Project description

This tool can be used for visualizing wi-fi signal strength or 5G cellular strength. It is important to get the strongest connection possible in order to perform everyday tasks like sending a text message or bigger projects like deciding where to place a cellular tower in a city.

my contribution

I conducted research to understand 5G and the obstacles associated. I designed the UI screens for iPad and iPhone and collected wi-fi data throughout the San Francisco IBM office. I then visualized the data on the iPad, gathered the results, and put together demo which we presented to 3 companies of interest.

duration

This project took place over the course of 5 weeks.

tools

• Adobe Photoshop

• Drone

• Sketch

• Unity 3D

Sara’s job is to make sure all products get organized properly. While at the warehouse she must enter the current status of the products in her company’s software system.

Since the building is so large, it’s hard to know where to get the best signal. This is frustrating for Sara because she wastes time trying to connect to wi-fi. If she had a designated space with good signal, she could get her job done more efficiently.

We created a mobile augmented reality app to help users visualize the signal strength in their area so they can identify problem spots and improve signal strength.

visualize signal strength

Data points are overlaid on your environment to show strong and weak spots.

Measure points on a dbi spectrum

Select any individual point to get an immediate indication of the signal strength in that particular area and see where it lies on the spectrum compared to others.

select points for inspection

Select a point of interest to dive deeper into the details and find out exactly where in the room point is located.

adjust your workspace

In augmented reality we are given a limited amount of “real estate” based on the screen size. Make the best of your workspace by personalizing what you want to see at any moment.

identify weak spots

Having the data points overlaid on your environment helps identify which objects in the room might be blocking the wi-fi signal in that area.

date-based time slider

Since 5G is relatively new, there are still unknown reasons for the cause of poor signal strength. Visualizing the data in the same space on different dates could reveal the impact of weather and other factors on your 5G connection.

upload visualizations

Upload your visualizations straight to the app. Select a project to view immediately or save it for later.

There are several ways to collect your wi-fi data, depending on your environment. We tested out an indoor method collecting data using a computer and an outdoor method using a drone.

setup and measure

I mapped out 64 points in the shape of a grid evenly spaced throughout the area and marked each one with a post-it note. I then used a Mac to gather the wi-fi signal strength at each post-it note. I used a rolling table to ensure that the computer measured at the same height each time for consistency across the space.

transfer data to app

Utilizing IBM’s Data Refinery tool and EDGE, we transferred the data to the app.

visualize

After scanning an anchor point, I was able to overlay the results of our data onto the office space. This allowed me to start pinpointing strong and weak areas.

Measure

Our developer pre-programmed a specific flightpath for the drone to follow to gather wi-fi data across the front lawn.

visualize

After transferring the data to the iPad we were able to visualize the signal strength outside. You can see the farther away from the house, the worst the signal strength got. This method can be used in several different situations, like deciding the most efficient place to put a cellular tower.

We drew out the entire flow from the login process to exploring a visualization. Within these sketches we displayed digestible features designed for the mobile AR experience.