BreakupAid-Chatbot | ridwan-madon

BREAK UP AID

EMPATHETIC CHAT BOT

Break up aid is an empathetic chat bot that you can speak to when you are suffering from a tough break up. It is not meant to mend your heart, but it was developed with the intention to give the user a listening ear he or she deserves, emotionally.

Role

UX/UI Conversation Designer

Project Type

Google ChatBot

Technology

Speech-to-text

voice assistant devices

open speech APIs

Node.js

Google Firebase

Project Timeline

October 20 - November 18

Press

CBC Radio Station

ABSENCE OF THE OTHER

The sudden absence of your partner that you shared your life with can be very hard. It may take a period of days or weeks, recover, some longer. Loneliness tends to set in at times when our surroundings are quiet.

Research tells us that loneliness can be a killer, it increases stress, can increase the risk of physical problems such as heart conditions, as well as psychological problems like depression, anxiety or even suicide.

Demographically, women tend to fare better – they are more social, relationship-focused, have friends – while men, tend to be work-focused and tend to lean on their primary relationships rather than a cadre of friends, they suffer more.

EMOTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

Our pace of technological advancement is changing our lives exponentially. It's exciting to think about what is around the corner. Emotional technology may seem too far fetched for some to think about, but it may potentially help us.

Finding the nuance in life and translating that into technology, in this case, a chat bot, is an important aspect of the break up aid.

RESEARCH

EMOTIONAL PHASES

It was paramount to ask different people about their personal experiences on breakups. Each narrative is different from the other and it is interesting to find a common thread that kept resurfacing. Most people find it hard to share their emotions when their wound is fresh, especially men. Unfortunately, this could lead to undesired consequences. From the research done, ideally, people would prefer to have immediate attention when they need it.

Research

Graph on different scale of emotions after a break up / hurt / loss

From the graph, we can also understand that emotions are pushed down to loneliness and isolation after the first initial stage of loss and hurt. It is crucial to intervene during the first phase when the person feels more vulnerable. I did some user research studies through literature readings, interviews,

Observations

People tend to keep to themselves when they are going through a break up

They are very emotional and sometimes show their mood swings

There are people who also prefer to talk to others about what they go through

Sometimes people prefer not to be a listening ear because of the negative emotions

It gets very lonely for people who suffer through break up

Hard to contain their emotions

Sharing Emotions

Themes

Listening Ear

Isolation

Insights

I expected people to be very sympathetic about peoples predicament

I assumed people share their emotions to lessen their burden

Peoples emotions varies and they tend to keep it to themselves

Opportunities

There is an opportunity for these people to share their emotions

How could technology use to replace human as a listening ear?

They should never feel alone and there should be some sort of companion

People could have something to look forward to when they feel lonely

There must be an instant companion that can always be there when you need it

DEFINE

BEYOND SPECULATION

Listening Ear : Understanding the needs

Ensuring that the research does not influence a certain fixation towards a solution, it was important to keep an open mind with all the information received and addressing their need than a direct solution.

Expectations of user

Users who go through an emotional turmoil may not have certain expectations when they are in an unstable phase, however, it is in their best interest to share the whirlwind of emotions privately.

Giving Trust, Receiving Trust

People who are going through break ups are in a very unstable position. They feel vulnerable and are very sensitive. Investigating the nuance in life that makes people trust others is an aspect to consider.

Define

EXPERIENCE MAPPING

Mapping how people in general end their relationship

EMPATHY MAP

FEELINGS

TASK

INFLUENCES

PAIN POINTS

OVERALL GOAL

Feeling Shock

Totally Numb

Disappointed

Anger sets in

Sadness engulf

Delusional

Sense of guilt

Unbearable Pain

How to avoid these feelings?

Share the feelings or experiences going through immediately with someone

Getting immediate attention from

someone or something

Getting too involved with the feelings

People choose to ignore or rather not hear relationship problems

Easier to go down the Rabit hole with depression

Immediate attention should be given to those who suffered from google Aid

PERSONA

Adam Lee

Behaviors

Spent a lot of time with his gadgets

Emotionally attached to his girlfriend (now ex-girlfriend)

An introvert and does not like to share his personal life to anyone

Age

28 Years Old

Proffesion

Finance Analyst

Goals & Needs

Core Characteristics

Emotional

Tech Savvy

Introvert

Need to release his bottled up emotions

At the brink of emotional stress

Nobody knows he is emotionally depressed and he is not keeping it well

DISCOVERY

PEOPLE AVOID TALKING

An interesting discovery is that people, especially men, prefer not to share their emotional side of their journey. They have their ego to uphold or they just choose not to share because it is their personality. However, this has brought attention whereby their bottled up emotions are causing issues and may lead to repercussions.

"I just can't talk to anyone at this juncture,

I feel too vulnerable,

I am just making it worse if I make

myself an open book."

It is understandable that people choose not to convey their emotions. It is not necessarily a good thing if this is not addressed, especially if the build-up is too intense for the person and it can cause him or her into depression.

IDEATE

EXPLORING THE CHATBOT

A vital point when creating the chatbot is that it has to be very personalized. The user would also have to feel that he or she is speaking to a 'human' with the nuance that derives from the voice of the smart voice device.

USER FLOW

VOICE U/I DESIGN

Ideate

PROTOTYPE

Currently based in New York.

Drop me a mail at hello@ridwanmadon.com

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