Connected Devices/Projects/Smart Displays

Project Smart Displays
Author(s)
Mozilla
Released
2016.05.18 (Initial Pitch)
2016.06.11 (Pitch Update)
Innovation Status
Stage1 (Validation)
Website
TBD

As the world moves towards the Internet of Things (IoT) future, many existing connected home products (home cameras, thermostats, lighting, door locks, smart hubs, etc.) require apps to be installed on personal smartphones, in order to leverage them as a display. The home is where many things are out in the open and shared among family members. Is the smartphone the best device for the connected home of the future? Should shared home devices be accessed by personal smartphones? These are the questions driving this new project at Mozilla: Project Smart Displays. We have set out to explore the role of displays in the home in order to understand what role they might play in the connected home of the future, where we will identify the opportunities for innovation.

Project overview

Project Smart Displays is onto a 8 week exploration where the first 4 weeks are to understand the real user problems or opportunities. Based on the opportunity/problems identified, the later 4 week is to ideate and come up with product proposals. Here's an overview of the 8 week exploration.

• Week 1 (July 11 ~ 15) - General research / Subject matter experts recruiting
• Week 2 (July 18 ~ 22) - Interview with subject matter experts / Research design, planning and recruiting
• Week 3 (July 25 ~ 29) - Field research (Home interviews) / Interview with subject matter experts
• Week 4 (Aug 1 ~ 5) - Synthesis / Ideation
• Week 5 (Aug 8 ~ 12) - Design sprint 1
• Week 6 (Aug 15 ~ 19) - Design sprint 2
• Week 7 (Aug 22 ~ 26) - Evaluative research
• Week 8 (Aug 29 ~ Sep 2) - Product proposal ready

Project status

• Week 1 (July 11 ~ 15) - Completed
  • Discussed Project scope
    • Screens as core touch point to be explored
    • Centered in the home
    • Look to deliver on human value beyond the utilitarian
    • Broad exploration during early weeks of project
• Week 2 (July 18 ~ 22) - Completed
  • Interviewed with 4 subject matter experts
  • Research planning and discussion guide completed
• Week 3 (July 25 ~ 29) - Completed
  • Interviewed with 4 more subject matter experts
  • Interviewed with 9 individuals with a mix of non-tech savvy, early adopters and extreme users in 8 households
• Week 4 (Aug 1 ~ 5) - Completed
  • In the past week, interviewed with 4 more subject matter experts and 9 individuals with a mix of non-tech savvy, early adopters and extreme users in 8 households
  • The research was designed to be broad in fundamentally understanding people's life at home with the below activities and purposes
    • Tour of their homes
    • Exercise with stickers and words to help guiding the conversation
    • What home is like now
    • What are the challenges
    • What is their ideal home
    • How technology can help them
  • Some emerging themes
    • de-cluttering
    • keep things organized
    • nudge me, make me better
    • spend more time with family
    • get unplugged
    • cooking / recipe
    • memories
    • kitchen seems to be the place people wants a display
    • dedicated devices
• Week 5 (Aug 8 ~ 12) - Completed
  • Seek a deeper understanding of how people think of being at “home” in order to better understand how technology can best fit in and how displays can be touch points into the experience
  • Half way into the 8 week program (now onto ideation stage)
  • 5 themes emerged from the 4 week research
    • Facilitate Shared Experiences (Better us)
    • Help me be Better (Better me)
    • Embrace a Budding System
    • Create an Inviting Home
    • Keep me Present
  • Explore into the better us / better me areas
    • Better routines/habits in children
    • Enhance family communications (in home or outside of home)
• Week 6 (Aug 15 ~ 19) - ongoing