Engauge More

Pratt Institute


Project

How many digital friends equal one real one?

Introducing Engauge, an innovative wearable technology system designed to counter the isolation and loneliness perpetuated by social media. Engauge encourages users to nurture authentic connections with loved ones and close friends by rewarding more personal forms of communication. Additionally, it offers invaluable assistance to those seeking to establish a robust social circle.

The user experience design of Engauge keeps users engaged with their social health score, while its intuitive interaction design simplifies the process of reconnecting with neglected friends. Each wearable device is a 3D-designed and 3D-printed modern fashion statement, with a visual language that complements its contemporary aesthetic. Engauge's "Social Health Score" feature heightens users' awareness of their relationship statuses, monitoring and evaluating the intimacy of their interactions, from in-person meetups to phone calls and text messages.

With a user experience strategy that emphasizes contacting friends and family, Engauge directs users' focus to the time elapsed since their last interaction with members of their social circle. Customizable and equipped with haptic technology, each Engauge ring is tailored to the user's unique personality, vibrating when the wearer interacts with their smartphone in the presence of another user.