B.Ok | UIUX, Product

Product DESIGNER — Jan-may 2020

Problem
Casual drinkers are underprepared to understand and manage their alcohol consumption. There’s a lack of tools that enable safer decision making and better drinking experiences. The existing solution is a traditional BAC tracker, which has a huge action barrier and perception stigma.

Solution
There’s a huge rise in wearable tech and health tracking. Many people are already using technology to live a healthier, more mindful life and there’s an opportunity to create something that does the same in the realm of alcohol consumption tracking.

Initial Research & Concepting
This project started with talking to users about a broad problem space to learn more about their various needs. For 2 weeks I interviewed over 30 people about their concerns. Next, I moved on to conceptualizing ways to make alcohol intake tracking more frictionless and optimized for modern day users. The biggest hurdle was how to get people to track their intake and react responsibly when they are already intoxicated.

I stacked the insights I gained against existing alternatives to identify a unique opportunity area and narrow in on the best product for viability, feasibility and desireability.

Wireframing
To support the interactions around BAC calculation, I read through several studies on average BAC and drunkenness levels and wrote out a hypothetical equation relating body composition to how drunk one feels to their current BAC level. These equations were developed in collaboration with healthcare and analytics experts.
With some room for assumptions, I moved forward with drafting wireframes that outline user interactions around the data, and action sequences that encourage user accountability.

Product Design
The B.Ok ring is a concept based on this research’s future capabilities. It features a sleek, low-profile genderless design with a simple LED light that calibrates based on your current BAC level. The ring provides haptic feedback through the light, as well as vibration, to alert a user about their intake. It connects via Bluetooth to an app that allows for more granular actions.

Calibration & Setup
On first use, users register their body composition and personal estimates, which helps the algorithm determine estimated tipsy, drunk, and danger levels and their corresponding BAC units. Users are then directed to customize various alert types at each level, including:
- Ring tone (physical haptic response)
- Alert message (text alert)
- Data sharing (share BAC tracking data with identified close contacts)
- Share alert (text alert sent to identified close contacts)

Tracking & Safety
Tracking your alcohol consumption not only helps you drink safely, it helps you and those around you learn how to drink enjoyably. With passive data aggregation, over time the algorithm is able to learn about your unique drinking habits and outcomes. The more data you provide the system– food eaten, exact alcohol type, mood, etc.,– the better it is able to calibrate and monitor your next drinking session.

Sharing data with close contacts is another recent trend: peer to peer accountability. People trust their close ones with information such as location, and sometimes need a buddy to keep them responsible, and take action should things get serious.