Stress tracking on Samsung Galaxy watches
Identify and solve a novel healthcare problem for Samsung Galaxy Watch users.
Flow is the result of my capstone project at the National Institute of Design, Bangalore, completed during my tenure at Samsung Research Institute. Over six months, I collaborated with the wearables team to develop new experiences for the Galaxy Watch, focusing on entertainment, home automation, healthcare, and work productivity, contributing to five patents.
For my thesis, I delved into researching mental health—particularly stress, its mechanisms, and its impact on the body. I generated several innovative concepts to enhance users’ lives through wearables. Among them, the Flow experience was voted by peers as the most effective solution, leading to high-fidelity mockups and design validation.
Fun fact: I was surprised to that some concepts from my research, initially shelved at Samsung, found their way into iOS 15 for iPhone in September 2021.
What could wearables do in the near future?
In 2018, wearables were hailed as the next frontier in our connected world. Initially, these devices served primarily as smartphone companions, tracking health metrics and offering convenient control of daily tasks.
As sensors get smaller and on-device compute gets inevitably better, what's next for wearable technology?
Stress tracking at work is an imminent reality
My winding research into wearable health tech revealed a startling insight: Many smartwatch users are professionals silently enduring chronic workplace stress. This prolonged exposure can have devastating long-term health effects.
Intriguingly, current smartwatches could be enhanced with some simple sensors/algorithms to monitor and manage this hidden malaise.
Stress makes you productive when managed correctly
My research into the biology of stress revealed its role as a vital physiological response, energising the body to tackle environmental challenges. However, humans uniquely trigger this response repeatedly through imagined threats, potentially causing long-term harm.
The system’s delicate balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems inspired the user interface for Flow.
Research documentation
Best viewed in fullscreen