Cisco Pivo

Background

In 2023, Western Europeans had an average of approximately 9.4 connected electrical devices per person. Many of these devices have limitations, such as fixed screen dimensions, large footprints, or static mounting, which restrict the different user scenarios. Additionally, electrical home devices, particularly screen-based ones, can be challenging to recycle. The recycling rate for LCD and TV items is only 28.4%, contributing significantly to the growing problem of unrecycled electronic waste.

During this project, in collaboration with the security and networking company Cisco, it was explored how to reduce the growing amount of different electronic devices in the home, while also creating a user experience that would be more immersive and personalized to the user. 

In this project, conducted in collaboration with the security and networking company Cisco, it was explored how to reduce the increasing number of electronic devices in the home, while at the same time enhancing the home entertainment experience to be more immersive and personalized.

Method and process

Initially, the project started with a shared “How might we”- workshop, where different project opportunities were discussed together in the class. With the input and ideas gathered from the workshop, how to reduce entertainment devices and create a more immersive experience was the topic chosen to work further with.

With the help of desktop and trend research of the electrical home device market, it was possible to broaden the understanding of the topic, while also pinpointing relevant opportunities within the projector sector.

A "common core" workshop was conducted to explore and create a potential design language for a Cisco home product line. The goal was to develop a design language that would be more suitable for a private home environment, instead of a professional work environment. By introducing warmer colors and designing a shape that emphasizes the product'sportability, while also paying homage to the existing Cisco design language through the use of specific materials and form details, a potential fitting common core was established.

During the concept and ideation phase of the physical part of the project, 2D sketching was used in the initial stages to quickly explore ideas and details. 3D modeling in CAD was then used to complement, more easily evaluate, and compare more finished shapes and details of the physical form. 

When it came to the user interaction with the product, a quick user study was done to gather information about people'sperception of gesture control. The users were asked to play out and gesture how they would want to express a certaininteraction, such as increasing or decreasing the sound volume. The answers were then recorded and used as a base for a“library” of different gestures for the different controls. 

Using an existing projector and the visual projection material, the size of the projections and distance from the wall to the projector could be evaluated and tested.

Result 

The result of the project was Cisco Pivo, a wireless and portable smart projector that transforms how you share and enjoy everyday moments, whether in-person or digitally. The physical device consists of a smart short throw projector, a camera, a speaker, and a microphone, making it possible to use Pivo for everything from the family movie night to a virtual yoga session with a friend in another city. 

By positioning the camera module at the top of the device and allowing it to automatically rotate around its center axis to track the user, a smoother video experience is achieved. The camera's head tracking feature ensures it can follow a person around the room, preventing them from walking out of frame during an important video call. 

Additionally, the camera can track a person's gestures, enabling the user to control Pivo with simple hand movements, such as waving goodbye to end a meeting or holding up a hand to pause or play. Providing this hands-free control, beyond being able to control it via an app, allows users to decide how to interact with the product and can create a more immersive user experience.

Since Pivo uses a short throw projector that can adjust the size and angle of the projection based on the distance from the wall and the user's needs, it offers a wider range of use cases compared to many existing screen-based device

With the Homex mobile app, every aspect of Pivo can be precisely controlled and customized to meet each user's unique needs. The app enables users to start and end specific projection windows, save preferred recurring projection setups, and change the projection theme based on each user's personal preferences.