Snickers UNĀ

Background

Considering statistics, numbers, and future trends, we observe that the AI industry is growing rapidly, with a predicted annual growth rate of 37.7% from 2023 to 2030. Already today, AI has been adopted by large corporations and individual private users worldwide. Just a few years ago, this would have been considered a fantasy, but currently, 35% of companies are already integrating similar tools into their operations, highlighting the market's growth potential. This trend is particularly relevant to our target group, indicating that AI will continue to expand, especially in construction sites. The estimated AI market size in construction is projected to reach USD 3.99 billion in 2024 and USD 11.85 billion by 2029. These figures emphasize the need to focus on specific fields and branches, supporting users according to their diverse needs, which led me to further exploration.

Method

To better understand the construction market and craftsmen’s everyday tasks, I conducted field studies and user interviews with individuals in the field. By engaging with users in different branches within the target group, I gained insight into the problems and challenges that craftsmen face daily. I gathered valuable information on how different tasks intersect and conflict with each other. Through this hands-on research, I understood that an underlying problem was a lack of time, communication, guidance, and support.

Based on user insights, I initiated desktop research and maintained continuous communication with users and collaboration partners to understand craftsmen's workwear, commonly used tools, and frequently followed safety guidelines. By understanding the current market, I recognized the potential for a wearable digital tool that provides valuable information and guidance for craftsmen.

With the help of sketching and prototyping, I could explore multiple directions for how a wearable tool could become part of craftsmen’s everyday workwear. The ideation phase involved a wide range of concepts, visually communicated through quick doodles, foam models, and 3D-printed CAD sketches. This phase helped gaining a better understanding of how the product could impact ergonomics, workflow, and various tasks. Taking the design into a physical format was necessary to understand its limitations and opportunities, as well as how the interaction between the user and the tool would look. This approach also allowed for testing different placements and attachment mechanisms.

Result

UNĀ’s core functionality is to provide both passive and active support in craftsmen’s tasks. The passive support contributes by gathering valuable information and documenting the user's work through camera and LiDAR sensors. Its main function is to aid in documentation for later administrative tasks, covering activities such as material-, process-, time-,  and inventory tracking, and providing an initial basis for report writing. The active support, on the other hand, addresses physical tasks, including tool techniques and usage, workflow, scheduling and educational guidance through its interactive push to talk and app based platform. UNĀ also has an integrated warning system that tracks the work environment and tool usage. By doing this, the tool can predict potential accidents at an early stage and notify the worker through multisensory feedback.

The outcome is a picture and voice-based computational, flexible, body-worn AI tool. It’s designed to work collaboratively with the user, seamlessly becoming an integrated part of their workwear. The tool is built as a modular system, allowing users to exchange the attachment mechanism to place it to any material or clothing piece. The system can be personalized by simply changing the attachment piece on the battery unit. 

By interacting with the tool, the user receives instant feedback through the device's loudspeaker based on the material captured by the camera. UNĀ supports the individual worker by connecting to a personal profile on the user's phone, where the information is saved on a private, encrypted cloud. The user can later decide whether to share the information with others, ensuring that supervisors or management cannot monitor them. The recorded footage is automatically deleted after 10 minutes if it’s deemed irrelevant, further protecting the user's privacy. UNĀ features a user-friendly design and a transparent approach to recording, with a strong emphasis on data protection.

In conclusion, UNĀ represents a significant advancement in supporting craftsmen by seamlessly integrating into their everyday workwear. This innovative, body-worn AI tool offers both passive and active support, enhancing documentation, workflow, and safety. Through camera and LiDAR sensors, UNĀ gathers valuable information for administrative tasks such as material, process, time, and inventory tracking, while its interactive platform provides real-time guidance on tool usage, scheduling, and educational support.

UNĀ's modular design allows for personalized attachment options, ensuring compatibility with various materials and clothing. The tool prioritizes user privacy with a secure, encrypted cloud for data storage, giving users control over information sharing. With its user-friendly interface and strong data protection measures, UNĀ is set to improve the construction industry by enhancing efficiency, safety, and overall workflow for individual workers.