Intel wireless charging Mat for laptops
Reference Design for AirFuel Alliance Power Solutions
role: industrial designer, UX designer
How do we make charging your laptop easier when you're on the go?
One of Intel’s primary strategic initiatives in 2015 was to create wireless charging systems that would transform work spaces. Charging would be on-the-go, and opportunistic. Wireless charging was also a key topic that year at ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) among architecture firms developing new work environments.
At Intel, I was part of a multidisciplinary task force to develop wireless charging solutions for the Enterprise environment.
My hybrid role as an Industrial Designer + UX Designer was to:
- Work with the Lead UX Designer to gather and conduct research
- Develop UX and design requirements, and
- Designed physical solutions with engineering
OUtcome
A version of the above design was brought to market by Intel's strategic partner, Dell (see below).
experience goals
To be able to easily charge anywhere, without worrying about having the right power adaptor.
|
To stay mobile while being able to charge (opportunistically or urgently) at work.
|
To have a true “drop and go” charging experience (positional freedom)
|
To meet users' expectations of a thin, and unobtrusive charging mat experience
|
When technical requirements can't meet user expectations
Designing a slim charging mat experience is difficult when a system requires a 30 mm z-height - that's thicker than any laptop using this technology! However, the introduction of an active cooling system decreased the z-height from 30mm to 16mm, which brought some optimism back to the project.
Despite efforts, technical requirements could not meet user expectations.
User research involving a simple exercise of flipping a pad of construction paper to a desired thinness, indicated that in order to be viable, the charging mat's height would need to be within 2.8mm - 8.1mm.
Despite efforts, technical requirements could not meet user expectations.
User research involving a simple exercise of flipping a pad of construction paper to a desired thinness, indicated that in order to be viable, the charging mat's height would need to be within 2.8mm - 8.1mm.
concept ideation
Because creating a design within the 2.8 mm - 8.1 mm range was not viable, careful surfacing on the design was incorporated to help reduce the overall footprint. Sticking with simple forms to make the charging mat as integrated into the desk space as much as possible.
- Designating charging area vs. keep out zone (back area) through CMF changes - texture, color, material changes, and demarcation.
- The LED indicator was deliberately placed in a location that would not constantly be in the users' line of vision.
- Meanwhile, the power button was designed for easy access, in order to turn off the system when not in use.
- Aggressive D-cover surfacing helped to give the appearance of thinness and floating.