This is a final year coursework for BIT, university of Greenwich, UK.

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Submission date – 17th April, 2018
Interaction Design
COMP1649

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgement ......................................................................................................................................3
1. Introduction................................................................................................................................................4
1.1.Brief Introduction.........................................................................................................................................4
1.2.Report structure............................................................................................................................................4
2. Background ...............................................................................................................................................5
2.1.What is a smart thermostat? .........................................................................................................................5
2.2.Purpose of smart thermostat.........................................................................................................................5
2.3.Defining target users....................................................................................................................................5
2.4.Functionalities..............................................................................................................................................5
3. Interaction designs .....................................................................................................................................6
3.1.Overview of different design issues.............................................................................................................6
3.2.Designing multi-device interaction............................................................................................................10
3.3.Interaction design processes and guidelines ..............................................................................................13
3.4.Interaction design research.........................................................................................................................15
4. Prototype...................................................................................................................................................19
4.1.Evaluation for high level prototype by using selected rules from Nielsen`s Usability Heuristics ...........24
5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................27
5.1.How this thermostat system development is accomplished ......................................................................27
5.2.Constraints during development ................................................................................................................27
5.3.What will be done in future? .....................................................................................................................27
6. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................28

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Acknowledgement
I would like to give my thanks and appreciation to my teachers from KMD Institute, Mr. Francis Murphy
and Mr.Shain Thu. Because of their teaching methods, skills and guidelines, it is veryhelpful for me to accomplish
this coursework. I also appreciate to all responsible personals at our campus, KMD. I also would like to thanks
my parents for their supporting.

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1. Introduction
1.1.Brief introduction
This report will contain a high fidelity multimedia prototype for a smart thermostat system and will be
built to use in wall unit. Related design issues, guidelines and standards will be evaluated and documented
alongside with prototypes.
1.2.Report structure
Report structure is two parts as follow
1) Analysis
i. Identify issues related with thermostat development
ii. Analysis on 3C framework, UCD and other interaction design related guidelines
2) Evaluation
i. Questionnaire
ii. Designing high level prototype based on user requirement results
iii. Evaluating the prototype to proof it was built under stands and guidelines

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2. Background
2.1. What is a smart thermostat?
Lately, various smart devices are popularly developed to assist daily lives easier and smarter. Smart
thermostats are smart devices which people use to control temperature inside the house. Thermostat devices are
attached on a wall in a room and contain built-in displays to show information. Then, smart thermostats can be
remotely controlled by using other connected devices like tablet, smartphone, smartwatch and PC.
E.g. Google`s Nest thermostat is a well-known smart thermostat which can intelligently adjust home
temperature by sensing user`s likeness and presence at home.
(Anon., 2108)
2.2. Purpose of smart thermostat
Smart thermostats are used for below purposes.
 To easily and systematically control suitable temperature
 By exactly understanding about energy usage, it will help people to reduce costs
 To build smarter living environment (E.g. Being able to heat or cool the house via a connected device
before user get back home)
(Grant, 2018)
2.3. Defining target users
All smart system including thermostat aim to bring smarter living for all people. For instance, all family
members except children (10 years old or younger) and elders (55 years old or older) will use this system in a
house. So, thermostat must meet requirements of general audiences.
2.4. Functionalities
Functionalities contained in this thermostat development are as follow
 Control heating/cooling
 Set heating/cooling schedules
 Auto temperature adjustment for power saving
 View history of schedules and energy usage
 Get warning about extreme temperature or weather

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3. Interaction designs
3.1. Overview of different design issues
3.1(a) Issues associated with cognitive psychology
Failing to get user attention (Attention)
If an interface has too many unrelated information, user can get lost to main point. Without visible
elements like headers and logos to point out what user is using or seeing, attention cannot be caught and mistakes
can happen for user`s tasks.
Phone Tablet
Figure.3.1(a).1 – ImperiHome android app
In Figure.3.1.1, this app has many unrelated information, non-standard icons and inappropriate font sizes
placing in messy positions. User cannot set focus on what he exactly want to use while he is difficultly trying to
figure out which are buttons or heading titles or icons.

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Issues with notification (Reading, speaking and listening)
By interacting with notifications like sounds, light and vibration, app will be more effective. Without
them, user`s daily activities can be slow and forget to complete tasks in time. For example – When user does not
set recommended temperature, thermostat must alert with phone notification or interacting with features like
Google Assistant. If not, in-home temperature will be uncomfortable. However, several notifications about useless
information can make users annoy.
Navigation issues (Recognition versus recall)
Complex navigation system can confuse users what they need to continue or which they are currently
accessing. If system cannot give visual feedback on the parts user has ever accessed or is accessing, it will not
support recognition memory.
3.1(b) Other related issues
Language usage
Inappropriate terms and words alsomakes users reluctant to continue. Words and phrases must be friendly
and understandable to target user levels. Alert or error messages can lead users to difficult situations.
Figure.3.1(b).1 – Source: (Anon., 2018)
In Figure.3.1.2.1, the error message on the right is a better socially understandable and supportive for
users. Terms used in the left one have not usually seen in daily usage so that user cannot easilyfind out the error.
Performance reducing
Over using of images, animations and 3rd
party tools for designing purpose waste system performances,
internet data usage and battery usage. Apps for system like thermostat must run with connected in-home wall
device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so that using animations or images unnecessarily can make app to load slow and
lag.

