Meemo
Creative note-taking and a memo system for permanent storage
ORGANIZATION
UNIST
YEAR
2020 (6m)
ROLE
디자인 엔지니어
기여
100%
RESPONSIBILITIES
Product Design, Prototyping
PROBLEM
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Paper Notes vs. Digital Notes: Which Do You Prefer?
Analog notes offer a natural, intuitive way to jot down ideas, fostering creative expression. They are excellent for capturing thoughts on the fly but come with challenges in organization, management, and long-term storage. On the other hand, digital notes provide ample storage, easy access, and powerful search functions, but can sometimes stifle creative freedom due to their structured nature. Many people use both methods, yet often face issues such as scattered information, cumbersome transitions between formats, lack of consistency, and difficulty finding specific notes.
APPROACH
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To address the limitations of both analog and digital systems, this project sought to create an integrated solution that blends the intuitive nature of paper notes with the organizational power of digital notes. The goal is to provide users with a seamless note-taking experience that fosters creativity while ensuring efficiency.
Designing a System that Bridges Analog and Digital: While analog notes are great for spontaneous and creative idea generation, digital notes excel in storage and retrieval. To merge the best of both worlds, we conducted extensive user interviews and research to understand how people use both types of notes. Our findings highlighted the need for a medium that smoothly transitions handwritten notes into a digital format. With this insight, we designed an integrated system that allows users to shift effortlessly between the two environments, without disrupting their existing note-taking habits.
Meemo: The Integrated Note-Taking Solution: Based on this new system design, we developed Meemo—a product that effectively connects analog and digital notes through an intuitive interface and real-time synchronization. Meemo preserves the creative freedom of analog notes while enhancing the searchability and organization that digital systems offer. This innovative approach provides users with a dynamic and efficient note-taking environment that leverages the strengths of both systems.
MEEMO
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Instant Cloud Upload and Digitization: Meemo quickly uploads digital images to the cloud (e.g., Dropbox) by converting handwritten paper notes as users insert them into the device. This seamless process allows users to retain the freedom of writing on paper while benefiting from the ease of searching and accessing notes in a digital environment across multiple devices. It facilitates the swift and effortless digitization of ideas, whether from meetings or everyday notes, bridging the gap between analog and digital effortlessly.
Intuitive Feedback System: During the upload process, Meemo offers both visual and tactile feedback as the front disk rotates. This physical motion allows users to intuitively track the upload status and enhances their satisfaction with the digitization experience. The rotation of the disk becomes a joyful, sensory aspect of the process, offering more than just functional feedback and enriching the overall note-taking and digitization journey.
Seamless Connection Between Analog and Digital: Meemo is designed to effortlessly manage both the input and output of paper notes. When a note is inserted, it is automatically digitized, and once the task is complete, the note is naturally ejected for reuse or storage. This seamless process ensures a smooth transition to the digital environment without disrupting the analog workflow. Users can enjoy efficient note management in the digital world while maintaining the intuitive experience of writing on paper.
IMPLEMENTATION
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Physical Interaction Implementation: To naturally implement physical interaction, the system was designed based on Arduino. When a user inserts a paper, the infrared sensor detects it, and a servo motor moves the paper. Additionally, with disk feedback using a DC motor, the user can intuitively check the upload progress. Through this physical interaction, an analog experience was seamlessly connected to a digital environment.
Cloud Integration and Application Development: To implement the core feature of cloud storage, a data communication system utilizing Raspberry Pi and Arduino was developed. It captures paper notes with a camera and uploads the images to the cloud in real-time using the Dropbox API. This system plays a crucial role in efficiently connecting analog to digital by allowing users to digitize and store notes immediately upon inserting paper.
Product Design and Mockup Production: For the design and structure of the product, 3D modeling was done using Fusion 360, and the exterior was produced using CNC. The internal components were produced through 3D printing and were designed for easy assembly and disassembly of the product. Through this, Meemo was completed as a prototype with a user-friendly physical interface and internal structure.
ACHIEVEMENT
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HCI Korea Creative Award Excellence Prize Winner: The Meemo project was honored with the Excellence Prize at the HCI Korea Creative Award for its outstanding user experience design and innovative implementation of physical interactions. The judging panel praised Meemo’s unique approach in integrating analog and digital memo systems, particularly highlighting its intuitive interface design that facilitates a seamless transition between paper and digital notes. One judge also noted Meemo’s strong entrepreneurial potential, commending its successful blend of technological innovation and commercial viability. This recognition underscores the technological and design advancements of the Meemo project.
Published in HCI Korea 2021 Conference Proceedings: The Meemo project was featured as a key case study at the HCI Korea 2021 Conference, showcasing its innovative approach to merging analog and digital memo systems. The paper delves into the use of physical computing technologies (such as infrared sensors, motor systems, etc.) and the design of a user-centered memo management interface. By bridging academic insights with practical design solutions, Meemo demonstrated the potential for a new type of memo experience that seamlessly connects the analog and digital worlds.
REFLECTION
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Turning imagination into reality is as intricate and unpredictable as untangling a string figure.
Meemo marked my first experience turning an idea into a tangible product, and along the way, I faced numerous challenges in transforming a simple concept into a functional solution. One of the most unexpected hurdles came when integrating paper notes with digital technology. I had to consider various factors such as paper thickness, strength, and corner shape. For example, paper that was too thin became difficult to handle, while angular corners created issues within the device. It took considerable time and experimentation to determine the optimal material and shape for the paper.
Throughout these first-time experiences, I faced setbacks, such as burning PCBs or needing to redo work due to design errors. However, I approached each challenge with the belief that overcoming problems step by step leads to growth. Whenever necessary, I sought guidance from experts and iteratively refined the technology and structural design through trial and error. This process allowed me to strengthen my practical skills, including technology integration using Arduino and Raspberry Pi, internal structure design, and prototyping with 3D printing and CNC machining. The completed Meemo was recognized with the Excellence Award at the HCI Korea 2021 Creative Awards for its thoughtful problem definition and creative solution.
This project was not just about product development; it was a challenge that sharpened my technical abilities and creative thinking. I learned that even seemingly simple ideas can turn out to be complex and unpredictable when brought to life, much like the intricate process of untangling a string figure.