Streamlining the process of eating takeout with a friend during COVID-19 safely.

Conversational User Interface | December 2020 (3 weeks)

**My Role**

User Testing

Storyboarding

Tools

Figma

VoiceFlow

Photoshop

Google Slides

Team

Amy Luo

Michelle Zhu

Nancy Zuo (me)

Problem

Enjoying food together has always been a common method to form and grow relationships with each other. However, in the age of COVID-19, getting a coffee with a co-worker after work, eating the same type of food together, or taking a date out to dinner are no longer safe.

COVID-19 has affected our social lives in many ways, and has made it difficult for us to develop and maintain in-person relationships.

In particular, it has made it difficult for us to enjoy a meal with a friend together safely in an indoor setting.

How might we design a conversation between a CUI (conversational user interface) and a passenger for a safe food hangout in an autonomous vehicle during COVID-19?

Solution

Lexi is a conversational user interface (CUI) that allows you to order takeout to safely enjoy together with a friend during COVID-19. Lexi features a seamless ordering experience, and encourages one to stay productive and maintain work-life balance by through multi-tasking during the commute time in the autonomous vehicle.

👉 view full process book

Journey Mapping

We started our design process by examining the experience of a single passenger in a fully autonomous vehicle. Visualizing the ups and downs of a passenger’s trip from start to finish, we identified specific pain points and opportunities for our CUI.

For the scenario, we focused a trip where our passenger Jane plans to have a picnic with her friend George up at Mount Washington. She and George separately take ride share CUI-installed autonomous vehicles to head to a picnic lunch.

Analysis

In our early design stages, we sketched a storyboard to better visualize the flow between moments within Jane’s journey.

From our journey map, we identified 3 moments for conversational interaction to unfold between the passenger and the CUI, Lexi. Each moment focused on addressing pain points identified in the journey map and improving Jane’s ride experience.

For each conversation script, we identified the goal of the exchange

as well as the means to accomplish that goal.

Scripts

Moment # 1: Ordering Food

Goal

Lexi wants to help Jane order lunch. Given that Lexi knows the car ride was ordered as a picnic and opportunity to catch up with a friend, Lexi knows to ask Jane what she would like to order.

Means

The steps for accomplishing this goal include: Asking Jane about what type of food she would prefer, suggesting recommendations for where to eat, and suggesting menu items she may want to order. Lexi then places that order for her, notifying her that the order has been confirmed.

Moment #2: Setting Ambience

Goal

Jane wants to concentrate on her assignment, finish her homework on the ride. Lexi will help provide the environment with low distraction for high focus.

Means

The steps for accomplishing this goal include, asking Jane what assignment she is working on, give a suggestion for music in the background (Jane can either change the suggestion or decline), and ask Jane if the car windows should be tinted to reduce outside scenery distraction.