Break Timer - Pratt Institute Capstone Project 2020

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SPRING 2020

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BREAK TIMERS HANSOL JUNG

PROFESSOR. AMANDA HUYNH

PRATT INSTITUTE

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INITIAL PROBLEM Initial problem that I examined in the beginning was a lack of outdoor time for average Americans -- especially desk-bound workers in offices. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 93 percent of their life indoors, which is why our current generation is given the title “indoor generation”. Realizing that being too indoors-bound causes problems such as -- increased risk of asthma by 40 percent, sleep deprivation due to lack of sunlight, obesity, and depression -- my design goal was to create ways to incorporate outdoor time for office workers during work.

DESK-BOUND WORKERS Desk-bound workers are the targeted subjects because they spend about 8 hours in the office and then go back home, which is another indoor environment. A new report titled The Work Colleague of the Future led by behavioral futurist William Higham created a life size model named Emma, showing how office workers will look like in 20 years; swollen legs with varicose veins, protruding stomach, and hunched back. This report alerts that there must be changes to office work environments.

“Globally, more people work in offices than any other work environment. And yet, this setting is becoming hazardous to our wellbeing. Unchecked, the office is set to present a significant threat to each nations’ future health, and ultimately, its productivity.”

We spend around 6 hours a day sat at our desks: • Nine in ten British office workers are suffering from poor health due to their work environment, and as a result, find their job more difficult • Office workers are already suffering from strained eyes (50%), sore backs (49%) and headaches (48%) as a direct result of their workspace • Seven in ten workers are resorting to medication to manage these issues • Bosses are not doing enough to prevent workplace health issues – more than 25% employees have asked for their workstations to be improved and are still waiting for a resolution

A new report titled The Work Colleague of the Future (Published: June 2019)

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- Emma

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How can we change toxic work habits that lead to health problems for desk bound workers?

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FURTHER RESEARCH Through research, I found that going outdoors, and taking short breaks are helpful for overall wellness and performance of workers.

Benefits of outdoor breaks:

1. Researchers found that working with more exposure to natural light during the day slept an

average of 46 minutes more per night.

Benefit of short breaks:

1. Brief walks as 5 minutes each hour proved to be more effective in improving health than long

excercise periods.

2. Other benefits include increased productivity, creativity, better posture, improved blood cir

culation, lower risk of burn-out, and much more.

Methods for breaks:

1. Pomodoro method - work in small bursts

2. 90 minute work blocks - When Professor K. Anders Ericsson studied elite performers like

violinists, athletes, actors and chess players, he found that the best performers practiced in

focused sessions of no more than 90 minutes.

3. The 52-17 method - Top 10% of productive workers all worked an average of 52 minutes be

fore taking a 17 minute break.

4. Two 15-minute breaks per day

https://open.buffer.com/science-taking-breaks-at-work/

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CULTURAL PROBE Cultural probe was chosen as a research method to explore what helps workers to go outdoors during work. The kit was given to five participants who work in office environments. Among those five, two participants were employees who work in the same office.

CONTENT 1. Information about the problems of being too indoors-bound, and the benefits of taking outdoor breaks during work 2. Map that shows parks and public spaces within 10 minutes walking distance of each participant’s office location 3. Pie chart that participants were asked to mark how much time they spend outdoors a day Daily break activities with a card to comment on how they feel after taking a break or why they didn’t take a break 4. Daily Activities

Day 1: “Start with a cup of tea. Brew tea and go outside. Come back when you finish it or when

it gets cold”

Day 2: “Who said only smokers get to take a break? Take some candies outside and come back

when you finish them”

Day 3: “Writing is a form of meditation. Write what you are thinking, how you are feeling, future

goals etc”

Day 4: “Listen to music. Go follow spotify account”

Day 5: “Collect what you see outside”

5. List of questions to answer before returning the kit

1. Did learning about the problems being too indoors-bound and the benefits of taking regular

breaks affect your participation?

