Yamitha | Product Designer

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Yamitha | Product Designer

Moonwalkers (shift robotics)

How safe and practical are the world's fastest shoes?

Disclaimer

This is a concept work and made the case study based on our assumptions to quench our curiosity and excitement for this product. We don’t own nor part of this product and all the product media was taken from the press kit from Moonwalkers website. Below presented points are based on our assumption and the suggestions were made based on the research findings.

Introduction

Moonwalkers™ are the first ever wearable mobility device. With an instinctive AI drivetrain, you’re able to walk at the speed of a run.

- shift robotics -

The founder of Moonwalkers, Xunjie almost got hit by a car while driving his scooter to work just few miles away. That’s when he realized that walking is safer and more convenient. He thought to enhance walking. His company, Shift Robotics began its first prototype im 2018 and now they are planing to release the first batch of units on March 2023 after a successful kickstarter campaign. Read more about it from the links below.

Learn more

Case study summary

Goal

Ensure this product is safe, reliable, and intuitive in our day-to-day walks in the city.

Why?

In 2020 there were 6,516 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes and 54,769 pedestrians were injured (NHTSA 2022 report, USA). Even though this product makes walking faster and efficient, we should avoid the possibilities that may put the users life's in danger due to the usage of this product.

Timeline

December 2022 - Present (on going)

Team

  • Yamitha Lakshitha - UX

  • Roshan De Selfa (@line.demon) - Art

Hypotheses

If we re-design some parts of Moonwalker's outer design and improve the AI's response to emergency scenarios, we can increase users' awareness and safety on the road. We will measure the effectiveness of these changes by performing A/B tests with two focus groups, exposed to similar moderated scenarios and monitoring the successful outcomes.

Additionally, if we create a mobile app that integrates with smartwatches, we can provide users with a companion that keeps them informed and provides an intuitive experience. We will measure the effectiveness of the app by conducting moderate and unmoderated user test sessions using interactive prototypes.

Why an outer redesign?

Let's imagine a situation where a user goes to work using Moonwalkers. They will likely encounter emergency situations such as encountering a cyclist or vehicle, or encountering road obstacles that require instinctive action to stay safe. Therefore, we propose to re-design some parts of the Moonwalker's outer design to increase the chances of being even safer on the road.

Why an app?

Consider the same situation where a user uses Moonwalkers to go to work. What if they don't have enough battery life to get back home, or if there is a problem with the shoes, or if the shoes are overheated? Additionally, an app can provide valuable information for users' daily traveling activities. Therefore, we propose to create a mobile app that integrates with smartwatches to keep users informed and provide an intuitive experience.

The Research

Understanding potential problems

We are used to walking so much that we don't even realize how we are walking and how instinctive we are at emergency situations. So to kick start the research, I filmed my self with my brother (Isuru) acting out a few of the scenarios that we may come across in a daily basis in a busy city. I observed Moonwalkers tech spec, functions and videos as shown on their webpage to focus my efforts here.

We are used to walking so much that we don't even realize how we are walking and how instinctive we are at emergency situations. So to kick start the research, I filmed my self with my brother (Isuru) acting out a few of the scenarios that we may come across in a daily basis in a busy city. I observed Moonwalkers tech spec, functions and videos as shown on their webpage to focus my efforts here.

Scenario 1

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

Walking cycle observation

From observing videos of Moonwalkers, I've noticed that the walking motion appears to be similar to a normal walking cycle, which is a positive aspect of the product. This similarity may make it easier for users to adapt to using the product and potentially reduce the learning curve associated with a new technology.

Walking cycle observation

However, there is a potential issue related to the user's awareness of wearing the shoes. While walking is an action that we initiate voluntarily, the simultaneous steps we take become involuntary, similar to how we involuntarily breathe or blink (read more). As a result, there is a risk that users may become oblivious to wearing the shoes since there is no intuitive way to indicate that they are wearing the add-on. This issue may be particularly prevalent when the user is idle, such as when talking to a friend on the road, waiting for coffee, or waiting to cross the road.

Walking cycle observation

From observing videos of Moonwalkers, I've noticed that the walking motion appears to be similar to a normal walking cycle, which is a positive aspect of the product. This similarity may make it easier for users to adapt to using the product and potentially reduce the learning curve associated with a new technology.

