Challenge: Apply design thinking problem solving to a current technological issue.
Digital messaging often provides a sense of control and digital confidence. But, what is lost when we text? Below is a montage of what your phone can see but your friends can’t.
People pick up on hundreds of facial/behavioral cues which are often lost when we text. This causes many users to feel they “can’t convey sarcasm via text” or they “are unable to tell if someone’s joking or not”.
So, how might we give texting the facial feedback we get from in-person interactions?
We propose Connext which provides the information we get from facial cues lost via texting:
We propose Connext which provides the information we get from facial cues that is lost via texting:
- Phone reads your emotions as you receive and send texts
- Keeps record of how different texts make you feel
- Allows you to send how you’re feeling and prompts others to do the same
- User-friendly interface built into the current iOS system (experience map below)
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- As you can see, your phone still has the same interface.
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- Open messages
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- Notice the bubbles next to your contacts, these represent the most prominent emotions you have during that conversation
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- Select contact to view a new text
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- Look at the chain of texts: it keeps a record of your last emotion (blue / sad). When you receive a new text it gives you the option to send your emotion with your response. The options (joy, surprise, interest) are best fit based on image recollection when reading the new text. (You don’t have to send an emotion with your response though)
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- You type “Awww…” and choose to send it with an emotion icon to let your friend know they made you feel better (just as a normal facial reaction would indirectly do)
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- What it looks like after you send: notice the yellow icon next to your text
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- You receive a new text. Emotions register and you’re not sure how to respond….You decide to send a decode request. Decode request allows you to inquire tone (which normally you get from facial cues). Before you respond you click the question icon.
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- You get a response! Whew! What a relief. Nothing to be concerned about.
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- Notice the emotion icon below the text (pink / admiration). Also, notice that the emotion options for you are opposite from the initial ones. This provides a quick verification of tone and intention and helps avoid awkward situations & long explanations that go on tangents
Kendall Ronzano 