2. Do you think you will continue taking breaks during work?

3. Which activities did you find helpful and how did they affect your break?

4. Please feel free to leave any comments about your experience

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KEY FINDINGS 1. Break that could be completed indoors were done more easily 2. Having a coworker do the break activities together encouraged regular breaks 3. All participants showed positive feelings after taking breaks 4. Giving something to focus on other than work was helpful 5. Most participants don’t take regular breaks. One participant commented that she took her first break ever since she worked for the company.

6. Listening to music is most engaging to taking breaks

COMMENTS “I may move to writing stuff down instead of reading news or instagram or whatever” - Patrick “Boss surprised to know people in the office are sedentary workers” - Anna “Focusing on something other than work is nice”

MOVING FORWARD It is difficult for workers to take even a short break indoors regularly, and doing something other than work was what most participants found helpful for their overall wellness. Based on the comments, workers seemed to feel pressured because of the workload. SO, HOW MIGHT WE? 1. How to create work culture that pressures employees toward taking regular breaks?

2.How to make taking breaks communal -- that is both benefitial to company&employee?

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SLACK MID-TERM REVIEW

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How Might We? CONCEPT IDEATION #1

Elements incorporated into offices and ways to make break time communal explored in the beginning: 1. Timer Kettle 2. Fun stickers that can be attached to different objects in offices 3. Cycling basket timely that invites people to be curious what’s new in the basket 4. Eye stretch manual to be shared in office 5. Small device that employees toss around to take turns for breaks 6. Candy with different sizes 15min, 10min, 2min

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CONCEPT IDEATION #2

Stimulating different senses with timer objects : One of the key comments I received through the probe kit was that focusing on something other than work was good. In office environments where employees stare at monitors for long hours, taking breaks to stimulate other senses are helpful.

Taste - Timer candy Taste - Timer kettle that boils water at set break time Touch - Soft mouse (therapeutic) that vibrates for set break times Scent - Aroma in a pill case/pill package Scent - Incense with different lengths for different times Hearing - Hourglass speaker that turns on when flipped over and turns off when it is flipped back

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NARROWING DOWN CONCEPTS Focusing on the idea of “timer objects” that stimulate other senses / separation of timing work & break Timer Speaker (timing both work and break) Timer Candy (timing break) Timer Incense (timing work)

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INTERIM CRIT /

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“Products shouldn’t be passive” - Mid-Review Comment from Charlotte

1.

One statistic that work from home balance

2.

Challenging to go outside

3.

Integrating engaging the senses really super interesting (designing for different senses)

4.

Careful they don’t become too passive how do you design for sense but actually engage people (HOW) - candy and incense how can these notice you its off

5.

How can u integrate it with users and the devices. - for ex alarm clock that makes you take it off. Getting that direct interaction.

6.

Being annoying that makes you interact but not that annoying

7.

Giving some variety

8.

Family of items

9.

Couple diff scenarios and in different environments (screen zones)

10. I can still reach out to probe participants 11. And gets detailed and some renderings.

12. Wonder if there something there to (designing the prompts) with what ppl already have at home

FINALIZED CONCEPT Based on the interim crit, the design functions changed // incorporating “alarm system” Taste - Visually showing how much candies were taken each day - user puts in amount of candies in a transparent jar as a goal to take a certain amount of breaks.

Scent - Incense with different lengths for different times, and an incense holder that rings when incense is done burning Hearing - Hourglass speaker with one side playing work song, and other side playing music for break.

Each session turns on an alarm, and turns off when it is flipped over.

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COLLECTIVE BREAK // COVID-19 Due to Coronavirus, there was a significant shift to “work from home”. As a group, our colleagues in different contexts took a break on Monday meetings through Milanote platform --> Seems like break is always important in every context and situation

SESSION 1 Instruction

I think getting to share what we did on break is a great way to encourage interactiveness with peers (this could possibly be translated into your project) -M

What is your favorite thing to do during a 10 minute break?

Truvia Sweetener

1

Share what you did here! (photo / comments)

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 So Cute!!!

Coffee + Oreo + Cigarette

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

FROG

•••

Planet Oat Milk

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Happy is so adorable

Brooklyn Roasting Company Peru Blend

FROGGY MUG <3

frOg 1

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

Lunges up the driveway ZH

This mug is just so good.

