Sentio

With a focus on enabling meaningful connection between older people and their loved ones at a distance, Sentio is an IoT ecosystem that blends seamlessly into the home while offering opportunity for connection via photo and audio.
Timeline
5 weeks
Course
Interface Design II
Spring 2023
Team
Lian Bensadon
David Schultz
Ocean Vu
Veronica Mendoza
Contribution
User Research
UX/UI Design
Prototyping

Overview

Physical distance, among other barriers, can make connection feel like a challenge. As people grow older, rates of loneliness and social isolation increase, posing a heightened risk for various mental and physical health conditions.
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With Sentio, we wanted to make connection feel possible through small gestures that let others know that you're thinking of them. The name Sentio comes from the Latin verb sentire, meaning to feel, experience, and perceive; through photo and audio, we aim to create a warm and enriching home environment which enables older adults to feel and experience the love and presence of the people they care about most, even when they are apart.

Design Research

Through several 1:1 interviews, our participants (aged 60 and over) provided insight on their experiences with IoT devices in the home, hopes and fears with tech, and their unique methods of staying connected with their loved ones from the comfort of their own home. From our conversations, we decided that our designs should...
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Exist primarily in the background
Sentio should look and feel unobtrusive, offering control to the user.

Encourage intentionality
There should be some level of effort and meaning behind the interactions.
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Keep things simple
Forms and functions of these devices should feel seamless and familiar.
"We save most of them, especially those of our grandchildren, so that we can see them again and again... whenever we want to or need to."
- Research Participant on using technology to exchange photos with loved ones while living overseas

Design Process

Form factor and key features were the primary focus in our initial sketches and prototypes. With photo and audio as our main modes of connection, we made it a goal to lean into simplicity and familiarity in order to increase learnability. Our ideation and design process consisted of sketches, storyboards, mapping out the IoT ecosystem, and three rounds of prototyping with mixed materials.

Why Sentio?

Connection doesn't have to feel like a chore or a challenge. Valuing privacy, control, and learnability, Sentio helps older people to overcome barriers of physical distance without the intimidation or discomfort that often comes with new technology.
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