Yoke Magazine

OKE
NTRODUCTION

1Say hello to YOKE!
YOKE is a collection of networked furniture pieces that mark the future of
interactive furniture design and passive technologies, in the context of the
contemporary home. Integrated with an accessible, dynamic, digital platform,
YOKE works to develop a holistic collection of products that enhance daily microrituals,
facilitate habituated actions and meet the needs of the emerging technocentric
demographic. The collection works to translate digital experiences into
analogue intuitive gestural interactions, working to enrich the users interaction
with technology in the context of the home.
YOKE’s branding image works to develop a holistic identity; tying together the
digital and interface design, with a contemporary furniture and homewares
aesthetic. Maintaining a constant brand image works to develop a connected,
integrated product ecosystem while providing a platform for further development
and diversification of products and services. YOKE’s minimalist, contemporary
branding aims to appeal to the broad range of values and interests of the
intended target demographic, while enabling the product range to appeal to a
broad audience and a range of contemporary applications.

ERVICE

2More than just technology integrated into furniture, YOKE works to develop a networked
service focused on security, social connectivity and self-reliance. To enhance the
connectivity between products, the YOKE system makes use of the contextualised
network of the home, though the use of the home WIFI network; transforming the
product family from a series of separate furniture pieces to a interconnected and
dynamic product ecosystem. The products’ communicate, gather information and
connect to services and social networks using the home network, further enhanced
though our application interface design. By linking the collection through our digital
platform, the individual products transition to a full customisable ecosystem, which
can be tailored to meet the needs of the individual user.
YOKE’s position in the progression of service design is highlighted though its
ability to meet the three driving service based movements; digital democratisation,
dematerialisation and disintermediation. Throughout its product lifecycle the system
works to aid in the democratisation of interactive technologies by facilitating the
collection of information surrounding user’s interactions, habits and lifestyle to improve
performance, enhance use and customise interactions. The system contributes to the
dematerialisation of technology, by seamlessly integrating technology into furniture in
context the home and reducing the need for screen based interfaces during use.
As a result of the connectivity embodied throughout the YOKE collection, user habits,
trends and information can be gathered between the products, interpreted, and
leveraged to provide valuable services to the user group. Though its daily use, YOKE
can use the sensors embed into the pieces to gather information about the users
habits within the home to provide a subtle, smart security system. The furniture works
as both the input, gathering data and interpreting patterns, and the output, providing
deterrents and contacting services, to develop a holistic, subtle home security system,
without the need to ever touch a key pad or turn a deadbolt. Lastly, the YOKE product
range works to promote digital disintermediation by providing an avenue to connect
users to social mediums, services and individuals through the use of networked
technologies and IoT protocols.
At a social level, the YOKE ecosystem works to promote positive social interaction,
community engagement and enhance self-reliance. By interpreting the habits and
routines of the user, the ecosystem can work to connect users to family members,
friends and community events, through subtle notifications and application interfaces.
Furthermore, the system works to help the user optimise their digital lifestyle by helping
them to reduce interaction with screen based interfaces and traditional interaction
methods.
By developing a holistic digital platform, a dynamic product range and customisable
interactions, the YOKE system is positioned to meet the needs of a large emerging
demographic, and be adapted to suit a wide range of user values and needs.

3Two emerging trends in Australia’s future involve the
emerging population of the ‘new old age’; an increasing
ageing population of technology literate users, while
urbanisation and urban population density increases.
Backed by statistics from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics, nearly 80% of 65-74 year olds live in a
private dwelling with a spouse or partner, while one
quarter of older people lived in a private dwelling
alone, representing a total population of 719 300 older
individuals living alone (abs.gov).
Together these demographic and socio-cultural trends
hint at an emerging market for products focused on
the home, which provide valuable functions to facilitate
self-reliance and social engagement. Technological
literacy, personal health, community engagement and
social interaction are fast becoming prominent issues to
be addressed in Australia’s ageing future, and provide
an interesting avenue for design intervention and
opportunity.
YOKE works to meet this emerging market segment
by providing an opportunity for users to engage with
digital platforms though familiar gestural interactions,
enhancing self-reliance through consideration and
design of feedback and attention notifications,
connecting users to social platforms and services and
more importantly; designing engaging, intuitive products
that appeal to the user and promote use.

