Testing Our Limits & Our Prototypes
In our last sprint, we hit the ground running and completed Phase 01 of our testing at the Smart Manufacturing Experience Conference in Pittsburgh. The feedback on the usability of our three prototypes was amazing and invaluable, setting the stage for our next challenge: testing our content and validating the information.
While our primary users are getting the hang of the learning experience, we wanted to kick things up a notch by validating the content. What better way to do this than by consulting experts? So, we packed our bags and headed to the biggest design conference in the United States, Config, organized by Figma in San Francisco from June 25–27. At Config, we gathered insights from over 23 professionals in robotics, interaction design, UX design, and related fields. The conference was a whirlwind of ideas, debates, and epiphanies, giving our team a fresh perspective on our prototypes.
Before designing the right thing, we must ensure we are designing the right thing.
The expert analyses we received were the driving force for our next iterations. A key takeaway was that our users, being experts in their jobs, want to maintain a sense of curiosity when learning about new technology and automation appreciating an immersive experience. This curiosity often obscures the main goal of teaching the basics. Without the entirety of the ecosystem, our prototypes fall short, making users realize they are tackling a topic that might seem intimidating and require significant effort to learn.
It was at this point that we realized our attachment to individual prototypes and solutions was restricting us from viewing the problem from a broader perspective. We went back to the whiteboard and reexamined our initial hypothesis: “Why an ecosystem solution?” After a brainstorming session (with lots of coffee and some wild ideas), the team synthesized that with the Physical Conversation facilitator (Card activity), Hands-On Learning medium (Cobot activity), and Digital Knowledge Assistant, we needed to explore another path for greater impact — the realm of extended reality. We sketched out countless ideas, debated their feasibility, and refined our approach with long meetings, fueled by passion and a shared vision.
An insightful session with Sergio de Oliveira, an expert in AR & VR prototyping, provided us with a new direction for this missing piece. Sergio’s confidence in sharing his projects and answering all our questions about our concept made the path forward much clearer. He walked us through his own experiences, highlighting the potential pitfalls and golden opportunities in AR/VR prototyping. Huge thanks to Sergio and all the experts who helped us! Your wisdom and guidance were invaluable.
Given the short amount of time remaining (three weeks) and a testing session scheduled with JVM Manufacturers, our team decided to take a dual approach. We will refine and test the ecosystem as a whole while conceptualizing and developing a learning experience in the augmented reality spectrum. This approach ensures we don’t lose sight of our original goals while pushing the envelope with innovative solutions.
As we race against the clock, our dedication to refining our prototypes and diving into augmented reality showcases our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Through expert feedback and relentless iteration, we’re not just designing a solution; we’re sculpting an entire ecosystem poised to revolutionize learning in manufacturing. Fueled by curiosity and a dash of caffeine, our team is all in, proving that with a bit of hard work and a lot of creativity, we can turn even the wildest ideas into something truly amazing.
We’re sharing our Capstone journey to give you a sneak peek into what the MHCI Capstone experience is really like. It’s our way of offering an insider’s perspective on the path to breaking into the UX field. Whether you’re a fellow student, a seasoned professional, or just someone curious about the world of human-computer interaction, we want to invite you to join us on this rollercoaster of creativity and problem-solving. Follow us for regular updates, and if you’ve got thoughts, questions, or just want to chat about UX, we’re all ears!
Note: This project is not intended to contribute to generalizable knowledge and is not human subjects research.
