Ian Goldstein

To increase engagement for ALOUD's online live streams and create a better experience for virtual users, we created Q&As, polls, and used storytelling.

The Library Foundation of Los Angeles struggled to retain virtual viewers after COVID-19. We were tasked with bringing not only engagement back to the streams but also making them more enjoyable. 

What we found was by prototyping an interactive live stream, we saw a significant increase in viewer engagement. This led us to our solution and plan to get and retain the attention of a virtual audience.

Our final solution involved prototyping and introducing engagement tools such as polls, Q&As, and storytelling to invoke emotional responses.

Wheelie is a mobile app and service designed to help elderly individuals. As people age, many become increasingly reliant on caregivers or family members for transportation. This can be due to mobility issues, unfamiliarity with technology, or a lack of accessible options. Wheelie uses autonomous vehicles to help elderly individuals become more independent of their caregivers. It also relies heavily on voice-assisted AI to allow the user to speak directly to a Wheelie agent. By integrating primarily voice interactions with autonomous vehicles, Wheelie provides an easy and secure user-centric way for elderly users to manage transportation on their own terms. Whether it’s a doctor’s appointment or a trip to the grocery store, Wheelie will be there to allow elderly individuals to rediscover their independence.

BMW Designworks tasked us with designing an intuitive and appealing on-demand autonomous mobility experience that addresses accessibility and inclusivity for diverse users. Through research, we identified a major problem: elderly individuals often rely heavily on caregivers for transportation due to physical limitations and inaccessibility. This dependence on caregivers reduces their sense of independence and leads to social isolation and missed important events. We focused specifically on the gap in autonomous mobility solutions that are unusable to users who are not tech-savvy or physically able to use them. The biggest challenge we faced was designing an experience that didn’t rely on physical interaction, but rather what we would come to learn is ideally voice interaction.

Our research revealed that nearly 90% of older adults who choose to stay at home over a facility require accessible and reliable transportation options. This led us into a deep dive on elderly individuals and their caregivers, and we discovered a common fear of using unfamiliar technology and a strong desire to keep their independence. We found difficulties with using smartphones, touchscreens, and navigating rideshare apps. This then guided our next research phase into mobility solutions. Through empathy and journey maps, we found that the elderly needed easy methods of communicating with an app, the simplicity of ordering a ride-share, and the safety of knowing nothing would go wrong. Through a mid-fidelity app created with Figma, we got feedback and knew the exact direction we had to continue on. After a final round of prototype testing and feedback, we knew we had our solution.

Our final solution is Wheelie, a voice-activated mobility service designed to give elderly users the freedom to call, ride, and exit an autonomous vehicle safely and independently. Wheelie uses a primarily voice-interactable system paired with a clear and easy-to-use visual display that avoids using any complex screens. Each screen uses large type, strong contrast, and bright colors, along with a hands-free vocal interaction. Once a user confirms a ride, they can share the itinerary they created with anyone. The live itinerary will allow the user to feel secure throughout the day with the comfort of loved ones and be able to monitor if anything goes wrong. The itinerary can also be modified easily through drag-and-drop interfaces. By the end of Wheelie’s creation, we were able to use autonomous vehicles to help elderly individuals become more independent of their caregivers.