top of page
Introduction
In this project, humans and plants are connected by input and output modules via Arduino: input sensors are put in the plants to access their “feelings” which are then actualized through smart wearable devices with output modules. Enhancing the connectivity between humans and plants may allow humans to gain a deeper understanding and care towards all living beings.
In this project, I realizes two smart devices via Arduino, created 3D models to show how they look like, and completed a prototype in assist to device.
User Research
Gender
42%
58%
58%
female
male
Are you employed?
92%
8%
no
yes
Average age
Average number of plants
Average care for plants
Average hour spent on plants weekly
Do you need help to better look after your plants?
Have you killed your plants?
How did you kill your plants?
How do you feel about their death?
What kind of help do you need?
Competitive Analysis
Planta
APP
Goal
advantages
Informative guides
Sharing community
Easy plant care
Target User
one-stop-shop for all plant problems
comprehensive functions
strong interaction between users
disadvantages
Plant lovers
overwhelming information
Vera
APP
Goal
advantages
Individualized care Mindful parenting Regimen
Target User
help build human plant connection
disadvantages
Plant parent
with basic knowledge
new hand unfriendly
time-consuming
limited functionality
Flower care
APP
Smart device
Goal
advantages
Analyze plant health
Deliver plants’ need
Easy plant care
Target User
new hand friendly
disadvantages
Plant lovers
white sensor in plants aren’t visually
pleasing
measurement can be imprecise
Linkstyle
Goal
APP
Smart device
Water timer
Analyze plant health Automatic care
Enhance production
Target User
Plant lovers
Farmers
Gardeners
advantages
precise measurement
take care of plants while absent
disadvantages
uneasy to operate
higher costs
Causes of plant death :
Persona
Jeffrey Clark 26
Plant amount. 12
Weekly time spent 2h
Career
Junior illustrator
Relationship Status
Gay in relationship
living alone
Personality
INFP, open-minded
Statement
"I see plants as friends, like my 3-year-old Araceae named Aria. Talking to them, enjoying their silent feedback, brings me calmness."
Goal
more time with plants
Challenge
provide plants
a great home
limited
budget
limited
time
periodic
absense
Meng Lin 38
Plant amount 5
Weekly time spent 0.5h
Career
HR Manager
Relationship Status
Married with 2 daughters
Personality
ENFJ, enthusiastic,
conservative
Statement
"I like decorative floral plants. I'm new to plants, but I keep them to enhance interior design and teach kids to care for other lives."
Goal
keep plants
alive and pretty
Challenge
naughty
kids
limited
time
lack of
knowledge
Wireframe
Setting Up
Pages
User Test 1
Participant 1
Experience
straightforward design
clean outline
full-set plant services
clear guidance
Confusion
How do you deliver plants' feelings via visuals?
Solution
add cracks/lower screen lightness/pests/red in UI, in-corresponding to different plants’ issues.
when lacking of water
when lacking of light
when temp too high
when pests occur
Participant 2
Experience
clear process
intimation with plants
very caring
need for automatic plant
care product
Confusion
What pictures will show up in plant page?
Can I upload my own plant picture?
Solution
picture of plant will generate automatically with the species you enter.
user can upload the pic and update it anytime.add
Sketches
difficult to wear
the material can’t be very bendable and the gap isn’t big enough
not friendly to all
body shapes
the girth is fixed
Renders
Plant monitor
Smart device
User Test 2
Participant 1
Experience
help me become less self-centered.
Confusion
bring inconvenience in formal occasion
(e.g. business meeting, formal dinner etc.)
Solution
Long press the display screen to turn on ‘do not disturb’ mode.
Participant 2
Experience
left a mark on body for further reminder.
not annoying but bothering enough to be noticed.
better connect me with my plants.
Storyboard
STEP 1 - get plant data
Put a smart sensor in plant
To detect its health including light, pests, humidity and temperature.
STEP 3 - be informed timely
Learn more about plant situation in APP
Check which plant is having what issue, and the corresponding instructions and products needed.
STEP 2 - feel what the plant feel
Connect the sensor with the device
If plant lacks water, device raises its temp to simulate plant’s feeling, with signal light on.
STEP 4 - solve the problem
Follow instructions
Follow given instructions, and device will return normal when plant’s data gets normal.
Circuit & Coding
Input - Plant
All the data of the plant collected by sensors is transmitted and stored in the bluetooth(central)
1. Light Sensor
2. Temp&Humi Sensor
3. Collision Sensor
4. Bluetooth - central
Output - Device
Bluetooth(central) then transmits the collected data to bluetooth (peripheral).
Following coding, the LED lights, vibration module and thermostat will respond to the received data.
1. Bluetooth - peripheral
2. Vibration Module
3. Thermostat
Prototype
Scenario
When sensor detects humidity is lower than the range.
Thermostat turns on
LED turns on
Alert received
Watering plant
App returns to
normal
Video
User Test
What I like
Strong sympathy and empathy to plants
Visually pleasing
What I need
Integrate functions into one product
What I like
Clear guideline
What I need
combine device with app like Apple watch
long battery life
minimal functions
Future Solution
Combine app with the attachable device by embedding a micro pico projector into the device, which allows user to launch Ui.
Add a touch screen to enable users to interact with projection.
Future Concept
Launch UI wherever you need
Humans can check plant details thoroughly from anywhere.
Interact via touchscreen
Scroll right/left to view different contents, tap to make decisions.
Add on original device
Pico projector
small and embedded in the device
Cortex processor
have access to websites
Touch screen
minimal interaction
(tab, scroll)
Website
remote data
storage
Future Plan
bottom of page