Semester #2 Week #2 – From Ideas to Experiments 🔬

After redefining our direction in week 1, this week marked a clear shift:

We moved from exploring ideas to actually testing them.

Instead of asking “what could work?”, we started asking:

👉 What actually works for users?

🔬 Testing the Core Question - Does Vibration Help?

One of our main focuses this week was understanding the role of vibration in the experience.

We asked:

• Does vibration help users focus on their breathing?

• Does it reduce stress?

• Does it improve synchronization during breathing exercises?

To answer this, we designed and ran a user experiment combining vibration and a physical object.

Users interacted with a breathing pattern supported by vibration, and we measured:

• Stress levels

• Physical arousal

• Overall experience

The results were encouraging:

• Users reported reduced stress levels

• Many felt they could focus better without thinking about timing

• Most said they would use the technique again

This was our first real validation that the concept has potential.

📳 Refining the Interaction - Finding the Right Rhythm

Beyond “if vibration works”, we also explored how it should work.

We tested different vibration patterns:

• Single pulse per phase

• Strong vs. continuous vibration

• Variations in intensity and timing

  
  

One key insight:

There is no single “perfect” pattern - users had different preferences, especially regarding intensity.

This highlighted the need for adaptability and personalization in future iterations.

🍩 Design Exploration - Turning Objects into Experiences

At the same time, we continued exploring the physical form of the product.

We tested different shapes inspired by everyday objects and trends:

Croissant, Pretzel, Banana, Strawberry, Hamburger, Avocado

The goal wasn’t just aesthetics, it was:

Comfort in hand

Interaction possibilities

Suitability as a bag charm

We also started testing different sizes and proportions, realizing that even small changes significantly impact usability.

🛠️ Building Our First Hardware Prototype

This week, we also made our first real progress on the technological side.

We moved toward building an initial hardware prototype, including:

• Controller

• Vibration motors

• Basic interaction logic

This step was critical - it connected everything:

👉 design, interaction, and technology into one working system.

🧠 From Assumptions to Insights

Another major shift this week was in how we approached the project. Instead of relying on assumptions, we-

• Defined research questions

• Built experiment protocols

• Collected real user feedback

• Extracted actionable insights

This made the project feel much more grounded and data-driven.

💡 Key Takeaways

This week was a turning point, We learned that:

• Testing early changes the direction faster than thinking

• Small interaction details (like vibration timing) matter a lot

• Physical design and interaction must evolve together

• Users don’t always behave as expected, and that’s where the real learning happens

🔜 What’s Next?

Moving forward, we will continue refining all three main axes:

• Interaction - improving the breathing guidance and vibration logic

• Design - iterating on shapes, sizes, and usability

• Technology - stabilizing and improving the hardware prototype

Our goal is to move toward a more integrated and consistent user experience.