However, there is a potential issue related to the user's awareness of wearing the shoes. While walking is an action that we initiate voluntarily, the simultaneous steps we take become involuntary, similar to how we involuntarily breathe or blink (read more). As a result, there is a risk that users may become oblivious to wearing the shoes since there is no intuitive way to indicate that they are wearing the add-on. This issue may be particularly prevalent when the user is idle, such as when talking to a friend on the road, waiting for coffee, or waiting to cross the road.

Instinctive reactions in dangerous situations

The user has to perform a few foot gestures to switch between modes. The only ways to check the current mode are by checking the indicator located on the inner side of the foot or by walking and observing it. Also the users are often unaware of the system's stats, including the distance they could travel and the system's condition. Importantly how adaptive Moonwalkers according to the users Instinctive reactions like avoiding obstacles, accidents & other dangers.

In 2020, traffic crashes in the USA resulted in the deaths of 6,205 pedestrians, equivalent to one death every 81 minutes on average (read more). To better understand how people instinctively react in common urban scenarios, I recorded several such situations that a user might encounter while walking on a daily basis.

Charging Moonwalkers in public places

Is it practical to charge electric shoes at the office, cafes, and other public places? Although charging shoes in public places may seem convenient, it presents a problem: shoes tend to get dirty, even after a single ride in the city. Plugging in dirty shoes may be unpleasant for others in public spaces.

Therefore, we need to consider the cleanliness and hygiene of our shoes before we can fully embrace public charging options.

Key assumptions

safety risks

As we can see from the above observations, there is a potential safety risk involved and we have to make sure not to put our users in a disadvantage due to being a user of this product.

  • Lacking a way to inform the user successfully about the current state of the shoes without look bottom at the shoes.

  • Speed is controlled according to the pace, so how will the shoes support the user in an emergency situation?

  • User has to look at the shoes indication light to understand the different states of the shoes. Which is unintuitive as it doesn't cover the message instantly. rather user has to look at a website to understand the issues.

  • Shoes get dirty. Charging at different places may look weird and unpleasant.

  • Magnetic quick release attracts many debris, so cleaning would be a pain.

So, How might we...

  • Increase the safety at emergency situations so the user can evade them as if they were walking without the Moonwalkers?.

  • Help the user when in an accident due to any reason while using moonwalkers, so the user gets quick assistance to recover from the danger?

  • Keep the user informed about different states intuitively, so the user can walk confidently?

  • Let the user charge their devices without attracting too much unpleasant attraction?

Suggestions…

Main goals is to suggest design feature that will provide a safe and assured riding experience for our users. So here I will be looking in to physical device improvements as well as the integration of an app to enhance the safety and convenience.

There is a high responsibility for our users to be take precautions and be extra safe on the road. However, despite their responsibility, our solution for walking faster should never hinder their natural instincts when it comes to an emergency. Rather it can be supportive to the user to be versatile.

Software AI

LED Indicator

More LED's

Carrying bag

App

Other

Enhancing Safety Features

To ensure user safety, the AI needs to be trained to recognize the quick and jerky movements that we as humans make. Instead of encouraging users to speed up and potentially lose control, the AI should encourage them to slow down. For example, if the user jumps up, lifts their legs, or feels a forced shock to the device body, the AI should be able to identify these movements and take necessary safety precautions.

Walking cycle observation

In addition to detecting quick movements, the device could also benefit from fall detection. While the Apple Watch has already integrated this feature successfully, it could be a game-changer for users if added to this device. With fall detection, the AI could detect when a user has fallen and automatically take action to prevent injuries, such as alerting emergency services or notifying a trusted contact.

Please visit the desktop site
to view suggestions

(Hoping to optimize it for mobile & tabs soon)

Please visit the desktop site
to view suggestions

(Hoping to optimize it for mobile & tabs soon)

Next steps…

We are excited to find more about this products once they globally release these units available. This is a challenge but hoping to connect with supporters from kickstarter campaign to gather more insights as they are the first ones to receive this product.

it would be wonderful to brainstorm around these assumptions to see if it aligns with company and product vision, Potentially do some collaborations and then validate these by conducting a few user test sessions.