ACADEMIC PROJECT | ANDROID
TecHome: Smart Home Control
OVERVIEW
Background
TecHome is an Android app designed to effortlessly control and monitor smart devices in your home. Whether you want to access, modify, or customize any smart device, it's all at your fingertips. I developed this app with one simple idea in mind – streamline control of multiple devices in your home with just one touch. Welcome to smarter living!
The Challenge
How can we easily set up and manage multiple smart devices in a home or workplace?
DURATION
7.5 Weeks
Jan - Mar 2021
MY ROLE
Branding
User Research & Prototype
User Interface & Experience
TOOLS USED
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Xd
Project Goals
-
Design a digital interface that is simple to use and navigate.
-
Provide a way to control, install, and monitor various smart devices through a single application.
-
Help user quickly perform actions like turning devices on / off, setting routines, and monitoring their electricity usage.
Design Process
To address the challenge at hand, I structured my design process into five detailed steps.
Idea
Research
Solution
Design
Test
Generate and gather ideas & Identify a pain point to
be addressed.
Study competitors and organize user research
& CJM.
The outcome derived from comprehensive research, including a UJM.
UI development for the product, including branding & wireframes.
Create a prototype and gather input from users.
RESEARCH
Competitor Analysis
I researched 3 popular apps: Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Home to collect information on existing home control apps, what they have to offer, the type of user experience they provide, and what does not seem to work within the app.
What did I discover?
-
Each of the mentioned apps provides a standard setup feature for "routines".
-
Amazon Alexa provides the user with a wider variety of options within the app.
-
Amazon Alexa is the current lead in home control apps.
-
Collective downside - the apps restrict users from installing devices from different brands.
⬇️ A mind map delving into the challenges and questions that might emerge when utilizing a home control app.
⬇️ And... some more mapping.
Positive
Energy saving options.
Increase in convenience.
Full control over smart appliances.
App personalization.
Fun features & customizing options.
Remote tool.
Higher quality of life.
Notifications.
Neutral
Installation costs.
Reliable internet connection needed.
Security issues.
Technology learning curve.
Maintenance & repair issues.
May not be suitable for all.
Privacy concerns.
Negative
Technology still developing.
Thrive more in later years.
Full control over smart appliances.
Waiting for more features.
Other similar apps out there.
Would try if cost is reasonable.
Research via Surveys
I assembled a group of 15+ participants and conducted an online user survey. I then used the gathered data to create a user persona in order to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, motivations, and pain-points of the target audience.
Focus Questions ⬇️
1. How comfortable are you with technology?
2. Which areas of your home would you like to be able to control?
3. Would you like to be able to schedule automatic routines in your home?
4. Do you like being able to stay connected to your home devices while away?
Let's take a look at the results
The majority of people surveyed reported that
they are extremely comfortable with technology.
93.3% of people reported that they would like to be
able to schedule automatic routines / themes / actions in their home.
Most desired areas of control in the home:
100%
94%
93.5%
90%
Most people said they would like to stay connected
to their home while they are away:
Now, Let's Define the User...
After gathering user insights, I developed a user persona accompanied by a corresponding scenario.
OLEG COLEMAN
BIO
Working father and husband that is
usually in a rush to work in the mornings.
His children often forget to turn off their lights and other devices in the house when he is away at work or business trips.
GOALS
-
Complete device controls.
-
Hassle free app with no learning curve.
-
Control all smart devices at once.
USE CASE
In the hustle of his morning rush to work, Oleg relies on the TecHome app to establish a seamless routine at home.
Navigating to the scenes tab, he adds a new routine by selecting specific rooms and devices. Focusing on the Kitchen, Oleg activates his smart coffee machine and schedules a timer, ensuring that his coffee is ready for him every day by 10:30 AM. Streamlining his mornings with just a few clicks on the app, TecHome brings convenience to Oleg's daily routine.
46
Data Analyst
San Jose, CA
Busy Bee
FRUSTRATIONS
-
High electricity usage at home.
