PhonePal

Type / Society Project
Duration / 3 months
Category / Interactive Design
Work Type / Individual

User Instruction

Target Group: Smartphone users who heavily rely on their devices but have casual, careless usage habits, frequently leaving phones on dangerous edges.

User Pain Points: People treat borrowed items carefully but are notoriously careless with their own expensive devices.

Concept

Brief Description

An interactive, anthropomorphic smartphone accessory equipped with motorized mechanical legs and smart sensors. It automatically detects dangerous placements, and walks to a safe position. Paired with a companion app, it provides emotional feedback, encouraging users to handle their devices with greater care to extend device lifespan and reduce e-waste.

Core

Emotional HCI & Anthropomorphism: Gives the device a sense of life. This shifts the interaction from a mere tool to a two-way emotional bond.

Active Protection Mechanism: Built-in ultrasonic sensors detect the surrounding environment. It activates micro servo motors to deploy legs and move the phone to a safe zone.

Behavioral Intervention & Health Rewards: A companion app tracks the phone's impact and health index. Safe usage unlocks cute animation rewards.

Ideation

Manufacture & Iteration

Mechanical Optimization: It features a center-mounted modular magnetic attachment for high portability and adaptability to various phone models.

Material Engineering:  Nylon was selected as the optimal material due to its extreme toughness and superior abrasion resistance, making it perfect for high-friction mechanical parts.