SamTap

ABOUT THE PROJECT

A productivity and presentation skills wearable app for office workers.

This project is a collaboration with Samsung R&D Canada. Since 2013, SRCA has been working on cloud technologies related to mobile security, business solutions, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.

Timeline
Jan - April 2020

My Role
UX Researcher and Designer

Client
Samsung R&D Canada

Problem

  • Office workers need an easy way to navigate PowerPoint presentations, as current methods like remote clickers and keyboard shortcuts are unreliable.

  • Several office workers have reported issues with remote clickers, such as malfunctions and skipping slides. Using the keyboard can also be disruptive during presentations.

Solution

Develop a wearable app to enhance office workers productivity and improve their presentation experience.

Challenges

  • Designing content for wearables, which have a small circular display, limited information density, and short battery life.

  • Incorporating principles of scannability for smooth interactions.

  • Ensuring the UI design aligns with Tizen UI patterns and Google’s brand.

Brainstorming app ideas

I used The Design Sprint methodology to design, prototype, and test ideas with users, aligning us with a shared vision and goals. The first step was understanding the client’s problem and brainstorming ideas to address user needs.

Finding our target users

I identified market potential for Samsung’s wearable devices in workplaces, specifically targeting office workers. Designed a persona named Nathan to better understand user needs.

After conducting user research and competitive analysis, I identified key frustrations with presentations:

  • File transference is complicated.

  • Presentation setup is time-consuming.

  • Unreliable methods for switching slides (remote clicker, keyboard).

Remote Navigation

One of the key UX decisions I faced was determining how users would navigate between slides during presentations. To explore this, I proposed several options and conducted a survey among my peers, including 5 programmers, 6 designers, and 4 project managers, to gauge the intuitiveness of each navigation model:

Navigation Models

  • Swiping: Swiping between slides on the watch – swipe left or right to change back and forth.

  • Gesturing: Gesturing with the watch – moving your hand in either direction to switch back and forth.

  • Voice Command: Changing slides via voice control.

  • Tapping: Tapping with one or two fingers to switch slides.

Wireframe and Prototyping

The evolution of our design concepts, starting from low-fidelity sketches to more detailed mid-fidelity designs.

User Testing

Digital Prototype

Conducted user testing with a mid-fidelity digital prototype on the Samsung watch, receiving feedback from participants.

Expert Review

Samsung's design team provided feedback on the prototype, leading to essential UX and interface design improvements.

Simplifying the User Interface

  • Prioritized and simplified settings, reducing the feature set.

  • Replaced the timer with a stopwatch.

  • Finalized settings: toggling on/off the laser and stopwatch.

  • Swiping was chosen as the primary navigation method for its intuitiveness.

  • Added the option of changing slides by rotating the watch’s bezel, leveraging one of Galaxy watch’s unique features.

User Flow

Insights and Takeaways

  • I learned to present and leverage research results to support design decisions and communicate with clients effectively.

  • Created user interfaces for smartwatches, focusing on simplification and feature prioritization for small screens.

  • Improved collaboration skills through cross-functional teamwork with designers and programmers.