-
Difficulty controlling all devices from different apps.
To develop features that would satisfy the user...
I created an empathy map for our potential user, mapping out a visual representation of their needs, motivations, and frustrations.
SOLUTION
Final Solution
The choice was to develop an intuitive application that provides users with complete control over all their home devices, regardless of their location—be it at work, away, or on vacation. This empowers users to manage device power, lighting, appliances, and monitor electricity usage in their homes with ease.
A major feature is the ability for users to create routines, allowing them to seamlessly control multiple devices with a single touch. Here's an example of how this interaction works:
Log In
Add Scene
Select Room
Select Devices
Click Room
Adjust Lights
Check Analytics
Establishing the Foundation
Once the user's needs and main features were identified, I created a simple user flowchart to visualize the experience.
BRANDING
Visual Direction
I whipped up a quick style guide to set the stage for the app's ultimate design. It covers everything from colors and main icons to the final logo. The color palette is aimed at making the experience not just productive but also friendly.
To do so, I used color psychology:
-
Shades of blue create a sense productivity and calmness.
-
Orange as the accent color to add a sense of cheerfulness and approachability- an inviting atmosphere.
Primary
#284C52
#396C74
#417D85
#F2F1F1
#FFFFFF
Accent
#D77559
Iconography
Logo
IDEATION
Laying the Groundwork
Following thorough research and keeping my solutions in focus, I kicked off the design process with sketching to shape the app's look and feel. I then translated those sketches into over 20 digital wires to outline the flows and initial layout of the app.
FINAL EXPERIENCE
Introducing TecHome: Smart Home Control
Splash and Onboarding
Upon opening the app, users are prompted to either log in or create a new account, with the app conveniently saving login information for future use. Once signed in, users are directed to the default screen, the home screen.
The primary navigation bar features four main tab options:
Home access to quick actions and room and device controls.
Cameras where users to view activities in and around their home.
Scenes homeowners to create automatic and scheduled routines.
Activity access to recent / past notifications and reports.
Home Page
This page is crafted to efficiently cater to each user's needs. It aims to provide an all-in-one section for easy access to features like device control, entire room control, and relevant general information. By minimizing steps required for actions or goals, we can ensure a smoother and more enjoyable user interaction.
Device Control
From the home page, users can swiftly access different device controls by clicking on a specific room card, aligning with the goal of maintaining an all-in-one section for quick goal achievement. The smart appliances added by the homeowner are fully customizable, ensuring they cater to each user's preferences and needs.
Security and Activity Reports
In line with my research findings, most users expressed a preference for having direct control over the security system and access to energy consumption reports. Consequently, I established a dedicated security section in its own tab, allowing users to effortlessly monitor cameras around their home at any time.
Additionally, I introduced an Activity tab for homeowners to check crucial notifications and statistical reports. The electricity consumption report is meticulously designed with clear specifications to ensure ease of understanding, reducing the time users would typically spend deciphering analytical reports.
Creating a Scene - Prototype
In response to user preferences, I introduced a Themes feature allowing easy creation and customization of automated routines. This empowers homeowners to control multiple devices with a single touch. The theme pages share the home page's layout for consistency, ensuring user-friendly navigation and a clean design across all pages.
REFLECTION
Final Thoughts and Learnings
Throughout this project, I gained valuable insights into the significance of user research. The process of thorough research proved crucial in overcoming initial challenges and steering me towards a design solution that was not only meaningful but also efficient. This experience emphasized the key role user research plays in informing and guiding the design process, ultimately contributing to the fulfillment I found in the final product.
Another crucial lesson from this project highlighted the significance of reducing clicks. My goal was to develop an application that alleviates users' daily frustrations while maintaining user-friendliness. Extensive research played a pivotal role, offering insights into homeowners' concerns and frustrations with complicated home control apps. Hence, I focused on creating a solution that enables users to effortlessly control multiple devices in their home with just a few clicks.
