Rest Assured: An IoT Ambient Notification System For Human-Dog Remote Interactions

What if, instead of constant surveillance, technology could nurture a calm, reciprocal connection between us and our furry babies? Rest Assured is an IoT ambient notification system for pet dog owners to feel confident and less anxious about leaving their dogs home alone.

Consisting of a smart figurine inspired by a resting dog hidden under a blanket, a hand-sewn tail-tracking harness, and a pressure-sensitive cushion, the system achieves the intended user goals by strengthening their emotional bond and encouraging the dog to rest longer within a closed feedback loop.

Problem

For many dog owners, the sense of disconnection starts from the moment we close the front door. We imagine our furry babies waiting by the door, alone and worried. Despite technologies that allow constant monitoring, we feel helplessly distant and anxious about leaving them home alone.

Solution

01. User Flow

02. Ambient notification figurine

03. Tail Tracking Harness

04. Pressure Sensing Cushion

Demo

To demonstrate our prototype at TEI conference, we were tasked with translating a complex system into an engaging onboarding experience within 3-5 minutes.

01. User Flow

We brainstormed the user flow for the actual “Rest Assured” app before identifying key frames for onboarding demonstration.

02. Product use scenario

To explain the product’s unique remote use scenario, we used a split screen layout to showcase figurine as a remote control for home environment.

03. Physical-digital interaction design

Using distinct fonts and speech bubbles, we stylized two types of UX writing to help users smoothly navigate between the digital and physical interfaces.

04. Gamified quiz

05. Peripheral experience design

06. Moving beyond Figma prototypes

We are currently developing a fully functional web app using Figma MCP and cursor! Check out our Github repository ↗ for updates.