graduate school · Master's thesis
ABOUT THE PROJECT
- Calmdrive is my MFA UX Design thesis project at the College for Creative Studies, aimed at preventing road rage to enhance driver safety and road security. Calmdrive detects physiological signs of anger in drivers and calms them with a pre-recorded message from a loved one. The data is also sent to the Calmdrive app, where AI provides recommendations to prevent future anger.
GOAL
- To design a system that detects and prevents anger while driving, thereby enhancing road safety.
PAINT POINTS
- The display position and terminology on the initial wristband prototype confused users.
- The tedious processes and excessive text in the initial mobile app confused users.
CHALLENGE
- Programming sensors using Arduino and its related language for the first time, and connecting them to a physical device
OUTCOME
- I developed the Calmdrive system, which includes a voice gadget (seatbelt with a pulse sensor, wristband with a GSR sensor, and speaker for voice messages) and the Calmdrive mobile app.
- Usability testing showed that listening to messages from loved ones helped calm drivers.
- Enhanced the design based on user feedback, such as simplifying the onboarding process and making the wristband display more visible and less distracting.
MY ROLE WAS
- 100% individual project: from
research, user interviews,
and usability testing to prototypes.
TOOL
- Figma
- Arduino
- 3D printing
PLATFORM
- IOS App
- Vehcle Embeded System
YEAR
- September 2023 ~April 2024
Final prototype video
More in the Desktop.
You are now reading the mobile version of the site. For detail case study, visit https://www.juyoungux.com with a desktop browser :)
Have you or a loved one recently
experienced road rage?
Road rage isn't just dangerous,
it can lead to imprisonment, injury, or even death.
Calmdrive provides two key solutions
SOLUTION 01
Sensors detect anger signals, and the in-car audio system
plays a voice message from a loved one.
15 Seconds to Calm:
Your Anger Solution Revealed
SOLUTION 02
Track physiological data, get AI recommendations,
and customize loved ones' voices.
01
Physiological Data Tracking
You can monitor your calm score, heart rate,
and stress levels effortlessly.
02
AI Actionable Recommendations
Calmdrive leverages your data to deliver personalized,
actionable insights for a calmer driving experience.
03
Customizing Voice Message
Record a loved one's voice, use existing samples,
or choose from AI prompts.
No need to worry!
Did you finish recording?
Don't forget to connect your recorded voice messages
to your car's audio system!
How To Use?
Just follow these four simple steps
Order, Record, Pair, and Install!
HOW I GOT TO THE SOLUTION
Preliminary Research
Anger is a universal emotion
felt by people of all ages and genders.
but anger can be dangerous for drivers because it leads them into various risks.
Statistically, drivers are more likely to feel angry in certain situations. (The Zebra, 2023)
And incidents of road rage are increasing
annually in the United States.
However, it is possible to control angry driving.
Becuase anger develops in stages,
if you can recognize how your anger arises, you can prevent it.
Anger Management for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Clients: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Manual, 2019)
Wait, Are there any solutions available on the market
that help drivers manage their anger?
Yes, but existing solutions are limited.
User Interviews
I interviewed 9 US drivers to understand the problem better.
Insights
But I discovered key findings and insights
from driver interviews that led to design decisions.
Persona
I modeled the driver's persona
based on insights from user interviews.
Problem Statement
When drivers are overtaken by anger on the road, the likelihood of serious accidents, including injuries or fatalities, increases. Preventing drivers from falling into anger problems could lead to safer traffic.
As Is -To Be
The goal of Calmdrive is to prevent anger
from escalating to the explosion stage.
Prototypes
To achieve the goals of Calmdrive,
I developed two prototypes: gadgets and an app.
01
Gadgets (a speaker, seatbelt sensor , wrist brace sensor)
Feedbacks
Feedback showed loved one's voice messages were calming and the seatbelt sensor was comfortable. However, users found the wristband uncomfortable, especially the display’s location and terminology.
Therefore, I adjusted the display location and terminology.
02
Calmdrive Mobile App
Pain Points
After usability testing, I identified pain points in four areas:
onboarding, dashboard, recording guidelines, and goal setting.
Improving User Flows
Based on the results of previous usability testing, I changed the user flow from the initial three flows (Voice Message, Summary, Goals) to two flows: Summary and Voice Message.
UI Design Exploration
During the process of moving from paper prototypes to high-fidelity prototypes, I designed three different UI styles and collected user feedback.
Final Selected UI Design
I addressed the drawbacks of the final chosen third style
by providing enough space between elements to enhance readability.
Design Component & Style Guide
After selecting the final UI style, I created the remaining elements
and developed a corresponding style guide.
Final Prototype Video
Thesis Defense
I successfully defended my thesis in the presence of various internal and external experts, and the feasibility and usefulness of Calmdrive were recognized.
Frequently Asked Questions
What I've learned
😀 Working on the Calmdrive project allowed me to explore various dimensions of UX design, from technical components to design principles.
1️⃣ This project was conducted independently, where I undertook the entire UX design process from start to finish. This included research, problem definition, conducting interviews, prototyping, and usability testing. Managing each step on my own has proven my capability to execute a project independently.
2️⃣ Creating a physical prototype using Arduino, a pulse sensor, and a GSR sensor allowed me to test the system's functionality in real-world scenarios. This hands-on approach provided valuable insights that could not have been gained through digital simulations alone.
3️⃣ The process of iterating on the design and conducting usability tests was crucial. Each round of testing uncovered new issues and provided actionable feedback, leading to significant improvements in the final product.