Shower Routine Creation: Application Design in a User-Centered Process

Abstract: A shower routine is a sequence of instructions that can be executed by a smart shower. This report explores how interfaces for creating shower routines can be designed. It further investigates the features that users prioritize in such an interface and how shower routines can enhance the shower experience. Based on Orbital Systems’ app My Water, prototypes for various design so- lutions were created in an iterative process with a strong focus on user testing. Initially, literature studies and user tests of My Water were conducted to identify areas for improvement. Subsequently, three iterations of prototype development were carried out. In the first iteration, five prototypes were designed and tested through lo-fi prototyping. In the second iteration, two additional prototypes were designed and tested based on the earlier ones. In the third iteration, the best-performing prototype was further developed using hi-fi prototyping, and the prototype was then tested against the existing app. The best design turned out to be a block-based interface reminiscent of ex- isting calendar apps, and the hi-fi prototype of the interface performed signifi- cantly better than the existing app during user tests. In terms of functionality, the work shows that users have a certain interest in accessing pre-made standard routines, controlling the type of water stream, and combined control of music and lighting. The time-specific nature of shower routines was found to be a sig- nificant advantage, leading to water conservation and eliminating the risk of a shower session exceeding the planned duration. Furthermore, shower routines can make the shower more accessible for users who have difficulty using regular shower controls.