Project Introduction:
IntroWork is an AR social networking product our team built in the MIT Reality Hack that provides convenience user experience. Our team's Product Manager, Siran, brough the vague idea to us that she wanted to build an AR experience that people can read others' information and have topic hints showing in an AR interface before they start a conversation with a stranger. This experience is inclusive and make the social networking experience become friendly to introverts. This is a product for introverts to network, so it is called "IntroWork."
Role: Mobile App Product Designer, AR User Interface and Experience Designer
Task: Mobile App and AR Experience designClient: Introverts who need AR assistance during their social networking
Problem: No current AR social app is designed inclusively for introverts
Date & Duration: January 12 - 16, 2022
Concept: Networking should be inclusive for introverts.
As an international student, our product manager had a "black history" of having networking in America by speaking in the second language in a foreign culture. Because she is an introvert, social networking in a foreign country was once a huge barrier in her school and career life. I, as an international student as well, can totally resonate with her thoughts and feelings. I feel our product is especially wonderful for international introverts who need to build their networks in America.
Hack Theme: Presence
Our interpretation of what is "Presence": Presence means to be mindful and live the current moment to the full extent. And we belief that being inclusive and encouraging all to be present will lead to a better future.
Our Mission
Make future networking experience at social events more inclusive and stress-free for all personality types, especially introverts, supporting everyone to be fully present and make meaningful connections.
The world has never been so awakened than now to celebrate diversity, empathy, and connections. However, the channel to build connections, social events, has not changed much since a long time ago. Something is missing… The biggest missing is the opportunities in social events that are around introverts.
Putting people in the same room does not mean meaningful connections will naturally happen. For introverts, the stress of approaching strangers could intimidate them. We need to make this experience better…
Problem Statement
Wouldn’t it be great to exponentially increase the innovative ideas and meaningful connections born from these social events?
Yes, but it is hard. Traditional solution is to put introverts through communication training, which is costly, not always effective, and hard to scale. It would be perfect if the introverts can have enough information and are no longer worried about feeling safe, being present, and making connections!
Our Solution: IntroWork
Where introverts build better network.
Our solution focuses on:
1. Stress-free
2. Inclusion
3. Data privacy
4. Accessibility
5. Sustainability
AR Experience Prototype Video
Brainstormed by team, filmed by Hengmo Hu, User Interface designed by me.
Project Design File Overview
All designed by myself.
Product User Type 1: Participant
Participants are the people who attend the events, like the designers in a career fair. The default status of a participant is "Open to Work." When the status is in green light, the topic hints will pop up on the right side to help the introverts to start the conversation.
Participants can switch their status from active "Open to Work" to inactive "In food coma" whenever they feel they need a break from an intensive social event. When the status is in gray light, the topic hints will not pop up and people will skip this person.
Product User Type 2: Staff
Staff are the people who hold the events, like the employers in a career fair.
Product User Type 3: Sponsor
Sponsors are the people who sponsor the events, like the tech companies who donate the metaverse equipments to the MIT Reality Hack.
Product Setting Screens
Networking Report in the Mobile App
Because we want to protect our users' data privacy, our app does not automatically save the networking report until the users request to save theirs by tap the "Save" button.
Mobile App Registration Prototype
Because of the concern of user data privacy issues, our app does not pull any data from any other social platforms, but just collect the data from the forms that the users fill out in the app.
Meet Our Amazing Team!
We won 275 dollars cash prize in the business competition, Reality Tank!
Reflection
Say thank you: I have participated many design workshops and a no-code hackathon before, and I could always learn new things from these experiences. But I really want to say thank you to MIT Media Lab for holding Reality Hack for all the XR enthusiasts around the world, because this hackathon allowed me to augment my imagination and explore the possibilities by making our own project, seeing other projects and using the cutting-edge technologies. I also made great connections with outstanding students from other schools.
For my next step: I reflected the shortcomings of my experience for this year. I feel pity for not bringing my own idea to this XR hackathon but just following with others to make a project. I plan to participate the Reality Hack for 2024, and I will do a lot of research about the social problems along this year. I will try to come up an idea to solve a problem for the mental minorities or disabilities becaues I am also a Psychology enthusiast, and I care about social equality. I will try my best to recruit my own team and lead this team to success.
Tools:
Qualcomm Snapdragon AR Glasses (Sponsor)
Adobe XD
Adobe After Effects
Procreate