USER GROUP
25%
of Australias
population by
2055 will be 65+
80%of 65 - 75 year
olds live in a
private dwelling
with over
719k
of these living alone

DESIGN
DESCRIPTION

4Through research, design development, concept
iteration, software and electronic development, model
making and testing; the YOKE collection has been
designed to meet the needs of the user audience
and deliver an intuitive, refined, product solution. The
collection is comprised of three unique products that
integrate and communicate through an application
interface. The collection includes KEEP; an interactive
key bowl, LUME; a two part smart lighting product
family, and REST; a bed side table that makes use of
gestural interactions to control audio and lighting.
To enable customisation and control of the interactions,
gestures and connectivity of the three products, an
application interface was designed. The YOKE app
allows users to personalise their experience with
the product ecosystem, customise interactions, and
connect to social platforms. The interface is designed
to be easy to use, with a dashboard for quick access to
most used controls, and a simple menu interface. The
primary function of the application is to act as point of
control for the products higher level functions, allowing
the user to interact and engage with the ecosystem
in a detailed view and with a more advanced level of
control. Furthermore, the app also serves as the users
interaction with system settings, warranties and product
information.

ESIGN VALUE
ROPOSITION
5
The YOKE product range adds value to users by enhancing daily rituals, enriching
community and social engagement, improving home security and advancing
interaction with technology within the context of the home.
The product ecosystem works to enhance the users daily micro rituals, through
strategically positioned, and designed, interactive pieces. Each component in the
product family works to engage the user through input sensors and visual and audible
feedback. Working together, these pieces aim to improve self-reliance and enable
positive habit formation. Visual feedback and subtle attention profiles are designed
to promote product interaction and use over time, working to enhance existing rituals
and facilitate new habituated ritual practises.
The YOKE system works to enrich and enable community engagement and social
interaction by making use of the products connected features and IoT communication.
Throughout the products use, the system passively connects users to social media
platforms, and tailors notifications based on product interaction and formed habits.
Connectivity derived from data gathered from the users action and habits can be used
by the platform to suggest activities, prompt social interaction between users and
contribute to the social security features of the network.
Using the sensors and connectivity designed into the product ecosystem, the YOKE
network forms an interactive, dynamic security system, with a focus on social
connectivity and subtle control. Infrared sensors embedded in the LUME lights and
KEEP bowl provide a holistic movement sensing network, providing an avenue for
lighting profiles, audio deterrents and interface notifications to occur if motion is
detected throughout the home. Using this data collection, the Yoke social security
system can notify family members, friends or emergency services to take action. Using
these integrated technical features, and an overarching application control scheme,
the YOKE system transitions home security from a complex, subscription service, to a
streamlined, subtle network of embedded smart sensors and screen less interactions.
The social security system makes use of the home’s wireless network to enable
communication between sensors, as well as serving as the access ‘key’ for the
primary user to differentiate between the resident and other individuals. Furthermore,
the wireless network access enables the primary user to share home access with
anyone with the network code.
Lastly, YOKE’s holistic approach to gesture based interactions works to advance
the role of connected IoT technologies in the home and address issues relating to
technical literacy in the new old age. The YOKE system relies on passive gestural
controls, enabling users to interact with the product range without the need for a
screen, physical interface or complex analog interaction. Together, these attributes
work to develop an inclusive, intuitive control interface that promotes ease of use and
longevity in the product lifecycle.

