Challenges and Target User
This project was highly research-driven. It required a human-centered systems design mindset as well as researching on a different scale. The initial phase of research was about broadly tracking emerging trends in urban well-being, as well as reviewing emerging interaction technology. The primary research focused on identifying what caring means for different city dwellers. The later prototype phase quickly phased into detailed user scenarios and focused on the micro-moments of how Phil can influence daily lives.
Objective
Philips Lighting is now Signify, a lighting company focused on connected lighting offerings bring light and the data they collect to devices, places and people - redefining what light can do and how people use it. They wanted to apply the emotional and abstract value of "care" to a concrete concept- light. This would have potential future products meshed into one system that would include everything from small personal lighting products to large scale light infrastructure within a city. We created the connected lighting experience of a futuristic "caring city" by pulling in aspects of both the user experience and the available technological infrastructure.
Caring City Values
Before I joined the project, my colleagues defined six synonyms for the idea of caring: accepted, accompanied, invited, acknowledged, assisted, and protected. We used these as guidelines to create the fictional personas of the “Caring City”.
Each fictional character is symbolic of a different generation. Mia represents Gen Z, Claire represents Millennials, David represents Baby Boomers, and Ben represents the Silver Generation.
Introducing Phil
Phil is the caring lighting agent. Phil communicates through a combination of Li-Fi technology and smart material surfaces, interacting with its users everywhere from home, to work, to public urban spaces. The video below was made during the later phases to explain Phil’s interaction language.
Case Scenario Movies
Use 'Invited' ( one out of six synonyms of “caring”) as an example cue to see how Phil plays a role in users' daily lives.
I mainly participated in the first round of the filmmaking process, and designed the interaction graphics used in the films based on the scenarios described in Word documents. Check out the full final version video here.
For David (Baby Boomer), Phil maps his preferences from his hometown to the new city, compiling a list of nearby museums, restaurants, and bars that he would like.
For Mia (Gen Z), Phil helps her meet and chat with others who have similar interests, using Mia’s digital profile and indoor ambient lighting, helping to bring people together.
For Ben (Silver Gen), Phil shows him how to use technology to facilitate in-person socializing, strengthening their community ties.