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

Oreo but no milk?

I bought him second hand on mercari, i think there's other listings of this mug.

Someone 6 Apr 2020 So is Goya

play/cuddle with Goya and annoy her lol

my new car <3 - Michaela

Instruction What is your favorite thing to do during a 10 minute break?

Share what you did here!

I think getting to share what we did on break is a great way to encourage interactiveness with peers (this could possibly be translated into your project) -M

Truvia Sweetener

1

(photo / comments) •••

(blog) writing small notes about what I'm thinking / what happened that day.. or the other day!

Someone 6 Apr 2020 So Cute!!!

Coffee + Oreo + Cigarette

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

eating sweets - icecream

FROG

Some cereal and some sunshine (reese's Someone 6 Apr 2020 ••• Happy isat so adorable puffs because I am still a child heart) Amanda: Always making tea. I also laid down on my foam roller for ••• a while because Someone 6 Apr 2020 slouching Oreo but no milk?of my day is not over my laptop for many hours good for my back!

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 So is Goya

play/cuddle with Goya and annoy her lol

Instruction

Planet Oat Milk Coffee and Sunshine out on the balcony Someone 2020  I could hear6 Apr my 1st floor neighbor on ••• This mug is just so good. the phone talking about how it feels like Someone 6 Apr 2020 ••• Groundhog Day right now. The neighbor I bought him second hand on mercari, i to the right was out onof this hermug. balcony think there's other listings reading and smoking. The sun was super warm. I realized my resting heart rate has been higher than usual today, which indicates stress.

What is your favorite thing to do during a 10 minute break?

Brooklyn Roasting Company Peru Blend

FROGGY MUG <3

Some breakfast out in the back yard and never enough coffee.

•••

frOg 1

Lunges up the driveway ZH

Like 5 pushups ZH

yup zh

H20 ZH

Fed the Starter ZH

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Show us Steve's bees my new car <3 - Michaela

I think getting to share what we did on break is a great way to encourage interactiveness with peers (this could possibly be translated into your project) -M

Truvia Sweetener

1

Share what you did here! (photo / comments)

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 So Cute!!!

Coffee + Oreo + Cigarette

(blog) writing small notes about what I'm thinking / what happened that day.. or the other day!

eating sweets - icecream

Laid in bed Some cereal and some sunshine (reese's puffs because I am still a child at heart)

Coffee and Sunshine out on the balcony  I could hear my 1st floor neighbor on the phone talking about how it feels like Groundhog Day right now. The neighbor to the right was out on her balcony reading and smoking. The sun was super warm. I realized my resting heart rate has been higher than usual today, which indicates stress.

Amanda: Always making tea. I also laid down on my foam roller for a while because slouching over my laptop for many hours of my day is not good for my back!

Snacks

•••

••• Instruction

Social Media

Happy is so adorable

•••

•••

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

FROGGY MUG <3

Someone 6 Apr 2020 frOg 1

Someone 6 Apr 2020

Lunges up the driveway ZH

Someone 6 Apr 2020 I bought him second hand on mercari, i think there's other listings of this mug.

So is Goya

play/cuddle with Goya and annoy her lol

Nice taste

Laid in bed

my new car <3 - Michaela

practiced piano

Select one break style to try it yourself, or come up with another one of you favorite Nice Phone ways. (10min) Someone 6 Apr 2020 Nice taste

Coffee!! (blog) writing small notes about what I'm thinking / what happened that day.. or the other day!

Share what you did here! (photo / comments)

eating sweets - icecream

Coffee!!

Some cereal and some sunshine (reese's puffs because I am still a child at heart)

Coffee and Sunshine out on the balcony  I could hear my 1st floor neighbor on the phone talking about how it feels like Groundhog Day right now. The neighbor to the right was out on her balcony reading and smoking. The sun was super warm. I realized my resting heart rate has been higher than usual today, which indicates stress.

Amanda: Always making tea. I also laid down on my foam roller for a while because slouching over my laptop for many hours of my day is not good for my back!

