tamago

Routine reminder for children

Product Design

Tamago is a parental programmed and controlled device that reminds children of their daily routine. The smart product aims to reinforce routine in children at an early age to promote healthy work-life balance and time management. Using distinct sounds at key moments can pierce through the many distractions that are afforded in today's environments.

Fall 2019

Project Duration: 14 Weeks

Student Work. Used for demonstration purposes only. Not an actual product of Yamaha. Brand names and images are owned by the respective rights holders.

DESIGN BRIEF: A NEW DIRECTION FOR YAMAHA

Yamaha is looking for innovative ideas on how to expand their line of Audio Products into new markets and services.

HOW MIGHT YAMAHA USE SOUNDS TO AID WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT?

SOUND POLLUTION

There are four main types of noise, which require different digital noise cancelling technology to neutralize. Below, we’ve shared a brief overview of each type:

Continuous Noise: This constant din is usually produced by equipment that never turns off, such as a vent or heating system. It can pervade a conference call with an annoying hum that becomes hard to ignore.
Intermittent Noise: This noise type comes and goes, but it’s arguably more distracting than continuous noise. For example, it might be a passing subway train or timed equipment that turns on periodically.
Impulsive Noise: Unlike intermittent noise, this type tends to be much louder and unexpected. For example, if the property next door is under construction, you might hear the occasional thud or jackhammer that comes out of nowhere. It’s difficult to prepare for impulsive noise, especially in a conference room setting.
Low Frequency Noise: Finally, this common noise type refers to the low-frequency background sounds that we’re constantly exposed to in modern life. Cars driving on the highway, power plants producing energy, and distant crowds can all produce low-frequency noise.

MARKET RESEARCH

Yamaha is a dominant force in the music industry. They encompass all instruments, electronic recording and projection devices. In a highly saturated industry, Yamaha needs to create a blue ocean market where a brand extension would increase company value and expand market share.

User Archetype

GROUPS OF INTEREST

Learning about different user groups finds opportunities that Yamaha can invest in to create new markets to target.

CHILDREN

Children are surrounded by distractions

Music can help developing children learn to stay focused

INITIAL DIRECTIONS

CONTINUED RESEARCH

Exposure to prolonged or excessive noise has been shown to cause a range of health problems ranging from stress, poor concentration, productivity losses in the workplace, and communication difficulties and fatigue from lack of sleep, to more serious issues such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, tinnitus and hearing loss.

The studies analyzed environmental noise from planes, trains and vehicles, as well as other city sources, and then looked at links to health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbance, tinnitus, cognitive impairment in children, and annoyance. The WHO team used the information to calculate the disability-adjusted life-years or DALYs—basically the healthy years of life―lost to ‘unwanted’ human-induced dissonance.

SOUND TO AID FAMILIES

A device that allows young, individual families schedule and synchronize their daily activities together by having parents plan out their days while at the same time set themselves as good examples for their children to learn from to develop good habits.