Project 1 · Year 1 · Intelligent Agents

Tina

An intelligent agent that helps people perceive and reflect on their emotions through multi-sensorial feedback.

Role: Team of fourAreas: B&E, MDC, T&R, U&S

The Tina device with soft tactile feedback elements — Tina - the intelligent agent prototype.

Summary

Tina was my first full design process. Using the Reflective Transformative Design Process, we designed an agent that senses a user's emotional state and gives gentle, multi-sensorial feedback, prompting moments of reflection to build emotional intelligence over time. The concept combined an emotion-recognition algorithm, hardware including a spectrometer, and a full business model in one coherent product.

As a first project it was where many of my foundations were laid, like research, data and the tools I would lean on for years afterward.

Main learning points

My first scientific research skills. Learning to ground design decisions in evidence rather than intuition.
First real data work. Working on the emotion-recognition algorithm guided my data interests.
One concept, many areas. Combining algorithm, hardware and a business model taught me to integrate all aspects.
Foundational tool skills. Including the Adobe and visualisation skills I still use.