Some breakfast out in the back yard and never enough coffee.

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Show us Steve's bees

Look through what others did during their break session 1.

Select one break style to try it yourself, or come up with another one of you favorite ways. (10min)

Laid in bed

Snacks

Someone 6 Apr 2020

•••

This mug is just so good.

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Oreo but no milk?

Brooklyn Roasting Company Peru Blend

Someone 6 Apr 2020

Someone 6 Apr 2020

SESSION 2 Instruction

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020

Look through what others did during their break session 1.

Snacks

Planet Oat Milk

Someone 6 Apr 2020

Nice Phone •••

•••

FROG

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Show us Steve's bees

•••

Social Media

practiced piano

Some breakfast out in the back yard and never enough coffee.

Social Media

Share what you did here!

•••

practiced piano

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Nice Phone

•••

Someone 6 Apr 2020 Nice taste

(photo / comments)

Coffee!!

Amanda: Took my dog for a walk! It was just starting to rain so the streets were particularly quiet.

Griffin: I layed in my bed. Only during quarantine can you lay in bed during a tenminute break. I wish I could do this all the time.

Zoe: I had some tea today! Will probably have a few more of these

Like 5 pushups ZH

yup zh

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SESSION 3 Instruction

Option 1

Option 2

Take 10min to do one activity.

2. The thing

You can do more if you have time left ~

What is the thing (tangible or intangible) that makes you relaxed/calm?

Option 3

Option 4

3. Stretch Instructions ~

4. Playlist ~ https://open.spotify.com/user/hansoool? si=8ie5_rjKT5qzCo3RvEhbGw

Post Comments

During your break, spend time with/doing the thing

1. Pie Chart Activity

Post comments/picture?

Post a picture or description/name of it.

What Does a perfect break during work looks like to you?

BO DY

Body

Draw a circle to express visually.

Example: Eye

Post Everything Here! (photo / comment)

Source: https://www.getharvest.com/resources/ti me-well-spent-template/? utm source=creativemornings-wh-

Cleaning my keyboard with Swiffer Duster is very satisfying after work. (Jin)

Music Break - Jae

2. The Thing (kai) 2

2

20 Minutes doing things - India

Option 1

Claire - option 3 (body)

Hansol

Amanda – Options 1 & 2

I did the body stretching and it was really nice! I could feel I haven't used a lot of my muscles.

What my dad drew of his pie chart.. *^^*

Listened to Hansol's Still playlist but just ended up listening to Provider by Frank Ocean on repeat because that song makes me good sad its a good rainy day song.

1

Coffee calms me on breaks and keeps me focus at work. Need too constantly drink coffee throughout the day. (bad habit)

Drank water and ate a clementine but the clementine ended up being one of the gross ones and I gave half the water to one of my plants.

I like to take breaks that involve crafting or touching soft things -- like my dog.

1 1

Zoe's Pie Chart

kissed my cat Aston and played some animal crossing, embarrassingly still wearing my bunny day outfit

•••

Made this, also had coffee so I took a bathroom break

Ideal break at school vs ideal break at home (now)

Someone 3 weeks ago HAHAH the BUNNY DAY outfit lolol

1

Did some of my own stretches. I have issues with one of my hips so I've been trying to do more stretches lately. It's nice to get up and out of bed. -Michaela

1

Overall mood of what a good break feels like to me -- or a perfect day

Zoe

1

Made breakfast for my bf and I, then played with Goya till she was sick of me and ran away. (the breakfast was some turmeric rice with two slices of fried pork belly, one sunny side up, and some kimchi)

She doesn't like it, but keeps me calm grooming her... I regularly do this when I'm feeling tense doing work / worrying

Love visiting my plants!! There are larger plants that are not in this picture.. these have to be protected from my cat, who likes to eat them to annoy me. I think plants give me something to look forward to when I see new baby leaves coming in.

