uni.me is a mobile communication service that supports people on the management of their social life by defining who, how and how much others can access to them and their personal information.

The main element of this service is mobile application focused on personal availability management. It introduces a desktop metaphor centered on people and time, rather than on folders and functionalities, using color and the position of the different elements to describe people's availability to me and my availability to others.

PROBLEM

The dissemination of information and communication technologies together with the mobility and miniaturization of devices has resulted on individual's always-on connectivity - anytime, anywhere. This phenomenon tends to blur the boundaries between work and play, our public and private lives. Because others have little or no awareness of our current context, we often find ourselves in situations of abuse or unwanted interruption.

The primary goal of this project was to expand the currently limited repertoire of signs to actuate and support non-availability. By enabling people to define their visibility in a selected way, we support granularity of access based on personal criteria.

RESPONSE

I developed a communication system that expands the linear process of today’s personal communication to a dynamic model where the user, rather than the mobile operator, has ownership over his ID and can link it to different service providers overtime.

RESULT

I developed a full set of concept ideas to cope with accessibility and publishing of personal information, for example, how much time until being available again. The design outcome of this project was a visual interface language that embodies these principles and supports a permanent non-verbal communication between the user and his contacts.

VALUE

uni.me brings to remote communication some of the richness of face-to-face interactions. It contributes to the development of a ‘body language’ of remote communication - allowing involved parties to act and react in an informed way.

This project was developed for a Master in Interaction Design at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea over a year-long period. The research was focused on how people cope with being in touch 24/7, specifically how they manage personal communications in order to maintain their time and personal space. I had the wise and thorough guidance from Jan Christoph Zoels, Fabio Sergio and Jan Chipchase.