You can hold your coffee cup while typing

UX Case Study

Tech Gloves

Personalized Typing Glove App

Solo Project

Responsibility

  • UX Research

  • UX UI Design

  • User Testing

Tools

  • Figma

  • Adobe Illustrator, After Effects, Animate, Premiere Pro

  • Google Forms

  • Canva

Overview

The Tech Gloves App is a user-friendly application designed to personalize the functionality of sensor gloves. It allows wearable typing devices to better meet users' needs for typing anytime, anywhere, by combining technology with personalized comfort, ultimately enhancing the typing experience.

Tap this phone screen or click HERE to test the Tech Gloves app

Problem Statement

This project began with a simple question:

Can I complete even one paragraph in this situation?

Using a laptop while standing in a crowded train

In a packed train, relying on traditional typing methods is inefficient

Goal

To find a solution to help more people achieve their needs of typing anytime and anywhere.

Design Process

1. Discover

The design aims to create a more ergonomic way of typing. People no longer need to carry a physical keyboard or keep their hands directly in front of the screen. Any surface can be an interface for input. Because the keyboard is virtual, users no longer have to worry about things like tipping a drink on the keyboard. This will reduce the need for users to replace keyboards or even repair laptops.

2. Research

Data Visualization

Competitor Analysis

Mind Map / Affinity Map

User Personas / User Journey Maps

3. Ideate

User Flow

Card Sorting

Information Architecture

Wireframes

4. Design

Moodboard

UI/UX Design

Branding

Prototyping

5. Testing

Usability Testing

Feedback

Research

In 2022, I conducted a survey with 12 questions and 38 participants to explore the use of wearable typing devices and air gesture controllers. Surprisingly, 89.5% of participants had never used these devices. Despite advancements in ergonomic wearable typing devices since 2001, traditional keyboards continue to dominate the market. People use keyboards in diverse environments and ways, but inconvenient settings and the need to maintain specific gestures for extended periods significantly impact typing efficiency and comfort.

Have you ever experienced a wearable keyboard, mouse or air gesture controller?

Competitors

I researched two wearable typing devices on the market and looked at online user reviews. These devices face challenges with user acceptance, including the need to learn a new way of typing, being uncomfortable to wear and remove, having limited multitasking ability, relying on flat surfaces which lead to mistakes in typing, and requiring specific gestures. Also, connecting these devices to other systems can be complicated.

User Persona

Name: Ada

Age: 26

Occupation: Brand Designer

Bio: Ada, a 26-year-old brand designer, commutes to work by public transport, and often needs to visit clients. With so much time spent commuting each day, Ada wanted to use that time for some text-based work.

Motivations:

  • It's impractical to open a laptop for work in a crowded subway car with no seats. Ada needs to hold the screen and type while holding the stanchion.

  • Carrying own devices to squeeze the subway every day is exhausting, especially if you have devices with similar functions in your office.

Goals:

  • Minimize the devices need to carry and carry only the most necessary parts

  • Need a keyboard that does not restrict hand movement too much and has no requirements on what surface it is placed on

  • Guaranteed typing speed

Ada’s Journey map

I created a potential user profile based on questionnaires and feedback from users of existing products. Users like Ada will only be satisfied with a product if it meets their performance expectations. A poor experience can make users feel the purchase was a waste of money and discourage them from using similar products in the future.

What users need is not a simple wearable typing device, but a portable and fully customized typing method.

— Ideate

Tech Gloves make a difference

User Flow

Features of the Tech Gloves App

Calibration

To adapt the Tech Gloves to users' different typing habits, I designed a calibration feature that lets users personalize the input method, fine-tune the sensor activation inside the gloves, and adjust the key width to match their typing preferences.

Connection

I designed the connection interface to let users monitor the real-time connection status of the typing gloves and other devices, making it easy to establish or disconnect the gloves from multiple devices.

Settings

For the settings function, commonly found in most applications, my design concept was to keep it concise and easy to use. I added a search bar to help users quickly find functions within the collapsed menu.

TechStore

Aims to streamline the process, enabling users to effortlessly compare and purchase products at their convenience.

User Testing

Due to constraints in time, technology, and funding, I was unable to use the actual sensor gloves for user testing. Instead, 5 participants simulated the glove fitting process and sensor adjustment through the app's calibration prompts. Participants found the app interface easy to navigate, and those who were initially confused were able to complete all tasks after retrying.

Are you able to complete all tasks of this prototype test?

Which tasks or steps do you find difficult?

What People Are Saying

“If there were an app like this, I would be more courageous to spend money on typing gloves.”

—Tester, Mother of Two

“Not bad. Can it be used as a mouse? Maybe add a massage function :P”

— Tester, College Student

“It doesn't look difficult, but I'm still worried that my finger muscles won't be able to support all the operations. I want to try an actual product.”

— Tester, About to Retire

A few thoughts when designing this App

In this project, my aim is to showcase the inclusivity of technology and encourage more individuals to explore new tech products. I selected Zen Dots, a font with a futuristic vibe drawn from various sci-fi movie eras, blending different shades of blue to infuse the logo with a tech-savvy aesthetic. This logo merges a glove image with the product initials, while the array of rectangles within symbolize diverse finger dexterity. The goal of the Tech Gloves App is to tailor the gloves to accommodate users' unique hand conditions and ensure efficient typing experience.