A project that aims to create simple and meaningful interactions in our everyday lives for all kinds of long distance relationships, giving distant users reflective and tactile experiences to generate a sense of belonging and intimacy in long distance relationships.
Background
Human connection has been a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the feelings millions of us are experiencing during the current coronavirus pandemic is loneliness. In our combined efforts to stay safe and save lives, our usual ways of seeing family, friends or just familiar faces have been put on pause. Statistics show that more number of people are open to a long distance relationship than previous years.
Every single person who stays away misses the company of their dear ones and the memories cherished with them to the core. It is when they realize their importance in their life and all they do is end up chatting with them on Whatsapp or Messenger, do video calls on Skype or simply talk to them on the phone.
Recently the height of technology, of interaction, has become the touch screen. This technology has brought many great experiences and innovations, but at its heart is cold, and gives the user little feedback. I wanted to create something which diverges from the point where the phone is the beginning and end of every digital interaction.
Human connection has been a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the feelings millions of us are experiencing during the current coronavirus pandemic is loneliness. In our combined efforts to stay safe and save lives, our usual ways of seeing family, friends or just familiar faces have been put on pause. Statistics show that more number of people are open to a long distance relationship than previous years.
Every single person who stays away misses the company of their dear ones and the memories cherished with them to the core. It is when they realize their importance in their life and all they do is end up chatting with them on Whatsapp or Messenger, do video calls on Skype or simply talk to them on the phone.
Recently the height of technology, of interaction, has become the touch screen. This technology has brought many great experiences and innovations, but at its heart is cold, and gives the user little feedback. I wanted to create something which diverges from the point where the phone is the beginning and end of every digital interaction.
Design Intent
To create simple and meaningful interactions in our everyday lives for all kinds of long distance relationships, giving distant users reflective and tactile experiences to generate a sense of belonging and intimacy in long distance relationships.
To create simple and meaningful interactions in our everyday lives for all kinds of long distance relationships, giving distant users reflective and tactile experiences to generate a sense of belonging and intimacy in long distance relationships.
Target Audience
Anyone who stays away from their loved ones. Long distance interaction is my target area.
Identifying the current issues
in long distance relationships
in long distance relationships
1. How might we be more expressive to our loved ones?
2. How can we avoid miscommunication?
3. How do we generate a sense of belonging and intimacy people living in long distance relationships?
Ideas & Insights
Moodboard
Ideation
A new way of expressing your feelings and maintaining intimacy with your loved ones over long distances.
Gutur Gu translates to the conversation between two lovers in private, also used for symbolising the sound that pigeons make.
Gutur Gu translates to the conversation between two lovers in private, also used for symbolising the sound that pigeons make.
Auto mood detection
One of the major problems in long distance communication is miscommunication. Face-to-face communication has several sources of contextual information that enables language comprehension. However, these contextual cues are absent in text-based communication. Emoticons have been proposed as cues used to stress the emotional intentions on this channel of communication but even they are not full proof when it comes understanding the person's mood. Someone can smile even when they are sad.
Gutur Gu uses emotion sensors and mood detection technology in the device and its app to automatically detect how the user is feeling regardless of their expressions. Now your loved ones can always know how you are feeling and feel more connected.
How it works
Gutur Gu feature
Sign of being missed by someone somewhere out there, even in busy schedules, can light up one’s day. That was the thought behind adding this “Gutur Gu” feature. Users can set what message they want to convey and press the head to activate it.
Sign of being missed by someone somewhere out there, even in busy schedules, can light up one’s day. That was the thought behind adding this “Gutur Gu” feature. Users can set what message they want to convey and press the head to activate it.
Gutur Gu mobile application
Users have to connect their devices with the Gutur Gu app to start communicating with each other. They can then assign their device to their loved one and vice versa to establish the link. Multiple devices can be added for multiple users.
Users have to connect their devices with the Gutur Gu app to start communicating with each other. They can then assign their device to their loved one and vice versa to establish the link. Multiple devices can be added for multiple users.
The Home screen shows the battery status of the device along with the auto detected mood of the user. The device can be charged easily using a type-C cable.
The app also allows the user to change the expression while also offering a lot of other features to make the overall experience holistic.
Empower your long distance relationship like never before
From choosing from more than 15 expressions to setting custom messages, syncing important events to calendar, sending voice notes and reminders for our loved ones, knowing how they are feeling to letting them know when you are thinking about them, Gutur Gu offers a sense of togetherness and belonging to all sorts of distant users.
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