QuickClick: A Cell Phone for
the Newly Independent
A cell phone designed for young adolescents in 5th
to 7th grades who need a new way to communicate with their caretakers
as they become increasingly independent.
(demonstrates user interface)
Method:
- Observed and interviewed parents and children to understand
their needs
- Explored different phone designs and features to meet their
needs
- Narrowed in on a final design, with input from target audience
- Developed digital and physical prototypes
Design Criteria:
- Kids wanted a phone that looked cool, fit in their pocket
or backpack, let them call parents for a pickup after school, and let
them talk to their best friends.
- Parents wanted to be able to reach their children if they were
late or in case of an emergency. But they wanted to restrict their kids'
phone use and avoid the expense of fully functional phones.
Features:
- Knob on top of phone can be pressed or turned, offering intuitive
navigation of a few simple options.
- No keypad is necessary! The phone numbers of caretakers and friends
are loaded into the phone by a parent via the internet.
- Convenient desktop charger reminds kids to charge the phone.
- During the school day, the phone can be switch to monitor mode. Calls
cannot be made, but messages from caretakers can be received. |
