Problem
While indulging in basic actions like calling and navigation, bikers face accidents. Even with intercoms in market, risk exists.
Challenge
Understanding the bikers behaviour, in order to enhance their experience. Not to interfere their relaxing moments, community signs and safety factors.
Approach
Multimodality with Gesture and VUI so they don’t have to take their hands away from the steering area and can still relax their arm cramps as usual.
My Role in team
User needs, Ergonomics, UI (Figma)
Duration
2 week (35 hours)
Sector
Automotive HMI, Smart helmets
DEFINE
Problem Space
Overview
RESEARCH
Limitations
Statistics
User Research
DESIGN
High Fidelity Prototype
IDEATE
MoSCoW
Usability Testing
Background
Academic brief was to add a gestural intervention to an existing experience. We chose biking considering the risk factors.
Heading smart helmets towards gestural interactions
Overview
With only voice controlled HUD system in the market, the new Royal Enfield helmet allowing gestural control for the essential riding information such as route directions, caller ID, and music. Reducing risk factors, enhancing experience and ensuring compatibility. For easy access, keep the smartphones in the pocket, eyes on the road and hands near the steering.
What, why and how has kids behaviour changed with the shift from traditional to digital games.
Let’s dive into the Research:
Interviews
08+
Types
Open ended (In person) and observational
Platform
In person
Interviews and surveys
Bikers
Youngsters
Long rides
Behaviour of Bikers
Insight #1
Neck discomfort
Neck discomfort while riding hinders any additions near the neck area.
Eliminate: Neural based controls .
Insight #2
Arm cramps
Arm cramps in long riders mean avoiding technology placement near the arms.
Eliminate: Gyroscope sensors.
Insight #4
Communication
So, eliminating gestures in the area which can be confused with something bikers normally do to communicate and comfort themselves is the key.
Insight #3
Sign language
Their use of sign language, also fostering a sense of community.
Similar to: Signage of cops ahead.
Four wheels move the body; two wheels move the soul”
- Anonymous biker
“
Age group: 18-45
Bikers community
Indian audience
Upper middle class
Road trips
1,58,954
Two-wheelers road accidents in India in 2020
6 Riders
Die every hour in road accidents, in India.
69%
Head injuries reduced because of helmets.
$1.6 billion
Head-Up Display Market valued in 2023.
Limited Field of View
Content on visor can be distracting, so HUD to be displayed only when required.
Brightness and Visibility
Visibility can be affected by sunlight, so use direct display on visor rather than the projected HUD.
User Interface Complexity
The visuals can distract user from primary task, so use minimal graphics.
Let’s define the problem and the solution to it:
MoSCoW to prioritize the features based on their needs.
55%
45%
Peripheral zone
Comfort zone
The Outcome
Mo
Must Have
Play, Pause
Volume
Pick up, End
Battery
Navgation
S
Should Have
Change Music
SOS
Make Call
Co
Could Have
Speedometer
Video Preview
Zoom
W
Won’t Have
Hold Call
Exposure Setting
Blindspot Detection
Prioritizing features based on their needs
Limitations of existing HUDs
Smart helmet
HUD displayed only when required or asked for.
For eg: Indicate a navigation turn before 100m.
Heads up display- Gestural control for the essential riding information such as route directions, caller ID, and music. Which is customizable and overlaid for easy access, so you can keep your smartphone in your pocket, your eyes on the road and hands near the steering.
Gestural control- Call | Music | Navigation
Flow of led at the bottom of the visor to notify the user in which direction to turn in.
Change in led level with respect to change in volume.
Haptic Feedback-
The Royal Enfield helmet seamlessly connects to your smartphone wirelessly. Use multi modality (gesture and voice commands) to tap into Siri/ OK goggle.
This feature also allows you to simply gesture the front of the helmet and you will be able to control and adjust the basic smartphone feature without moving your hand away from the handle.
Connectivity-
Multi-channel Communication.
If you prefer a private group conversation, simply switch to the community feature of our helmet. It supports a single or private group conversations within multiple riders.
Community-
#1 Multimodality is the new future
With the existing advancement in voice user interface, providing users with multiple mediums to access the product and enhancing their experience.
#2 Community and their emotions
Interviewing bikers and seeing their passion to ride, their respect for the community, and the unsaid rules they have amongst them inspired me to learn to ride a bike. So, hey, meet a newbie rider.
Learnings and Takeaways
Learned a lot about biking community and their sign languages.
See more project