This is the turning point.

For a very long time, the concept of ubiquitous computing has only been that, a concept. However, over the recent years, many ideas are starting to be implemented into consumer products. Numerous smaller trends based on ubicomp (ubiquitous computing) have started forming.

What's happening in the real world?

We are at the turning point where real users are slowly starting to adapt to the ubicomp lifestyle. But do we even know what the users are doing? This project looks to uncover the reality of ubicomp. I wanted to find out what consumers are experiencing today and utilise the information gathered in order to come to a detailed conclusion with a designer's perspective.

Right tools for the right job.

In order to approach the project in the most effective way, a bespoke process with methodologies have been thought out. Inspired by the 'double-diamond' research process, the 'infinite loop' takes into account that all data and insights have to be very accessible at any point of the process.

The grounded theory methodology is a way of collecting information initially and then distilling the data into a detailed 'theory.' The research can be seen as a narrowing cone, where large amounts of research are organised and compressed into a single theory.

DETERMINE

To obtain a wider perspective on current conditions of ubicomp developments, literature reviews and trend studies have been done. These methods help to cover a wide range of subjects in relation to the topic. This stage is necessary in order to quickly get a sense of what information is currently out there, and what research has been done.

DISCOVER

To gain primary data and insights, it was best to perform open-ended surveys. This allowed for detailed experiences with a wide range of users. After analyzing the survey results, unique characteristics of users are categorized into four general categories. Deeper knowledge is gained through in-depth research techniques like shadowing observations and AEIOU(Activity, Environment, Interaction, Object, User) observations.

DEPICT

Having obtained numerous insights and empathetic observations, a clear and distinct way to visualize them was through personas. Four unique personas were developed in detail that accentuate key differences among ubicomp users. Information was narrowed down through open-coding analysis, which tries to organize small data into larger groups to derive keywords and important factors.