Birdy
Design Research on Physical Messenger for the Digitally Disadvantaged
ORGANIZATION
UNIST
YEAR
2021 (1y)
ROLE
Lead Researcher
기여
70%
RESPONSIBILITIES
Research, Product Design, Prototyping, Project Management
WITH
NN Kim, HJ Yun (Research Assistant)
KEYWORDS
digital divide, assistive technology, inclusive design, IoT
PROBLEM
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Digital messengers have become indispensable tools for communication in today’s society. They allow for rapid and efficient sharing of information and support the transmission of diverse media (text, images, videos, etc.), greatly expanding how we communicate. However, this convenience can become a barrier for those unfamiliar with digital environments.
Digitally marginalized groups, including the elderly, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities, often struggle with the complexities of digital messengers. Challenges such as complicated screen layouts, small buttons, and multi-step menus hinder their ability to use these tools effectively. As a result, they may feel disconnected from their families and communities or struggle to access vital information.
To address this, it is crucial to enhance the user experience of messengers, making them more intuitive for digitally marginalized groups. This project aims to design messenger systems that reduce cognitive load and simplify access to essential functions, creating a communication experience that is both easier and more efficient.
APPROACH
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To help users with limited digital literacy seamlessly access messaging services, we designed a dedicated medium called ‘Birdy’ instead of relying solely on smartphones. This approach allowed for personalized communication tools, tailored to diverse user needs, ensuring that everyone could easily connect through a single messenger service.
‘Birdy’ serves as a companion to existing messenger apps and smartphones, offering an accessible communication method for those unfamiliar with digital environments. The development of both the system and Birdy’s design followed a structured, user-centered process:
User Research: Conducted literature reviews, task analyses, and user interviews to identify key challenges faced by users with low digital literacy. This research revealed critical barriers and unmet needs.
Product Design and Prototyping: Based on research insights, we designed solutions that seamlessly integrate analog elements and physical interactions, ensuring they align with real user behaviors and preferences.
Prototype Development and Testing: Built three functional mockups and conducted a three-week field test with six pairs of family users to evaluate the real-world user experience.
Quantitative/Qualitative Data Analysis and Insights: Collected and analyzed qualitative and quantitative data, assessing user engagement and behavior to measure Birdy’s effectiveness and extract actionable insights.
BIRDY: Handwriting-Based Digital Messaging Device
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Birdy is a desktop messaging device designed to be intuitively accessible to seniors. It uses handwriting input with paper and pen, enabling seamless communication between generations through digital message transmission. The UX design bridges the gap between analog and digital, providing a more familiar and natural experience than traditional text input methods.
Intuitive Interface Reducing Cognitive Load: Birdy incorporates design principles tailored to the cognitive needs of seniors, including optimized display size, button layout, and LED feedback. The device avoids information overload by offering a dedicated message display, ensuring the interface is simple and easy to navigate. Additionally, the semi-transparent acrylic body and diffused LED lighting provide clear and intuitive indicators for message reception and transmission status.
Preserving Analog Sensibility in Digital Handwriting Conversion : Users can write messages on a 66mm paper card and convert them into a digital format for easy transmission via Birdy. This process retains the texture and character of handwritten messages while offering the convenience of digital communication. The device also includes a book of 20 emoji cards, allowing users to express emotions more easily, blending the familiarity of analog methods with the efficiency of digital communication.
Effortless Operation and Seamless User Experience : Birdy is designed for ease of use with physical navigation buttons and a straightforward interface. Received messages are displayed prominently, and the LED feedback system clearly communicates the current status of the device, ensuring intuitive operation. This design helps users accustomed to analog environments transition smoothly, offering a natural and effortless messaging experience.
