Keep Running
An AR glasses for people who regularly running for exercise. As a kind of aerobic, running could be monoronous and boring. However, running could be more fun if combining with music and visual effects. Strictly speed-classified music can help users to keep a even pace and breath, and collective items in the AR glasses can also attract them to explore the random track and persist to complete the running. The KeepRunning AR glasses can provide a interesting and unique running experience no matter you are running on the street, sportground, or even on the running machine. Also with the use of supporting mobile app, users can cuztomize their running plans, speeds, song lists, and more.
People who run for exercise
Researcher Designer
- Interviewing potential users.
- Funtionality & UI design.
- Prototyping with Unity and Arduino.
- Testing & iterating with prototype.
As a popular way of exercise, running is still adopted by lots of people even more ways of exercise have emerged with the development of fitness. However, this most obvious disadvantage is its monotonous and boring process, which is also the main reason that people failed to keep running.
To help people get more motivation and keep running, we designed "KeepRunning", a running-scenario AR glasses which has more entertainment performance. with the advanced technology of augment reality, the running process can be gamified without affect the real life environment where users are running at. And as a wearable, running scenario is also considered to make the glasses lightweight, firm, and stable.
As music and rhythm has becoming a trend in the fitness field, "KeepRunning" combine music and running to provide an interesting experience. Music with same BPM are selected and allows users to cuztomize, this could help users to keep a constance pace and pattern of breath. Also visualizing the rhythm in the glasses without blocking the sight can also guide users' pace and provie a novel and interesting running experience. As people's pace and speed are different, the BPM and song lists can be customized in the supportive app to fit the prefereneces for each user. Other settings such as running time, modes, routes can be customized as well to have better experience.
Besides, in order to encourage users finish the whole runing route without taking any shortcuts, collectable coins are placed on the route and displayed in the glasses. These coins can be used to redeem extra songs and unlock more song lists on the supportive app. Users can set the running plan on the mobile app in advance and select the running mode (street, sportground, or running machine), system will generate the route and select a song list automatically then users can start their running.
During the design process, Unity and Arduino are used for prototype building to simulate the running scenario with physical interactions in virtual environment. The prototype focused on several hypothesis for the project, such as "users are less likely to take shortcuts if there are collectable items on the route", "users are willing to follow the rhythm if there are music". Multiple tests of the prototype are held with potential users, hypothesis have been justified, and valuable feedbacks have been gathered for further improvements.
