The Horrific UI/UX Design of Humane's AI Pin - Core77
Startup Humane has debuted their Ai Pin, an $800 wearable AI assistant meant to be something like a smartphone without a screen. First-wave tech reviewers are all over the thing, and the reviews have been damning.
There's two main issues with this first-of-its-kind device. The first problem, according to reviewers, is that it just doesn't consistently work. As The Verge editor David Pierce experienced:
The second issue is that both the UI and the UX are apparently horrible. Remember that the device doesn't have a screen, and provides feedback via a projector that projects onto your hand. This is an intriguing idea, and ought be handy, no pun intended: Hold out your mitt, see info you need.
UI: To use the device, you must unlock it with a passcode. This is achieved by holding out your hand. A single-digit number is projected onto it. To reach a lower or higher number, you move your hand closer or further away. When you get to the relevant number, you make a pinching gesture to "accept" the number. In this manner you gesture out your entire passcode. "Using it made me feel pretty dumb," says Engadget's Cherlynn Low, who demonstrates the procedure below.
UX: The Ai Pin attaches to your garment via a magnet on the inside. It should of course always be attached to your outermost garment, so the projector is not obscured. This means, in coat weather, you've got the thing affixed to your coat. But then you go inside, and take your coat off. To continue using the Ai Pin you detach it from your coat and attach it to your shirt. Each time you detach/re-attach it, you have to go through the passcode sequence again to unlock it.