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Suspicious permissions against user privacy
Sometime, thermostat systems access camera inside house so that permission or policies must be firstly
provided to user. Users value their privacy which system must also respect. If the application illegally gets or
collects user`s data without permission or clear explanation, this can be defined as cybercrime.
Non-standard designs
Using non-standard typography, colors, size, icons and other graphic design elements really damage
accessibility of the app. (See Figure.3.1.2.2)
Figure.3.1(b).2 – Smart Home Android app
Various device screens
Mostly, screens of both old and latest devices have differences like resolution and pixel density. If remote
control application is designed in limited range of devices, system will not reachto all users. Some newer devices
like IPhone X has a notch and parts of app interface will be covered by it if app is not designed based on
Using red colored text on blue background
cause bad readability on almost all devices.
Its lack of accessibility will not support
disabilities because color blind users will
face difficulties.
These are so confusing which is a button to
clickand using gradient color unnecessarily
makes user`s sight annoy.
Icons are poorly designed.

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manufacturer guidelines. Some devices has higher pixel density so that higher resolution contents should be used.
If not, things like images, icons, etc. will be blurry and annoy user`s sight.
Overload number of contents in a page
If possible, contents must be displayed based on primary user needs. If there are too many unnecessary
contents, swiping gestures through pages is also issues in touch screen applications as other contents can be
accidently touched. Showing many contents in a single page makes users to feel like scrolling down the screen
endlessly. (See Figure.3.1.2.3)
Phone Tablet
User have to scroll down
many times because of
many pictures in one page
Figure.3.1(b).3 (Source: www.pixabay.com )

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3.2. Designing multi-device interaction
Lately, there are many devices variants other than computers and those devices accomplish tasks together
as a connected set. This connected ecosystem can be improved based on consistent, continuous, and
complementary. 3C framework will be used to evaluate how the conceptual design is built for better multi-device
interaction and experiences.
Low level prototype will be developed basedon combination of 3 approaches by comparing to an existing
thermostat system, NEST.
Wall device
Mobile
Tablet
Figure.3.3.1 – NEST thermostat (Porter & Athow, 2018)

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Wall device
Mobile
Tablet
Figure.3.3.2 – Low Level prototype

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Consistent
NEST system`s wall device is a circle structure. Its temperature adjusting function is used by rotating the
ring attached to wall device border. In remote control app, that feature is accessed by rotating temperature circle
so that user will feel the same experience on all devices.For mobile/tablet, there are only a few changes like icons
and buttons.
For better consistency, the prototype system`s main functionalities are designed to be same experiences
across all devices although there are some layouts altering according to screen size. Three vital functionalities
like slider for adjusting temperature, scheduling button and notification of temperature remain the same in design
and function so that user will find the same experiences in every device. For tablet view, more useful functions
like weather and choosing location are added because of its available spaces in layout.
There can be issues like shrinking contents in mobile devices to fit within device resolution. For instance,
all menu and setting are put under hamburger menu so that user have to open it first to see all available
customization system.
Continuous
This approach is used to let user access the system seamlessly on all devices without losing goals. For
example, schedule function of both prototype system and NEST can be continuously used on each device. Even
if user set a timetable on wall unit at home, he still can edit, add new schedule or view energy usage history via
mobile app or website anywhere or anytime.
Complementary
Complementary approach is about collaboration and controlling between devices. All devices perform
tasks together. One device acts as a primary one which will provide user experiences and other devices are remote
controllers to adjust those experiences.
In both prototype system and NEST, the main device is a wall device which will collaborate with other
devices. If remote control application is installed on phone or tablet, those two devices will be able to control the
wall unit.
To support complementary progress, remote control app should be developed for all Operating Systems.
If not, there will be incompatible issues that this system is not available for all users.
(Anon., 2018)

