[ calm ]

Behance Link

[ calm ] (read as calmcase) is designed, first and foremost, to serve as an artifact exemplifying the principles of calm technology, but this experience is inclusive of people with limited executive function and cognitive load. [calm] could also potentially be desirable for people living with ASD, ADHD, and other neurological differences who find themselves frequently overwhelmed by the flood of sensory information we have all come to expect in our personal smart devices.

Designs that “en calm” and “inform” meet two human needs not usually met together. Information technology is more often the enemy of calm. Pagers, cellphones, new services, the World-Wide-Web, email, TV, and the radio bombard us with information frenetically. Can we really look to technology itself for a solution? That is the design question.

Role
UI / UX

Notifogs

When an app sends out an important notification such as a Calendar Reminder, [calm] ensures that the process of receiving such a notification isn’t jarring at all. For instance an upcoming reminder will start to gradually emerge behind a cloud of “fog”, and proceed to clear up as the time of notification approaches. The user may choose to take a quick peek at the upcoming notifications by blowing away the “fog”, momentarily.

Toolkit

Accessed by a flick of the wrist or swiping up, the Toolkit provides quick access to important and handy tools like the camera, flashlight, digital wallet, Breathe, etc.

Breathe

Breathe is a pragmatic yet relaxing experience built around the idea of taking a deep breath to relax and meditate. Which also later feeds data into the Health app about your breathing patterns. Inspired by Monitoring of Breathing Activity using Smartphone-acquired Signals

Extras

Phone app, so you can actually call people, you know like phone calls. Accessed by swiping the orb to the left.

Enchancing the periphery

Inspired by the paper “Synthetic Sensors”, the phone can enter heightened awareness mode to be able to stay hyper aware of its surroundings, so that the phone becomes a peripheral tool rather than a central attention seeking one. Ex : Tells you to take a break if it “hears” your keyboard clicking for an extended period of time, measures your breathing patterns when you meditate, Alerts you of noise pollution, Turns on smart lights (dimly) in the room if overcast.

01. Paper phone, 02. Rorschach test, 03. Timely Alarm Clock

Special mention : “SoLAR weather app”

The "calm" in [calm]

We should amplify the best of technology and the best of humanity. Humans are great at understanding contexts and being embodied. Computers are great at processing data into information, that we can act upon. It’s more fulfilling to refocus on things that actually matter without technology getting in the way.

Good Design allows people to accomplish their goals in the least amount of moves, Calm Technology does the same, but with the least amount of mental cost.