ENHANCING
DAILY RITUALS,
ENRICHING
COMMUNITY
AND SOCIAL
ENGAGEMENT,
IMPROVING
HOME SECURITY
AND ADVANCING
INTERACTION
WITH
TECHNOLOGY
WITHIN THE
CONTEXT OF THE
HOME

EEP

The design justification of the KEEP bowl centres around the products aesthetics,
functional form, interactive elements and product usability. The bowl structure
is designed to accommodate a wide range of uses, with considered space for
an array of objects users may engage with throughout the products lifecycle.
The bowl itself is formed using slip cast ceramic casting, allowing a high level
of internal detail to be resolved, while accommodating the internal electrical
components and ensuring a durable structure. To contrast with the texture
and aesthetics of the bowl, the shelf housing is manufactured from end grain
plywood profiles, matching the consistent aesthetic of the YOKE product range
as a whole. The internal edges of the shelf are lined with wool felt to improve
component fitting and add aesthetic detailing. Felt detailing inside the bowls
surface is also used to enhance function by providing a soft surface to place
objects on inside the bowl. Under this felt surface, a light sensor works to detect
objects in the bowl, adding to the functionality and feedback designed into the
products function.
The interactive elements designed into the keep bowl focus on subtle interaction
and passive visual feedback, in the form of internal LED lighting. RFID interaction
is designed to accommodate use in a variety of products, and through considered
component placement, enables reading on internal and external faces.
The contextualisation of the KEEP bowl is centred around its placement and
position within the architectural layout of the home, and plays on the semantics
of the first point of contact of furniture at the front door of the home. As a result
of this positioning, enhanced by the auxiliary shelf housing, the KEEP bowl
serves as the first point of contact in the YOKE series and begins the interactive
sequence.

EST
The REST bedside table is designed to suit the context of the contemporary
bedroom, with a friendly, approachable form, and a low profile form factor. The
height of the table is ergonomically suited to the height of a bed surface, while the
internal storage space provides room for books, blankets and general storage.
The materials selected for the REST bedside table are designed to reflect the
aesthetic style of the collection, and enhance visual interest and function. The
body of the table is manufactured from laminated plywood cross sections
mounted onto white powder-coated steel plates, with welded opposing angled
steel legs, which provide a stable and aesthetically dynamic profile.
The body of the table acts as the interface surface, drawing connections to
gestural interfaces and physical interaction elements. As the user runs their
hand across the wooden top surface, the capacitive touch contacts built into the
surface provide a subtle feedback through LED’s embedded under the surface of
the timber. Together these technical components work to enhance functionality
and provide passive gestural control over the product, without detracting from
the minimalist aesthetic of the products form.
The interface sequence and mapping is designed to translate digital screen based
interactions into gestural actions, while giving clear visual feedback to clarify
these actions. Semantically, the interaction suits the preconceived mapping of
digital controls in a new context.
Lastly, the REST table contains a capacitive charge surface embedded into the
body. This component enables users to charge electronic devices by placing
them on the surface of the table. By using the application interface in conjunction
with the charging surface, the user can enable a ‘do not disturb mode’ designed
into the application interface. Push notifications from the phone will be silenced,
and a subtle, unobtrusive indicator LED activates on the tables surface. This
feature enables users to disconnect from technology, and instead provides an
output for subtle, silent notifications.

UME

The LUME light product family is designed to tie together the components within
the YOKE collection. The light and audio system acts as the primary output for
the furniture pieces, as well as making use of its own self-contained internal
sensors and outputs. The LUME lights use infrared sensing technology to sense
movement, both direct and ambient. Direct motion sensing is used to translate
gestural controls into light outputs; by swiping a hand under the pendent light the
user can adjust light intensity as required. Through ambient motion sensing, the
LUME family acts as a holistic network of motion sensing products, contributing
to the social security ecosystem of the YOKE collection by enabling light and
audio deterrents, and custom profiles, for events and actions.
The LUME product family is separated into two product variants, defined by
their individual context of use. The LUME bar light serves as a central lighting
element to provide light to the home entrance and large living areas, while the
LUME pendent provides more direct light to suit the bedroom environment. Both
lighting products also contain bluetooth enabled speakers, contributing to the
product family connectivity with home media and streaming technologies.

ENJOY @Y.OKE