The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of our lives, including education. As schools and universities reopen for in-person classes, students and educators are facing new challenges related to social distancing, hygiene, and safety protocols. One of the biggest challenges is communication: how can we express our comfort level with physical interactions with others without compromising our health and safety?The Glove Story aims to address this challenge by providing students with a communication tool that allows them to indicate their comfort level with physical interactions with others. The project consists of a badge that can be controlled by a glove and features four different LED light behaviours that indicate different levels of comfort.Client: OCAD University.
In my process work, you can see the evolution of my design from its early stages to its completion. The first prototype was focused on testing the switch mechanism, and once I had gained confidence in my code, I shifted my attention towards other crucial elements, such as the choice of fabric, wiring, and how to make the badge wearable.
To gather feedback and improve my project, I conducted a usability testing with three users (OCAD students - qualified audience) who had no prior knowledge of it. Analyzing the results, I was able to develop a better mechanism for securing the badge onto clothing and determine the optimal wire length for maximum comfort.
Upon presenting the final prototype to the class, I received valuable feedback that will guide the next stage of development. Inspired by this feedback, I envision taking the Glove Story to the next level by making it wireless. Stay tuned for Glove Story 2. 0.