Future Computing Experience Design
In this collaborative project, the team defined a problem in the current generation of computing devices and developed a product that would push the future of computing experience.
Our team consisted of five members, two from the Industrial Design Department at RISD, one from the Mechanical Engineering Department at MIT and two from Sloan School of Management.
This project was conducted in early 2010 and was sponsored and mentored by Intel.
User Needs Study
Extreme Users - We identified our target users as tech-savvy graduate students with high computing needs.
They are the ones whose everyday lives heavily depend on computing devices, as they use them for work, personal and recreational purposes.
The following are the four key user needs that we initially decided to focus on, after a series of interviews with our target users.
The following are the four key user needs that we initially decided to focus on, after a series of interviews with our target users.
Photos by Elizabeth McVay Greene and Boram Yi
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| 1. Streamline Work Flow | 2. Collaboration | 3. Physical VS Digital | 4. Ergonomics |
Concept Generation 1
Sketches by Seungkyun Lee and Boram Yi
Concept Generation 2
Sketches by Seungkyun Lee and Boram Yi
Selected concept: A one-part device that has a projector and
a virtual mouse integrated in the body.
Concept Generation 3
After going through a series of concept generation and selection processes, we narrowed down our focus to the inconvenience of current computing devices in collaborative work environment.
Project-based teamwork is becoming more and more prevalent in today's work environment; teams are often composed of diverse individuals, who belong to different organizations and physical locations. We anticipated that this type of collaboration would prevail in the future and found it important to improve information-sharing methods and experiences.
Project-based teamwork is becoming more and more prevalent in today's work environment; teams are often composed of diverse individuals, who belong to different organizations and physical locations. We anticipated that this type of collaboration would prevail in the future and found it important to improve information-sharing methods and experiences.
Refined User Scenarios:
I. One person working by him/herself
II. Several people collaborating, gathered in one place
III. Individuals collaborating from different locations
II. Several people collaborating, gathered in one place
III. Individuals collaborating from different locations
In addition to the projector, we decided that the device should have the ability to generate its own ad-hoc network, to which members of a team can connect, wherever they are.
This would enable collaborators to share and modify information in real time, even when they are physically dispersed.
Concept Generation 4
The projector and the laser keyboard are the magic of this device.
In order to adhere to that "wow" factor, we purposefully stepped away from obvious gadgety forms and explored more decorative, sculptural forms.
Sketch models by Seungkyun Lee and Boram Yi
Final Concept: "Tio"
Our product, "Tio," is not a laptop accessory.
Rather, it is a mobile personal computing device with advanced features that make sharing information convenient and seamless.
Model by Seungkyun Lee and Boram Yi
CAD model by Yulei Sun
The name "Tio" was derived from the Latin word "informatio," which means "idea" or "concept."
It reflects the device's shareable quality; Tio, due to its collaboration-friendly features, naturally becomes the center of conversation, where ideas are born and developed.
The name's simple and friendly sound also makes it memorable and approachable.
Illustration by Seungkyun Lee, Movie by Boram Yi
Music from Final Fantasy VIII
Music from Final Fantasy VIII
