Est & Co / 01
Empathic / Sensory / Technology
01 is designed for helping the user improve overall sleep experience and quality include reduce sleep latency, enhance deep sleep, reduce wake-up drowsy by utilising sound therapy, light effect and techniques from cognitive behaviour therapy. Additionally, the app contains various ambient themes (light effect, sound) which empowering other activities, such as relaxation, focus, and meditation. The device also could be used as a Bluetooth speaker and pendant light.
Background
There was a growing awareness of how crucial a decent night’s sleep is to health and productivity, and more people were seeking help for sleep improvement.
Although there has been an increase in the number of solutions, which address sleep difficulties, many of these products do not adequately address users need from functional and user experience perspectives. Over sixty per cent of people with sleep issues have at least two sleep issues, and these issues often change without presage. Current solutions are mainly focused on a single issue, which leads to an incomplete and ineffective result.
Additionally, the current products lack consideration on user experience and integration with the domestic environment.
Research phases
Literature research: Social background, Root of the issues, Sleep physiology/mechanisms/biology, Environmental impact, Health risk
Interview: Professor. Dorothy Bruck (Chairwoman of the Sleep Health Foundation), Professor. Nikcholas Glozier (Professor of Psychological Medicine at University of Sydney),Two people with consistent quality sleep, three people with bad sleep quality.
Guided tour: visited three people's home at evening/night. Observe their activities, living environment,
with prepared questions
Brain storming: with two Co-designer, identified the opportunity and challenge for future design solution.
Collage: with two Co-designer, identified the connection between certain visual element and emotional response.
Solution
01 utilise effective techniques based on profound scientific research.
Sleep physiology behind 01:
Human has five stages of sleep; Sleep circle is the alternation of NREM(include two light stages and two deep stages) and REM. Stage1& 2 are light sleep stages, and awakening is relatively easy during this stage. Stage three&four are deep sleep stages. Most of the healing and restoring process starts at this stage. Only the delta waves remain in the brain.
REM sleep(Rapid eye movement), dreaming stage. Awakening at this stage could cause a groggy feeling.
Light effect:
Dim light condition(at 2500K) have a noticeable impact on increasing sleepiness and has less impact on Melatonin secretion. And the higher light temperature has a strong effect on suppressing melatonin, and make us alert.
Sound effect:
Utilising lullaby-like, rhythmically dominated with gradually decreasing tempo music(42-65 beats/minute) help user unwind and transit into a relaxed state. Then use White-noise masking intrusive sound and reduce users emotional response. Utilising Pink noise synchronises delta wave, help people have more stable sleep condition via encouraging brain activity into a low complex level.
Techniques from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:
Active guidance which the app will guide user fall asleep easier, stimulus control: Analysis and control the home environment. Relaxation include integrated sound & light effect, breathing & meditation guide & visualisation.
01 integrates these techniques into three phases: Pre-bed Unwind, Deep sleep Enhancement and Naturally Awakening, which synergise the effectiveness of the techniques.
Form
The pendant light could creates the subtle and immersive ambient effect, which synergise the effectiveness of light therapy.
However, through the interview and test with the target users, some of the users mentioned that the pendant installation is difficult and unpractical for some users, especially house tenant.
The form of 01 allows it could be used as a pendant or a table lamp, which gives the flexibility to the user. When used as a table lamp, once the device detects itself to be placed on the surface, soundbar separates the music into vocal and ambient sound. Downward speakers play ambient sound, and the sound bounces off the contact medium, which produces well-defined audio tones.
The internal components include two woofers and two tweets to make sure the device provides balanced and outstanding audio quality. A color LED chip could achieve over millions of colors, up to 1100 Lumens brightness. Color temperature from 2200K to 9000K. A contact-less sleep monitor. The programmable detection range up to 5 meters, regardless of sleeping position. The signal can see through obstacles such as duvets and clothes.
In order to maximise the acceptance, flexibility and satisfy the need for various demographic and room condition, a series colors (Ocean 127# Afterglow 033# Monstera 276#) and accessories ( standing lamp leg, adjustable cable seal) are designed to offer extra usability.
Prototype
The process includes foam modelling for form and detail exploration, quick 3D print model test, and final refined, one to one scale model.
Most of the user interaction with the product will through the app. The app will include Device settings,Scenes, Sleep detail and support for user’s different goal. The main function is sleep, but also it could support user for study/working sessions base on the 'Pomodoro' technique. and Support for Meditation session. 01 use sound and light as indicator to help user have more engaged session.
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