INTEL SMART MONITOR
MY ROLE
UX / UI
Designer
PROJECT
Monitor hardware components
and software OSD
I was a UX Designer on this project, working on hardware components focused on privacy and on-screen display software. The project goal was to improve the work from home experience. We designed a smart monitor with a built in camera, microphone and speaker components. Our objective was to simplify workflow, minimize workspace and limit the need for accessories. 
PROBLEM SPACE
RESEARCH
INTERVIEWs
SURVEYs
USABILITY TESTING
We first did a full market scan of both traditional and smart monitors. We focused on design, user experience and price point. This allowed us to see gaps in the market that we could try and improve. Speaker sound quality was lacking in most smart monitors and was considered unbalanced. Microphone performance often was mediocre and did not have easy privacy controls. Integrated cameras were low quality for the most part, often leaving the lens open when the camera is off.  We reviewed smart monitor currently in market as well as traditional monitors to see what areas could be improved..
We have some ideas - let's get some feedback!
We started with concept testing and interviewed 15 people for a total of 60 minutes. We focused on participants who work from home or on a hybrid basis. Our questions centered around their existing workflow as well as likes and dislikes about products they use. From our market research, we had some initial ideas on how we could build a high-end monitor that would help users work more efficiently. Aside from the expectation of having a high quality display, there was high interest in having premium speakers, microphone and camera. 

Privacy was a top concern and was brought up repeatedly by participants. Multiple people experienced fumbling around looking for the mute button on their monitor. Some mentioned covering webcams with tape, paper or a 3rd party privacy slider.
Nearly 30% of work is happening from home
"When I'm presenting at work, I need to be able to quickly turn my mic on and off"
I'm currently using an external webcam on top of a monitor. It works ok, but it's bulky and I don't like the way it looks.
I work from home and I need to make sure my kids can't access my computer.
My workspace is pretty small and I want to keep it as minimal as possible.
The challenge: design an integrated camera focused on privacy

Physical Slider

Built-in Camera Cover
Light indicators when camera switched on/off
Camera cover is visible when closed
During our research phase, we found that people do not like having exposed cameras on monitors. Our first iteration had an external magnetic slider for users to manually block the camera when not in use. The concept was to move the slider on a hidden rail, so users could not misplace the item. There were mechanical limitations that prevented this from being implemented.

Our final design simplifies the built-in camera. The physical camera slider on top of the monitor allows users to manually turn the camera off. There is also an option of turning the camera off using the OSD software. 
"Am I really, really sure my camera is off?"
Users repeatedly expressed the need of having 100% confidence in camera status. For an additional indicator, we added a status light that shows for 3 seconds after the camera slider is closed. This received positive feedback from the majority of participants, however some did not like having this light on at all and thought it would be distracting. The takeaway was that users wanted full control over their settings. The light on the camera cover is a default setting, however users can disable it in the on-screen display software.
The ability to mute without interrupting workflow
The mute button was a critical concern for users.  Some users mentioned needing to quickly mute but having to spend a few seconds searching for the mute button on the application. Confidence and transparency were clear needs that needed to be addressed. When the user clicks "mute", they wanted to be sure it mutes every microphone in the UX (monitor, laptop, O/S).  "Am I really muted" was mentioned by multiple users. 
What's the quickest way to mute?
ON STAND
Tap base of monitor and light appears
ON BACK
Press large button on back
ON FRONT
Tap button and LED light appears
There was strong interest in having a physical button for the microphone.  We explored having the buttons on the stand. There were pros and cons to this approach. The stand needed to be larger and bulkier to accommodate the buttons and engineer team determined this approach would add development time and delay the project. Lastly, this was much more expensive to produce. Having a button on the back of the monitor for quick access did not test well. Users were concerned they would be fumbling around trying to find the button.

Having a physical button on the front of the monitor was the best option. Users could quickly tap the button to mute or unmute. There would also be a visible light on when the microphone was on, and a visual notification when turned off. 
Quick controls with only the essentials
The goal is to have the user in full control over their notifications. Users have the option of having on-screen pop-ups that appear for 3 seconds each time the camera and microphone state are changed. This can be disabled in settings. While we designed a comprehensive OSD, we realized most user need basic settings, easily accessible.  
Easy access to additional ports
The purpose of this monitor is minimizing accessories and in turn reducing cords. However, there is a still a strong need for having ports for additional devices and research showed that this is a common frustration. The main ports are on the back of the monitor, however, this forces users to physically turn the monitor around to access ports. We explored adding ports most often used to the side but this wasn't doable unless the monitor was thicker. We opted for adding ports to the bottom of the monitor that could be easily accessed by pivoting the monitor. 
Can we save time and add some privacy?
Wake-On-Approach and Walk-Away-Lock both require Face ID, which we found was polarizing during testing. Approximately 40% of participants did not want to have Face ID set up..  The other 60% found this to be a great way to save time and increase privacy. There was frustration at having to wait a few seconds to turn on external monitors and this could help speed up the process. Multiple users mentioned having young kids and like the added layer of security in knowing their computer would be locked when they walked away. This was another area that was important for users to have full control in activating or deactivating Face ID as well as adjusting the timer for each setting individually.
On-Screen Display that gives users full control
What problems are we trying to solve?
There were various use cases that we started mapping out. Our focus remained on productivity and ease of use. How can we simplify the hybrid work experience?
What are people saying about this product?
75%
Increased Productivity
83%
Minimized Workspace
91%
Increased Privacy 
83%
Reduced Accessories
12 users tested the smart monitor over a 2 week period. Overall feedback was positive but we had some critical issues to address. The OSD did not have enough advanced controls according to users. We later added in options for auto-framing and the ability to easily pivot the camera in any direction.
What's next for this project?
We're looking to create a hybrid smart monitor that doubles as a tablet. When talking to users about simplifying their workspaces, there was often frustration around having too many devices and accessories.
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