
avatar, so it’s sad when it’s out of juice.
status, including the paradigm you’re in,
if you’re on a phone call, and the battery
life.
The avatar furthers the emotional
connection with a Tamagotchi-like
creature you can bond with. Speak up
The avatar is also linked to the current
volume of Modai. The size of the mouth is a
gentle indication of how loud Modai is.
Current status
The avatar shows you what you’re currently zz
doing, whether it’s working, on a call, or zz
taking a picture.
Need something?
Since the avatar is a representation of
Modai, it knows everything Modai does.
Simply ask it through text or voice to find
what you want, fast.
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13. Meaningless
interactions.
Human
interactions
Put it to sleep
By looking at how humans interact with Modai’s capacitive sensors allow you
one another, Modai proposes a few ways to stroke and pet Modai to sleep (with two
quick strokes), instead of using a meaningless
to humanize actions, whether it’s shaking lock button.
Modai awake, or shushing it by covering
the speakers.
Shhh...
Whether you’re at a meeting or in class,
simply put your finger over Modai’s
earpiece or speaker to shush it.
Sh-sh-sh shake it
Shake Modai awake, just like you would
to another person. To prevent accidental
actuation, Modai can capacitively sense
your grip.
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14. Meaningless
interactions. Open and close
The open state visually indicates the need
to be charged, and the closed state is a
pleasant visual detail. You can still push
it open with the charger, even when the
I’m hungry!
battery isn’t low.
Modai is equipped with a charge port that
magnetically opens and closes. When
open, a red interior is revealed, similar to
a child saying “Ahh!”.
This physical interaction is deeply linked
to the digital interaction of the avatar.
Say “Ahh!”
Modai is equipped with a magnetic
charge port with 3 prongs for quick
and easy charging. When battery is Digital + Physical
low, the port automatically opens to The charge port is connected with the avatar.
physical cue you to charge Modai. The digital seamlessly integrates with the
physical to create a cohesive experience.
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15. Technological
advances. Say “Cheese” Audiophile
10.1 Megapixels, Miniature speakers,
200 ISO, f/1.4. auditorium sound.
Modular
internals
To circumvent the problem of outdated
technology, Modai has modular,
upgradable internals. Simply peel back
the peelstand, and pull the tab to
release the internals. Battery
Packs of paper-thin
batteries last you days.
Modular Modai
The simple design of the internals allows
customization, upgrading, and lengthens
the lifetime of the device significantly while
adding a bit of your personal flavor
to the hardware.
Hello? RAM
Stereo-quality
Faster and faster.
recordings.
CPU
Modai’s brain.
What about the others?
The rest of the components evolve slower, and
reside within the base: antenna, vibration motor,
accelerometer, etc.
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16. Technological
advances.
Step 2
Swap out the old parts, and
install your new hardware.
Step 1
Purchase your new parts.
Step 3
Mail the old parts back with the
same box. Simple!
A sustainable
ecosystem
Modular internals open up the possibility
for a friendly ecosystem between you and Beautiful
Modai’s manufacturers. and up to date.
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17. A human device
Project Modai is an exploratory design to inspire
discussion of what could be, and how, with new
technologies, we can begin to think of our electrical
companions as more than a tool, but a friend.
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