Camera Watch
A watch switching weekdays and holidays easily!
Overview
CameraWatch is a creative challenge different from the previous Children's Smartwatch series. In addition to the essential functions, I hope to create a new experience for children.
This short-term project is based on the company's existing marketing data and experience selling children's smart products.
✨ I aim to redefine users' needs at different levels and enhance the parent-child relationship and peer communication through product and interaction design.
Project Duration
2 weeks (Aug, 2022)
Personal Project
About Time Technologies 2022 Q4 Idea Proposal
Method &Tool
UX Research/Sketch/Rhino/Illustrator
A New Solution for Safety and Communication Needs
In Taiwan, many parents are concerned about their children's commuting safety and want to keep in touch with them when needed. However, due to the content control of Internet information and avoiding addiction to games and cell phones, some parents do not buy cell phones for children aged 4 to 10. Nevertheless, children still need to communicate and control IoT devices, so children's smart devices have become a popular demand.
Addiction to cell phones affects learning
Network information is uncontrollable
Social networking sites even lead to Cyberbully
The marketing of Kids Smart Devices is estimated to have 40,000 to 100,000 users, with children aged 5-10 being the dominant users, with the highest percentage in the 1st-4th grade in primary school (aged 7-8).
(Data source: About time Tech Marketing Department Customer Feedback Survey)
▪️Percentage of children's smart device usage
▪️Age distribution of children users
Problem Space
Users who usually use Kids Smartwatch have the following questions:
✔️ Smart Devices for Kids have been unchanging for decades. Although the basic functionality of these communication-tracking children's watches can convince parents to buy them, children are not motivated to wear them continuously.
✔️ It is essential to consider how the products can increase the interaction between parents and children and deepen the connection.
✔️ We conducted user research to understand users’ intentions.
Research Process
Target Users
Research Process
The target user is children aged 5-10, but although the "children's economy" revolves around children, the parents spend money to choose which products they will purchase.
Nowadays, parents in the 80s and 90s are the real decision-makers regarding children's consumption, and their habits are becoming increasingly diversified and personalized.
Survey
To further understand the situation of Kids Smartwatch in real life, we asked about the participants' background, current conditions of usage by children, preferred features, and what new features to expect in the future.
1760 people responded to the survey, including 77% female and 23% male. Most participants were between 36 and 40, with the next highest age group being 40-45. Over half are office workers.
(Data source: About Time Tech Marketing Department Customer Feedback Survey)
Devices available for children
Priority of the features
Top 4 integrated features parents are expecting
🚴🏻
📸
🪄
📚
Health Monitoring (86%)
Camera (80%)
Customization (65%)
Education (65%)
Top 4 Kid’s favorite entertainments
Watching Cartoon (86%)
Outdoor Activity (81%)
Playing Toys (79%)
Playing Video Game (67%)
🪀
📺
🏀
🎮
According to survey results from parents and children,
💬 the product is supposed to provide extra value to meet the needs of children, including entertainment and socialization, in addition to the parents' basic needs.
User Demands
Design Goal — Safer Connections & Innovative Experiences
According to prior research, as many as half of the consumers (parents) who usually use children's location-based products choose Kids Smartwatch as a tool to connect with their children and track their safety. Its main functions have satisfied most parents' needs, but as the mainstream of children's innovative products, there has been a lack of change for decades and no new features to attract consumers.
Therefore, it is my primary goal to find other experiences that meet the needs of children and are acceptable to parents. I hope to add a new way of experience to the original product, which is more familiar to both parents and children and better for them to start handling.
From the questionnaire data, 80% of parents expect to have a smartwatch with a photo function or even replace the children's camera.
In addition, 81% of children enjoy outdoor activities, so the photo function can meet the needs of some children to take pictures on an outing.
💭 How might we combine children's camera functions with the original devices?
💡 There are three key elements to be considered in our design:
One-piece form factor without additional carrying load.
Corresponding accessories to meet the use of different situations.
Create a medium that provides an entertaining experience and interactive communication.
Ideation
▪️First round of ideation : watch+camera
▪️Second round of ideation : accessary for two scenario
After comparing the feasibility and usability of these schemes, I chose to go further with this scheme.
Meet CameraWatch !
Product with multiple uses
Turn the device around to change the usage scenario. The round button combines both the crown of the watch and the camera shutter for quick switching between the two usage situations.
APP Control Center
The interface is convenient, simple, and quick to manipulate, making it easy for children to use without learning.
Accessory for multiple uses
The watchband can also be a wrist strap, making it easy to carry around when taking photos, making it easy to carry when taking pictures. The reasonable length (16cm long) and hollow width (6mm) are suitable for most children's hand sizes.
Attach the strap with quick release lug and buckle
Users can fold the strap back through the buckle when used as a watch to adjust the tension. When used as a camera, users can choose whether to detach the buckle and strap or not.
Interaction Scenario
Kelly wears a smartwatch to class on school days. So it's easy to contact her family to pick her up after class.
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On holidays, Kelly hangs out with her parents or friends. The smartwatch used to contact parents on school days will switch mode to a small camera.
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To take pictures without worrying, Kelly unhooked the strap and put it on her wrist in case she accidentally dropped it.
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Kelly took a lot of pictures and sent them to her parents or friends via Bluetooth. Then, they shared the images and memories.
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When class starts on Monday, Kelly puts the wristband back on the watch's buckle and switches the mode from the app. The small camera returns to the regular smartwatch.
Takeaways
In this project, I designed a product that could easily transition this watch from workday to weekend and ensure a well-rounded experience for the user.
Although I've done some prototypes to verify the product's feasibility, such as proofing silicone watch bands and wristbands, I'm unable to get to the usability testing phase due to time constraints. However, feedback from actual children's experiences could help me revise the product and explore more potential needs.
In addition, we need a compact and high-quality zoom lens. Furthermore, we are still discussing the need for a camera module with our electronic supplier, taking into account the watch's mechanism simultaneously. Finally, for future improvement, I would like to conduct user testing and explore more interaction patterns and techniques for this product.