ford experience
ford
experience
ford experience
Leveraging wearable data to enhance the non-driving experience of family car journeys, creating a smart, supportive system that seamlessly integrates into daily routines.
Leveraging wearable data to enhance the non-driving experience of family car journeys, creating a smart, supportive system that seamlessly integrates into daily routines.
Leveraging wearable data to enhance the non-driving experience of family car journeys, creating a smart, supportive system that seamlessly integrates into daily routines.
Role
SERVICE DESIGNER
Timescale
6 MONTHS
Project
MSc THESIS
Area
SERVICE DESIGN
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Ford Experience is an innovative digital-service system that enhances family car journeys by focusing on the “non-driving” experience. With Ford Experience, data from wearable devices helps create a seamless, personalised routine, adapting to each family member’s needs before, during, and after trips. The system intelligently combines data from each passenger’s wearable, adjusting the car environment and offering timely reminders—creating a connected and efficient journey that fits into every family’s unique routine.
Ford Experience is an innovative digital-service system that enhances family car journeys by focusing on the “non-driving” experience. With Ford Experience, data from wearable devices helps create a seamless, personalised routine, adapting to each family member’s needs before, during, and after trips. The system intelligently combines data from each passenger’s wearable, adjusting the car environment and offering timely reminders—creating a connected and efficient journey that fits into every family’s unique routine.
THE PROBLEM
The traditional car experience largely centers around driving itself, yet for many users, the moments before and after driving play a crucial role in their overall experience. For families, especially, managing routines around vehicle use can be challenging—coordinating schedules, transporting items, and keeping children engaged are just a few of the many logistical tasks involved.
Additionally, with changing family routines and the need for adaptability, there’s an opportunity to create a more supportive and personalised experience that extends beyond driving. This project focuses on these non-driving interactions, exploring how wearable data can be used to ease routine tasks, reduce stress, and enhance family coordination during vehicle use.
The traditional car experience largely centers around driving itself, yet for many users, the moments before and after driving play a crucial role in their overall experience. For families, especially, managing routines around vehicle use can be challenging—coordinating schedules, transporting items, and keeping children engaged are just a few of the many logistical tasks involved.
Additionally, with changing family routines and the need for adaptability, there’s an opportunity to create a more supportive and personalised experience that extends beyond driving. This project focuses on these non-driving interactions, exploring how wearable data can be used to ease routine tasks, reduce stress, and enhance family coordination during vehicle use.
RESEARCH
The research phase involved in-depth exploration of family routines and vehicle use through interviews, observations, and workshops with potential users.
Key insights revealed that families often experience stress in coordinating schedules and managing shared car usage, especially during busy routines.
Wearable data emerged as a valuable tool, offering the potential to support these routines by tracking and responding to users’ habits and needs.
These insights helps shape the project's direction, emphasising a data-driven approach to enhance the non-driving experience and make daily vehicle interactions smoother and more intuitive.
The research phase involved in-depth exploration of family routines and vehicle use through interviews, observations, and workshops with potential users.
Key insights revealed that families often experience stress in coordinating schedules and managing shared car usage, especially during busy routines.
Wearable data emerged as a valuable tool, offering the potential to support these routines by tracking and responding to users’ habits and needs.
These insights helps shape the project's direction, emphasising a data-driven approach to enhance the non-driving experience and make daily vehicle interactions smoother and more intuitive.
How can a wearable of a family car user measure data to predict and prepare them for changes in their daily routine?
How can a wearable of a family car user measure data to predict and prepare them for changes in their daily routine?
How can a wearable of a family car user measure data to predict and prepare them for changes in their daily routine?
Problem definition
DESIGN APPROACH
The design approach for this project used an iterative, user-centered process following a modified triple diamond framework. Starting with exploratory research, we moved through ideation, prototyping, and continuous user feedback. Prototypes were tested at each stage, allowing us to refine the design based on real user needs. This approach ensured that the final concept seamlessly supports family routines and enhances the non-driving experience.
The design approach for this project used an iterative, user-centered process following a modified triple diamond framework. Starting with exploratory research, we moved through ideation, prototyping, and continuous user feedback. Prototypes were tested at each stage, allowing us to refine the design based on real user needs. This approach ensured that the final concept seamlessly supports family routines and enhances the non-driving experience.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
During concept development, I explored multiple solutions to support family routines, focusing on ease of use, minimal screen interaction, and intuitive physical notifications. Initial concepts included both digital and physical elements, which were refined through user testing and feedback. As ideas evolved, we prioritiSed features that would seamlessly fit into daily routines, such as wearable-linked notifications and in-car adjustments. This iterative process helped us shape a system that is both practical and adaptable, enhancing the car experience beyond driving.
During concept development, I explored multiple solutions to support family routines, focusing on ease of use, minimal screen interaction, and intuitive physical notifications. Initial concepts included both digital and physical elements, which were refined through user testing and feedback. As ideas evolved, we prioritiSed features that would seamlessly fit into daily routines, such as wearable-linked notifications and in-car adjustments. This iterative process helped us shape a system that is both practical and adaptable, enhancing the car experience beyond driving.
THE SOLUTION
The final solution is a smart, data-driven system that uses wearable technology to enhance the family car experience beyond driving. By connecting with wearables, the system adapts to each family member’s routines, providing timely reminders, environmental adjustments, and activity-based notifications. This seamless integration supports busy family schedules, creating a personalised, intuitive experience that fits effortlessly into everyday life.
It consists of 3 parts:
Learning period: a 4 week period where the car will learn from your behaviours and routines, using data from your wearable to ensure an enhanced experience.
The Experience: the car will react to certain situations and adapt to different scenarios in your daily and weekly routine to improve your experience.
Adjustments: Adjustments to the experience can be made and added via the app.
The final solution is a smart, data-driven system that uses wearable technology to enhance the family car experience beyond driving. By connecting with wearables, the system adapts to each family member’s routines, providing timely reminders, environmental adjustments, and activity-based notifications. This seamless integration supports busy family schedules, creating a personalised, intuitive experience that fits effortlessly into everyday life.
It consists of 3 parts:
Learning period: a 4 week period where the car will learn from your behaviours and routines, using data from your wearable to ensure an enhanced experience.
The Experience: the car will react to certain situations and adapt to different scenarios in your daily and weekly routine to improve your experience.
Adjustments: Adjustments to the experience can be made and added via the app.
RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
The project successfully developed a smart, data-driven system that enhances the non-driving experience for family car users by integrating wearable data and user feedback. The final concept demonstrated the potential for an adaptive car environment that supports family routines with minimal interaction. Moving forward, recommended improvements include:
The project successfully developed a smart, data-driven system that enhances the non-driving experience for family car users by integrating wearable data and user feedback. The final concept demonstrated the potential for an adaptive car environment that supports family routines with minimal interaction. Moving forward, recommended improvements include:
Enhanced Onboarding Experience
To improve user onboarding, physical demonstrations of features could be added, allowing users to interact with the car’s capabilities immediately after purchase rather than imagining through text-based instructions.
To improve user onboarding, physical demonstrations of features could be added, allowing users to interact with the car’s capabilities immediately after purchase rather than imagining through text-based instructions.
Refining the Learning Phase
To improve user onboarding, physical demonstrations of features could be added, allowing users to interact with the car’s capabilities immediately after purchase rather than imagining through text-based instructions.
Data Collection Ethics & Future Tech
As the system gathers personal data, ethical considerations around what data is necessary and secure must be addressed. Additionally, integrating future wearable technology could unlock new, advanced features that enhance the car experience with emerging data capabilities.