firefly
Consciously sharing moments together
firefly is an interactive lamp for couples who want to spend more quality time together in their daily lives.
Smartphones are a constant presence in our daily lives. They connect us with others, make information available at any time, and are with us in almost every situation. At the same time, this creates a feeling that we must always be available. Messages, emails, and social media not only interrupt our individual activities but also disrupt shared moments with other people.
This constant availability can become a problem, especially in relationships. Even though couples spend time together, their attention is often divided. Even a quick glance at a smartphone can interrupt the moment they’re sharing and weaken the sense of closeness, appreciation, and presence.
Concept
This is exactly where firefly comes in. The project is an interactive lamp that helps couples spend quality, smartphone-free time together. Instead of using yet another app, interaction is shifted to a physical object that blends unobtrusively into the living space.
The lamp enhances shared moments through light, movement, and touch. It signals when time together is interrupted by a smartphone, while also offering the opportunity to capture special moments as personal points of light.
Goal
The goal of firefly is not to ban smartphone use. Rather, it aims to help people become more aware of their own behavior. Couples are encouraged to spend their time together more actively, to be more present, and to appreciate special moments as something valuable.
Interaction
The use of firefly is designed as a deliberate process. Each state describes a specific phase of the interaction—from a quiet companion in everyday life, to starting something together, to preserving a memory.
In everyday life, firefly remains in passive mode. The light quietly accompanies the space in the background. Moving points of light subtly evoke memories of moments already shared and encourage us to consciously make time for each other again.
A shared moment begins with a shared gesture. Both people touch the lamp’s display at the same time and activate firefly together. This makes the start of their time together a conscious decision.
During time spent together, firefly enhances the moment with gentle, subtle light movements. The lamp recedes into the background, creating a pleasant atmosphere without disrupting the interaction between the partners.
If a smartphone is used during the active period, the lighting atmosphere changes. The light becomes cooler and more restless. In this way, firefly makes it clear that the shared moment is being interrupted, without directly penalizing the users.
If the smartphone continues to be used, the moment visually freezes. The points of light lose their warmth, movement, and vitality. This state illustrates how distraction weakens shared presence.
When users set their smartphones aside again, the shared moment can be reactivated. With a shared touch, firefly returns to its active state. The points of light become warmer and more vibrant once more.
The time spent together is also brought to a close with a shared gesture. This gives the moment a clear framework: it is consciously begun and consciously concluded.
Once they’re done, the partners can capture the moment with a word or a small drawing. This creates a personal “point of light” that finds its way into the lamp and becomes part of their shared collection.
Saved light points can be recalled later. When you touch the screen, the corresponding moment appears on the display. This turns firefly into a keepsake that visibly preserves shared moments.
Design
firefly uses light as a central design element because it creates atmosphere and can subtly convey emotional states. The light points are inspired by fireflies and symbolize moments shared together. This gives the lamp a lively, calm, and personal feel. The product was deliberately designed as a physical object.
This way, the smartphone doesn’t have to be brought into the interaction again. firefly blends into the living space as a light and enhances shared moments without being intrusive. firefly is deliberately designed to work without an app or an internet connection. All data—including the smartphone’s location—is processed exclusively locally.
The lamp is built around a hollow cylinder that houses the electronics, cooling system, and wiring. A round touchscreen on the top serves as the direct interface. An inductive charging station with a magnetic connection allows the lamp to be removed and taken with you.
Technical Design
Interruption detection is based on Bluetooth direction finding: The light determines the smartphone's position down to the centimeter. If the smartphone moves, this is detected as an interruption.
To bring the concept to life, a functional prototype was developed. It translates firefly’s key states into light, movement, and interaction. The prototype demonstrates how smartphone interruptions can be detected and made visible through changing lighting effects.
Prototype
The implementation is based on an LED matrix, a touchscreen display, and a Raspberry Pi. The various states are controlled through interaction with the display and by tracking smartphone movements.
Since implementing the final Bluetooth mechanism would have been too complex for a demo, motion detection in the prototype was implemented using the smartphone's gyroscope and accelerometer.
Trailer
Music by Ketsa - Fluid
Retrospective
Due to time constraints, usability tests with real couples have not yet been conducted—the concept is based on research and expert assessments. A potential next step would be to expand the concept to other devices, such as laptops or tablets, as well as to other usage contexts beyond couples.
- Time
- 8. Semester, Summer 2023
- Team
- Isabel PfalzgrafVictoria Bremer
- Role / Responsibility
- IdeationConceptDesign (Physical & Technical)Design Language3D ModelTechnical Prototype
