Background
By addressing key challenges such as the absence of physical intimacy, emotional disconnect, and limitations of existing communication tools, this project seeks to bridge the gap between partners, friends, and family separated by distance. Rooted in user research and innovative design.
Team of 3
Yurong Huang
DourFan Fan
Bjarki Vidarsson
My Role
UX Researcher
Timeline
3 weeks (2024)
Tools Used
Affinity Diagramming, Sentiment Analysis, Arduino, WiFi Integration Photoshop, Canva
UX Research Process
Physical touch simulation will improve emotional satisfaction.
Tested wearable prototypes for tactile feedback.
Conduct
Methods
Objective
Assumptions
Synthesis
Bridge emotional and physical gaps in long-distance relationships.
Conducted interviews, surveys, and affinity diagramming.
Refined designs based on user feedback and insights.
Initial Research
Over individuals in long-distance relationships and international students in the U.S. face emotional and physical disconnect despite digital communication advancements.
28 million
1.1 million
✨ Current digital tools lack sensory and emotional depth✨
Screener
629 Qualified Participants
To gather insights, we utilized Respondent, a platform that connects researchers with participants from various demographics. We successfully recruited 629 qualified respondents, ensuring a diverse pool of participants who matched the study criteria.
64.5%
felt emotionally disconnected without physical presence.
78.2%
prioritized meaningful touch over video communication.
85.6%
expressed interest in using wearable technology to simulate physical touch.
70.3%
noted that traditional digital tools fail to replicate emotional intimacy.
Interview Coding
8 User Interviews
I used Teta to upload and code interview transcripts, organizing snippets by themes like emotional disconnect and physical touch. This streamlined analysis helped identify key insights for designing the wearable technology.
Interview Insights
"I think it would be really nice to actually feel like someone is there, like on the couch with you, so kind of alongside you. I think that would be important for those moments when you feel most lonely."
"Physical touch, for me, is essential. Even if it’s simulated, it would add a layer of connection that words or videos just can’t achieve."
"When I miss my family or friends, I always imagine if I could reach out and feel their warmth—it would mean so much during those tough times."
"The idea of being able to send a hug or a physical gesture digitally could help maintain those bonds even when we’re apart."
Affinity Diagram
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Synthesized insights into themes of emotional intimacy, physical touch, and technology's role in relationships.
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Repeated this process 3 times and refined our themes
Challenge
Problem Statement
How can we develop solutions to make long-distance relationships feel tangible and connected?
Persona 1 - Long Distance With Romantic Partner
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Persona 2 - International Student
Empathy Map
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I used an empathy map to dive deeper into the users' experiences, focusing on what they said, thought, felt, and did. This helped me uncover hidden emotional needs and pain points, like the longing for physical touch and the challenges of expressing emotions digitally. By visualizing these insights, I was able to better understand the problem and design solutions that truly addressed users' needs.
✨ People strongly desired a way to feel physically connected despite being far apart.✨
Ideation
Key Questions:
How can we replicate physical presence digitally?
What role can wearables play in enhancing sensory connections?
Prototyping Bond *All Prototypes Done By DuorFan
Design Concept: A wearable jacket integrating temperature-sensitive fabric, air pumps, and WiFi-enabled Arduino for real-time hug simulations.
Features:
Simulates warmth and pressure of a hug.
Reveals sender's body temperature for added intimacy.
Customizable fit and sensory levels.
Technology:
WiFi server for bidirectional communication.
Sensors for input and actuators (heater and pumps) for output.
See Prototype Here
User Testing Insights
01
Setup
Functional prototype tested with users in long-distance relationships.
02
Feedback Highlights
"Felt real and brought comfort during testing."
"Added an emotional depth that video calls couldn’t achieve."
03
Usability Metrics
High engagement and satisfaction with tactile feedback.
Areas for improvement included portability and ease of use.
Prototype Gallery
Takeaways
This project was a transformative experience, allowing me to delve into the intersection of wearable technology and UX design. Developing Appear taught me how to address emotional needs through innovative technological solutions, particularly tackling the challenges of physical separation in long-distance relationships.
As the lead in user research, my role focused on uncovering key insights through in-depth interviews, affinity diagramming, and empathy mapping. These methods enabled me to identify core user needs, such as the longing for physical touch and the challenges of emotional disconnect. If given more time, I would further refine the user interface and expand usability testing to ensure the product aligns even more closely with user expectations.
