A 4G smartwatch designed specifically for seniors to seamlessly integrate into their daily lives. The primary aim is to motivate them towards physical activity, remind them of essential tasks, including medication schedules, and crucially, facilitate easy communication with their loved ones. Additionally, the watch incorporates an automatic fall detection feature that alerts caregivers in case of emergencies.
The development of the watch's user interface was a collaborative effort with a subcontractor of AT&T. Alongside this, I lead the design and creation of the watch's operating system and widgets from scratch.
The project's brief emphasized specific user scenarios, acknowledging the existence of similar watches in the market. Our focus was on executing the design effectively rather than reinventing existing solutions. We established fundamental principles guiding our development: accessibility and simplicity. The challenge lay in crafting technology usable by individuals unfamiliar with smartphone usage.
To achieve this, we formulated three proto-personas:
We meticulously mapped out use cases and translated them into user flows, providing a comprehensive overview of all necessary screens.
I employed a wireflow technique to transition from conceptual flow to practical design. Adhering to the simplicity principle, I developed an intuitive navigation pattern enabling efficient movement between different widgets. A simple swipe right reveals an app overview, while continuous left swiping navigates through individual apps.
In establishing the style guide, I prioritized accessible colors compliant with WCAG AAA standards. Although this approach may sacrifice visual flair, it significantly enhances contrast, crucial for an age group prone to visual impairment.
