Key Skills: Product Design, Interaction Design
Project Team: Programmer
Tools: Arduino, RFID, Laser Cutter, C++, Illustrator
Duration: 15 Weeks
Deliverables: Smart Bag Physical Prototype
Center for Student Research Scholarship
What Is GOGO Bag?
A smart bag to notify users when their items are missing.
The hectic modern lifestyle can lead to distraction and forgetfulness. No matter how organized and prepared people attempt to be, sometimes they forget stuff. GOGO Bag is not just a simple bag for everyday belongings; it is a smart bag to notify users when their items are missing.
Design Goals
GOGO Bag's main goals are to:
► GOGO Bag will save users time, energy, and money
► Reduce daily stress that can ultimately lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, and lack of focus
► Restricting the rate of forgetting and losing
► Reduce daily stress that can ultimately lead to depression, anxiety, irritability, and lack of focus
► Restricting the rate of forgetting and losing
How does It work?
The bag works with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The RFID reader collects information from corresponding RFID tags that attach to selected items. The bag would communicate with its RFID reader through Arduino UNO or Raspberry Pie. Users would be notified about missing items via LED lights attached to the bag. Users can designate which items they would like to attach to RFID tags.
Final Concept
Created a highly responsive physical prototype that will enrich social experiences with smart daily products.
Design Process
EXPLORE
User Research
The process began through research and interviews with people who forget their everyday belongings. I asked them about the practices that they have done to avoid losing their stuff and the amount of time, energy, and money they spent to reach or replace the forgotten item.
User Quotes
Themes & Insights
Comparative Analysis
Various methods have been designed to assist people with this issue, but people still struggle with forgetting. Thorough research, I found a few brands that follow the same goal but in various ways.
Tile is a small physical tracker that can attach to anything to help users find their lost items. Tile is not a sustainable device because of its non-replicable battery.
Result of Comparative Analysis:
GOGO Bag is not just a simple bag for everyday belongings; it is a Unique & smart bag to notify users when their items are missing.
Combined with other research of existing products on the market, I determined that users wanted:
► To have a simple designed physical product instead of applications.
► To know about forgotten items instantly without complications and annoying notifications.
► To have a product that monitors the missing items.
► To know about forgotten items instantly without complications and annoying notifications.
► To have a product that monitors the missing items.
DEFINE & DEVELOP
The Problem
Forgetfulness is part of human life, but its consequences are wasted time, money, and energy. More importantly, it causes daily pressure and stress that affects people’s behavior. It is extremely annoying to forget important and valuable personal belongings.
Concept Ideation
I decided to combine some ideas to design a handbag that can be used every day without using any screen-based device to avoid making complicated products. The main focus is to create a useful and easy-to-understand product based on the user's needs. I start sketching a bag with interchangeable buttons and LED lights, that could work with RFID reader.
Develop Electronics
The bag works with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The RFID reader collects information from corresponding RFID tags that attach to selected items. The bag would communicate with its RFID reader through Arduino. I used C++ and C programming languages to develop the Arduino. The RFID reader monitors selected items and notifies users about missing items via LED lights.
DESIGN & DELIVER
Prototype Creation
The Next step was to create the prototype. Interchangeable buttons are made out of black-painted resin and cut via laser cutter. Users can easily exchange and add their new customized buttons to the bag. In this way, users can select & attach any item.
Interchangeable Buttons
Users can designate which items they would like to attach to the RFID tags, and they can select future items that they intend to add to their bag for later use. The buttons are magnetic and light up for missing items.
Cut the bag to apply LED lights
Implemented the LED lights
Covered the implemented electronics
Usability Testing
I did 4 testing in total. From there, I gathered feedback on the functionality, visuals, and overall concept. Users found the bag easy to follow. They wanted bigger and cute buttons. They wanted a rechargeable bag.
Feedbacks & Iteration
Second Iteration
Added the On/Of and Reset sign to avoid confusion
Detailed Instruction to guide users
Bag Tag & simple step by step instruction
Final look of the bag
Final Product
The bag has a professional finish and perfectly functional electronics. GOGO bag could be more complete in the future by adding various functions and a related mobile application.
Product Storyboard
The user's experience of setting up the bag.
CHALLENGES
► One of the potential risks for this project I had was the RFID reader power and the read range to read each item with an attached RFID tag.
► Another risk was the weight, battery usage, and the cost of making the bag.
OVERCOME
► After a lot of researching & consulting with the specialist, I decided to use a Passive Ultra High-Frequency RFID reader and tags. The reader's power is supplied through the RFID reader.
► I decided to use an interchangeable button instead of a screen to solve this issue. Compared with LCD the interchangeable buttons are chipper and lighter. Moreover, they use less battery and look more attractive.