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3.3. Interaction Design Processes and guidelines
There are many approaches for interaction design such as User centered design, participatory design, etc.
User centered design is selected for this design development because thermostat system effectively carries out its
tasks based on user`s daily living styles.
3.3(a) User Centered Design
UCD processes are done by only focusing and discussing with users who will actually use the system so
that final product will be the exact one user needs. It can be utilized to find out users’ needs relating with features,
goals and work flows and so on. UCD`s objective is to develop effective usability and accessibilityby reaching
out to user satisfaction and avoiding various user experience issues. If user needs are gathered through analysis
and feedback earlier,required or new changes can be easily made before the actual development. (Novoseltseva,
2018)
UCD is an ISO standard. ISO officially stated that “ISO 9241-210:2010 provides requirements and
recommendations for human-centred design principles and activities throughout the life cycle of computer-based
interactive systems. It is intended to be used by those managing design processes, and is concerned with ways in
which both hardware and software components of interactive systems can enhance human–system interaction.”
(9241-210:2010, 2018)
In order to complete UCD processes,two research instruments will be utilized as follow.
1) Before developing prototypes, questionnaire which will collect user needs in this wall unit will be
carriedout.
2) At the end of the development, usability testing which will be carriedout to confirm that they can
use functions correctly, they do not have issues within usage and how long they need to accomplish
their goals.
3.3(b) Related design guidelines
Respective principles selected from Nielsen`s Usability heuristic will be used because latest UI and UX
designs or guidelines from organizations like Apple and Google are adaptive with them. (Anon., 2018)
Selectedrules from Nielsen`s Usability Heuristics
Below guidelines are selected based on needs of thermostat development.
Visibility of system status – System must always have visible interaction and feedbacks to users so that
user can know what system is offering and what he is currently using or can do next.
Match between system and real world – System must be user-friendly by delivering familiar features
and terms that are usually experienced by user in daily life activities.
User control and freedom – System must give every possible ways to users for controlling over mistakes
users face within using the system.

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Error prevention – Clear error messages are useful for describing what user is wrong but first thing to
consider is pre-operations to make sure user will never face errors.
Recognition than recall – How system works is needed to be clear for users in step by steps. It is not
appropriate that users have to try to remember everything he is using. System should help the way user
Aesthetic and minimalist design – Design must bring out user attentions by simplifying the contents
where user focusing will mostly be.
Help and Documentation – User manual should be reinforced, if users need help with utilizing system
or want to know about system info and policies.
Therefore, evaluation on high level prototype will be occurred based on those guidelines in upcoming
section 4.1.
3.3(c) Relationship architecture of how wall device`s pages works relate with each other
Schedule page
Home page
Setting page

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3.4. Interaction Design Research
To understand user requirements, questionnaire section will be held by using google survey form. Five
users participatedin this survey. Most of the questions mainly focus on facts about how user want to interact with
the system.
Figure.3.4.1 – Survey form

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Figure.3.4.1 – Feedback 1
As shown in Feedback 1, it is sure system cannot always make suitable temperature for everyone because
each person has different likeness. However, some users will not know how to make suitable temperature. So, all
users want both manual and auto mode to control temperature.
Figure.3.4.2 – Feedback 2
Based on Feedback 2, 80% of users want to see temperature alongside with quick access to main features.
20% want to see only current temperature. Nobody want too many content in a small screen. So, home screen
should be designed in minimalist to feature current temperature and quick access for main features so that
interface will not be a frustrated one.

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Figure.3.4.3 – Feedback 3
Directly with sounds or notification on phones/tablets, thermostat must alert user about extreme
temperature, battery, timer, etc. As in Feedback 3, all users need this function because this feature will help users
to complete their goals in time.
Figure.3.4.4 – Feedback 4
Feedback 4 shows that most users want color to use adaptively based on temperature. It is more effective
to interact with users. 20% of users like to use only black and white.

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Figure.3.4.5 – Feedback 5
Whatever a system can perform well,users will likely to customize features and also want system to help
to do their tasks automatically. According to feedback 5, users want to make their own schedules and also need
system`s support sometime. Like NEST, system should analyze user schedule patterns first so that auto scheduling
can create user`s favourite temperature degree.

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4. Prototype
After above analysis progresses, high-level prototype for wall device has been built based on user
feedbacks and standards.
Figure.4.1 – Home screen when heating
Setting Schedule
To heat, this icon must be
clicked. As a visual feedback,
selected button is brighter than
other two.
Outside temperature
Horizontal slider for
temperature control.
User can also use arrow head
to adjust other than sliding.
Indicator to show
how much
temperature is set
from outside
temperature
Current temperature set
by user.

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Figure.4.2 – Home screen when cooling
Figure.4.3 – Home screen when auto power saving mode (Eco)
To cool, this icon must be
clicked. As a visual feedback,
selected button is brighter than
other two.
To make power saving mode,
this icon must be clicked. As a
visual feedback, selected
button is brighter than other
two.