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IDEATION : TIMER CANDY /SPEAKER / INCENSE

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Illustrator Package Mockup

CANDY / TASTE

First Ideation

Second Ideation Illustrator Package Mockup

Second Ideation and iterations - thinking about incorporating a holder for daily goals (user places amount of time mints to a tray as daily break goals)

Second Ideation

Second Ideation and iterations - thinking about incorporating a holder for daily goals (user places amount of time mints to a tray as daily break goals)

Protypes

Playing with this prototype, it reminded me of a clock --> placing the mints on the time you want or hope/set goal to take breaks

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SPEAKER / HEARING

First Ideation

Second Ideation

First Rendering - Figuring out Form Comments that it looks like a pepper grinder..

Third Ideation

Comments that it looks like a pepper grinder..

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Third Ideation

Referencing size of parts that goes inside

1

Wrong material

Second Prototype Render testing Comments that this should also lean horizontal

Third Prototype - shape adjustment

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INCENSE / SCENT First Ideation

First Prototype testing

First prototype_Testing Weight / Time Idea: when incense burns all the way, the balance weighs to the other side to hit the ringer to indicate time

Second Ideation

Second prototype Render: awkward forms..

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Second prototype Render: awkward forms..

Second Prototype testing

Second prototype Render: awkward forms..

Second Prototype testing

IMG_7146.MOV IMG_7147.MOV

Second Prototype testing (took 35min 50 sec) Incense stick was a bit tilted to the side, Download - 26.1 MB so the residue fell to the ground. If that is fixed, the incense device seems it will tilt over when the stick is burnt all the way -- which will be around 40min.

Download - 12.9 MB Second prototype testing (Sound)

Final Prototype

IMG_7146.MOV IMG_7147.MOV

Second Prototype testing (took 35min 50 sec) Incense stick was a bit tilted to the side, Download - 26.1 MB so the residue fell to the ground. If that is fixed, the incense device seems it will tilt over when the stick is burnt all the way -- which will be around 40min.

Download - 12.9 MB Second prototype testing (Sound)

Final Prototype

Semifinal prototype based on measurements from earlier successful prototypes and adjustments to form proportions(40min) - white material looks more serene/nice then wood&metal in keyshot render

Created a mini incense station (gathering of all prototypes in one frame)

Semifinal prototype based on measurements from earlier successful prototypes and adjustments to form proportions(40min) - white material looks more serene/nice then wood&metal in keyshot render

Created a mini incense station (gathering of all prototypes in one frame)

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FINAL STAGE:

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BREAK

TIMER

A set of objects that time both work and break term to encourage taking regular breaks.

Each objects stimulate other senses of sedantary workers to relieve stress .

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HOURGLASS SPEAKER

Hourglass speaker with each sides playing timed work and break music.

When music ends, alarm goes on which is turns off when it is flipped over like an hourglass

Timing work & break

~ 52 min & 17 min

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TIMING WORK

LONGER SIDE

TIMING BREAK

SHORTER SIDE

Major shift to working at home due to COVID - 19, enclosing people indoors.

By detaching, the break speaker can be taken outdoors, just near home.

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BREAK MINTS

Mint to time quick short breaks.

Packagning with a circular tray to place mints to set goals for amount of breaks for each day Timing break

~ 5 minutes

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Sour part in the middle to notify end of time

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INCESNE

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TIMER

Incense to time work term or longer breaks.

When incense burns all the way, the holder weighs to the other side to ring a bell that indicates ending of work or break term.

Timing Work or Longer Breaks

~ 45 minutes

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WORKS CITED

Bolden-Barrett, V. (2017, January 5). Study: 5-minute walk breaks during work hours can re-energize employees. Retrieved from https://www.hrdive.com/news/study-5-minute-walk-breaks-during-work-hours-can-re-energize-employees/433382/ Horton, A. P. (2017, September 29). Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Taking Breaks The Wrong Way, Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s How To Fix That. Retrieved from https:// www.fastcompany.com/40475204/youre-taking-breaks-the-wrong-way-heres-how-to-fix-that Sky. (2019, October 24). Life-sized model shows what office workers might look like in 20 years. Retrieved from https:// news.sky.com/story/life-sized-model-shows-what-office-workers-might-look-like-in-20-years-11843868