The Challenge
This was done for a school project and so we had a limited time and budget.
The Design Thinking Process
Aim & Objectives
Aims:
- To design a smart, temperature-regulating pillow that enhances sleep quality by integrating haptic feedback, biometric tracking, and internet of things connectivity.
- To explore how somatic design principles can improve users' interaction with sleep technology.
- To create a conceptual IoT-enabled prototype that demonstrates the potential of smart home integration for sleep optimization.
Objectives:
- Enhance Sleep Comfort – Develop a pillow that adjusts its temperature based on user preferences and external conditions.
- Integrate internet of things Connectivity – Enable communication with smart home devices, wearable technology, and smart alarms for a personalized sleep experience.
- Utilize Haptic Feedback – Implement a vibrating alarm system as an alternative to traditional sound-based alarms for a gentler wake-up experience.
- Prototype Development – Construct a medium-fidelity prototype using Arduino components, temperature-modulating elements, and haptic actuators.
- User-Centered Design – Incorporate user feedback to refine the concept, ensuring the pillow is intuitive, effective, and feasible.
- Investigate Production Feasibility – Explore potential materials, manufacturing techniques, and cost-effective solutions for real-world production.
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Conclusion
Reflecting on this project, I gained valuable insights into the complexities of designing for the human body and the importance of balancing innovation with practicality. Developing a prototype rather than just theorizing solutions pushed me to think critically about real-world constraints like material sourcing, cost-effectiveness, and manufacturability. While there are areas for improvement—such as refining the cost and optimizing the integration of IoT features—this project has reinforced my understanding of how digital and physical interfaces can enhance user experiences. It also emphasized the role of iterative design in refining ideas into tangible, impactful solutions.
For more information, here is our prototyping plan:
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