Christine Brumbach

Christine BrumbachChristine BrumbachChristine Brumbach

Christine Brumbach

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Passthought ID

While user privacy is rapidly decreasing in this ever technically-evolving world, inputting the same long list of passwords is a hassle most wish to be done with. 


What is the point when every method of authentication seems to be less than enough against means to fabricate them?





Overview

Role & Scope

Challenge

As a class we were assigned the theme of user privacy regarding being actively online. One of our team members suggested we design a feature for future brain-computer interface devices - a way to unlock accounts and devices just like how we use passwords today.

Challenge

Role & Scope

Challenge

Our biggest challenge was being able to narrow down our idea and figure out how we could create an interface for an application so speculative. The next biggest feat was explaining our idea in a way people could understand.

Role & Scope

Role & Scope

Role & Scope

Role: UI Designer & Video Producer

Timeline: Five weeks

Platform: iOS mobile app

Team: Qianxi Gong, Kristy Lee, Austin Huynh, Thea Zhang, Shuping Wu, Yoyo Wu

Results

Passthought ID the app will act as an on-boarding and account manager for the common brain-computer interface device.


User Personas

User Personas

User Personas

User Personas

User Personas

User Personas

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Comparative + Competitive Analysis

Brain waves are unique. Passthought requires two authentication factors. Knowledge of the password combination Inherence factor - brain waves Data will be stored on the cloud When service is activated the data will be fetched

Our product would be the most novel way of unlocking devices and accounts. Through our competitive and comparative analysis, it is apparent that a braid ID system would offer the most security.

Feature Prioritization

Feature Prioritization

Feature Prioritization

Feature Prioritization

Feature Prioritization

Feature Prioritization

Visuals for Headset Calibration

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Visualization of the calibration process will inform the user of correct usage of the headset.

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Adding profiles enables multi-user organization and maintains user privacy.

Initial Tutorial

Profile Feature for Multi-user affordance

Initial Tutorial

With an initial tutorial, users will be prepared for when they create their own unique passthought.

Option for User To Practice Again

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

Because the user will need to focus while creating their unique passthought, we thought it'd be necessary to give the user an option to practice the tutorial again.

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

We prompt the user to think of a specific thing to use as their passthought, whether it be a specific memory, item or person.

Passthought Management

Time To Create a Unique Passthought

Passthought Management

Once account creation is complete, the rest of the app acts as a passthought manager as well as an option to strengthen their passthought.

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

Hi-Fidelity Prototype

On-boarding

From lo-fi to hi-fi, we wanted to keep a simple design because we are aware that the process of on-boarding can be strenuous. 


We chose the color blue to signal the cerebral nature of our app. For our logo we used the Dall-E AI tool to represent our idea.


The green and red dots symbolize the nodes on the headset that the user would be calibrating. 


We added a ring as a progress visualizer so the user knows how far along in the process they are. 

Initial Tutorial

User privacy is of the upmost importance when designing our app, that's why we afforded the option to assign each passthought to a named profile.


Because the user will have to focus on a specific thought, we provided a tutorial to prepare the user for when they create their own passthought.

Create Your Own Passthought

After the user has gained the confidence through the tutorials, they are now ready to create their own unique passthought.


Instead of providing the user with options of things to think about as their passthought, we let the user think of their own thought.


The brain-computer interface device will be able to read the brain signals associated with that specific thought. The waves recorded cannot be replicated by any other user.

Passthought Management

After recording the user's unique brainwaves into their passthought profile, the user will be able to manage their accounts and passthoughts.


If we had more time, we would implement an option for the user to strengthen their existing passthoughts.

Results + What I Learned

Results + What I Learned

Results + What I Learned

Results + What I Learned

Results + What I Learned

Results + What I Learned

Limitations

Our design is very speculative, which has it's good sides and not-so-good sides. While the future of technology is headed in the direction towards Virtual Reality, BCI technology will also need to upgrade with the rest of the industry. Since the technology hasn't evolved to that level yet the current reality can be restricting in plans of real implementation. 


As a group we were encouraged to 'not worry' about the technological aspects to the feasibility of this design. For me as an individual, this was a real challenge - to design an interface for some technology that has yet to exist. I have never thought I'd be designing for a speculative project, but I believe I am better off for it.

What I Gained

On a personal note, while it was difficult for me to wrap my mind around this idea, I gained valuable experience in designing a real interface for the first time. I had never used Figma for class project, so as soon as I realized I had the chance to take initiative I wasted no time. 


Another valuable lesson I gained from this was working with teammates who were on a different page than myself. I've always prided myself in being a team player, and it seemed like most of the group did not find my concerns or questions valid. We were on a strict timeline so everyone settled for the team member who fought for this idea. 


The one who introduced our idea specialized in machine learning, and would answer my concerns and questions with a lot of 'engineer talk'. I didn't understand what she was saying no matter how many times she repeated her wordy explanations. 


After this experience, I realized this would not be my first. However, as a people-person and (as corny as it sounds) a team player, this challenge excites me. I look forward to my future projects that will take an immense amount of understanding, patience and creativity. As I believe that is how we design for the best outcomes.


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