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Figure.4.4 – Setting page
Button for going back
to home page
Setting for home screen for
changing C°/F° units,
brightness, etc.
To customize security
features like child
mode, locking devices,
etc.
To change facts about users
like room, home address,
etc.
To connect or remove
devices for remote control
and other home system like
electricity
To customize which
notification and sounds will
be made for defined
situations. E.g. sending
notification to phone after
schedule timer end
To view device support like user
manuals, wall device info like
battery performance, software
update, maintenance support, etc.

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Figure.4.5 – Schedule page
Figure.4.6 – How user will use schedule feature
Dropdown list is to
choose months.
Current month is
already shown.
User can click on
desired time to add
schedule
Like writing down on a
real calendar, user can
easily know what he
set how much
temperature before.
This new window will
pop up if user click on a
desired time to make
schedule. This window
is resembled like home
page.
User can set timer
when to end schedule
by simply selecting the
ending time like on
Android 8 clock.
User can swipe left or
right to see more days.
User can swipe up or
down to see more time.

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Figure.4.7 – Showing energy use for selected date
If user tap on
previous day, it will
show total energy
usage.

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4.1. Evaluation for high levelprototype by using selectedrules from Nielsen`s Usability Heuristics
Visibility of system status
Figure.4.1.1 – Home page
Figure.4.1.1 shows how main screen is effectively and visibly interacted with users. These visual
feedbacks can fix the issues of Cognitive Psychology (Recognition versus Recall) shown in Section 3.1(a).
Match betweensystem and real world
Figure.4.1.2 – Button to reopen main page Figure.4.1.3 – Info about current temperature
Figure.4.1.2 and 4.1.3 show the system contains words every user levels can understand, user knows
what they do and nothing to confuse with. These familiar terms can avoid the language usage issues in Section
3.1(b).
Active operation is brighter
than disabled one
Background becomes blue
as a sign of cooling

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User control and freedom
Figure.4.1.4 – Slider for temperature control
In Figure.4.1.4, user have the complete access over the temperature control in which he can simply
undo or redo the temperature by sliding left or right or by using arrow head.
Error prevention
Figure.4.1.5 – Viewing energy usage history
Recognition than recall
Figure.4.1.6 – First, thermostat learn what time user made schedule. Then, system intelligently shows the plus
sign at the exact time user did in previous day so that user do not need to recall about his schedule procedure.
When user view a day`s energy usage history, blue
border appear on selected date as a visual feedback
about current using area so that user will not be
mistaken with other previous days.
Plus sign to add new schedule

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This will help navigation through system and also solution for the cognitive psychology issues (Recognition
versus Recall) stated in Section 3.1(a).
Aesthetic and minimalist design
Figure.4.1.5 – Home screen design
Home page design simply offers three main primary features – temperature control, current temperature
and quick access to schedule. Interface is built as clear as possible by setting aside unnecessary contents that do
not help the user`s main tasks. This will cover the attention issues of Cognitive Psychology stated in section 3.1(a).
Being a minimalist design also bring the solution to fix most of interface design issues like mismatch color, too
many contents, non-standard icons design, etc. (Issues in Section 3.1(b))
Help and Documentation
Figure.4.1.
In setting page, user can use support feature which contain user manual and others like maintenance and customer
support, data permission, etc. In this support, user can know about policies and what data system is accessing,
this will make users to trust the system. This can cover the issues, suspicious permissions against user privacy,
shown in Section 3.1(b)

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5. Conclusion
5.1. How this thermostat system development is accomplished
Through this report, it can be seen that thermostat system is developed by analyzing and evaluating on
relatedinteraction design issues, standards and guidelines. We learnt well about the design principles and common
issues through this development. After step-by-step analyzing, almost all issues stated above becomes no concerns
for final prototype. Final high fidelity prototype was built to ensure that it is under relatedguidelines and standards
and will cover the issues. As part of user center design, questionnaires are also carried out for finding customer
requirements. Based on the feedbacks and analysis progresses, prototyping becomes smoother. However,
complete usability testing has not done yet because of absence of fully interacted functions on some parts. (E.g.
Slider of temperature control cannot be used at this time)
5.2. Constraints during development
There are also limitations for this thermostat system development. In Myanmar which is a developing
country, almost everyone have not ever heard or used thermostats. So, people here are not familiar with these
system and it is hard to collect information about thermostat during early stages of this development. Practically,
people in Myanmar have never experienced about using and benefits of thermostats. To complete this
development progresses, internet is the only source for learning about usage of these smart systems.
5.3. What will be done in future?
In future, complete remote control application for thermostat system will be developed to use in other
devices like mobile so that it will be sure this thermostat system is built under 3C framework. Moreover, there
will be minor improvements for better design in wall unit to support more usability and accessibility. Prototype
is still not complete for every page and devices and it did not pass large scale testing. Hence, it will be better by
releasing this app in beta version after coding development in order to inspect efficiently how much smart living
will be improved with this thermostat system.

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