IMPLEMENTATION
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Hardware Configuration & Physical Interaction: Birdy’s hardware integrates displays, scanners, microcontrollers, and LED lighting, each optimized for intuitive interaction. Users can insert paper cards into a 66mm rounded-corner slot to send messages and navigate message history using physical buttons. A dedicated storage compartment holds paper, pens, and emoji books, made of translucent acrylic to provide visual feedback through color-coded LED notifications. An IR sensor detects paper insertion, while a miniaturized linear motor precisely positions the paper. Additionally, an embedded wide-angle camera with a ring-shaped LED ensures clear image capture even in low-light or confined spaces.
Software Development & Digital Processing: Birdy’s software handles message transmission, image processing, and display control through modular components. Messages are sent and received via the Telegram Bot API, while OpenCV powers image processing and post-processing. Google’s Teachable Machine recognizes handwritten text and emoji images, converting them into digital text. Scanned images are optimized for brightness and clarity before being displayed on Birdy’s screen alongside the original image.
Product Design & Prototyping : Birdy’s design was developed using Autodesk Fusion 360, refined through iterative prototyping. The initial phase focused on precise dimensioning and assembly structures for optimized manufacturing efficiency. Key components were 3D printed, while the final exterior was crafted with high-precision CNC machining. The modular design ensures easy assembly and maintenance.
IMPACT
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3x Increase in Digital Communication Among the Elderly : Birdy significantly improved digital communication accessibility for elderly users through handwriting and paper-based interactions. A three-week field study with six family pairs showed that elderly participants exchanged an average of 21.5 messages per week, nearly tripling their previous communication frequency. In one case (F1-GP), communication increased from 1-2 phone calls per week to an average of 35 messages, fostering a habitual messaging pattern.
Broader Conversations Through Asynchronous Messaging : Birdy’s asynchronous messaging removed time and space constraints, diversifying conversation topics. Participants’ messages expanded from simple inquiries to deeper discussions about daily life, health, and family matters. For example, before using Birdy, F3-P only sent brief messages like “Have you eaten?”, but later engaged in richer conversations about their grandchild’s test results and hobbies, significantly deepening their interactions.
Richer Emotional Expression Through Handwriting : Handwritten messages enabled more nuanced and expressive communication. 70% of participants reported that handwriting allowed them to better convey emotions. Notably, F2-GP used visual elements, such as flower drawings and varied text sizes, to express emotions more vividly in messages to their grandchild. This analog aspect of digital messaging helped preserve the warmth and personal touch of traditional handwritten notes.
The Role of Paper in Digital Communication : Using paper created a familiar and comfortable experience for elderly users, reducing resistance to digital tools. Messages written on paper were perceived as keepsakes, strengthening emotional bonds. 83% of participants kept the paper messages they received. For instance, F5-GP stored their grandchild’s messages in a drawer, rereading them periodically to maintain a sense of closeness.
Lowering Barriers to Digital Participation : By integrating paper and physical interaction, Birdy provided an intuitive and familiar alternative to smartphone-based messaging. This approach simplified complex digital interactions, making communication more accessible and engaging for elderly individuals unfamiliar with digital environments. These insights highlight key strategies for reducing digital exclusion, enabling more people to seamlessly connect through technology.
REFLECTION
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Can Hardware Deepen Emotional Connections?
The Birdy project marked my first experience overseeing every stage of delivering a hardware product to users—from product design and prototyping to user education and feedback collection. Balancing IoT device reliability with a seamless user experience was a key challenge. Through multiple rounds of prototype testing and firmware optimization, I gained a deep appreciation for the organic integration of hardware and software.
One of the most remarkable moments came after three weeks of testing, when the average number of messages sent by elderly users tripled. The handwritten and asynchronous messaging features enriched conversations, and 70% of participants reported feeling better able to express their emotions. This data clearly demonstrated that Birdy was more than just a device—it became a tool for strengthening emotional connections.
Experiencing the entire product design process reinforced the importance of user-centered design and the delicate balance between technology and human emotion. Birdy was a defining milestone in my UX career, shaping my vision of designing technology-driven solutions to social challenges.