Minor Project
September 21, 2025
Minor Project
22 September 2025- January 4th 2026
FNAG YOAYUE (0372006)
Minor Project | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media | Taylor's University
List
LECTURES
INSTRUCTIONS
FEEDBACK
REFLECTION
LECTURES
Week 1 & 2
In this 2 weeks, we formed a team of 6from different specializations.
Week 3
This week, we held an internal meeting and selected our project. We all agreed that the "Social AI Robot" project is very good.
And this week, under Brenda's guidance, each of us read the relevant literature on elderly social robots for research. This is extremely important for our subsequent interviews and production.
Week 4
In the fourth week, we held a meeting to list many questions for interviewing the elderly. In class, Ms. Wong also taught us how to conduct interviews in an efficient manner. The following are the interview questions we have listed.
In the fifth week, we listed a series of professional questions related to interviewing doctors or nurses. Since we need to create a robot suitable for the elderly, we must interview such professionals. Nurses and doctors are the ideal choices. We plan to make an appointment and conduct the interviews next week.
Week 6
Starting from this week, I will begin to translate and edit the interview videos of the elderly. Both Chinese and English subtitles are required. The videos need to be translated, and the faces of the elderly should be masked. When introducing their personal information, the accurate names and other details should be concealed.
Baby Boomers Interview Video
Participant 1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MDnDHTWxr1DXrqS8yo7YAsOCJMJkR0Ht/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gERZvZMzCaSIyVGW0WWvbuhsyJE7zpLE/view?usp=sharing
Participant3
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14VM_F0_bwyRvvxRSl9VmseibHrNeOpoO/view?usp=sharing
Week 7
Since the doctors and nurses we had scheduled were all unavailable, we conducted interviews with young people who take care of the elderly this week. The interview videos will be presented with both Chinese and English subtitles, and the videos will be encoded to protect their privacy.
Furthermore, we summarized all the interview records. This is of great significance for everyone's subsequent research. We identified some key words and found that many of them were repeated.
Week8
In class, Ms. Wong encouraged us to think creatively and asked us to draw in eight minutes what we wanted our product to look like. This was very interesting for us, and it wasn't difficult for me because I enjoy drawing.
We cannot use mobile phones or computers within eight minutes. This means that for this robot, we must create it from scratch, based on our first thought in our minds.
Week 9
This week is our group presentation. We need to present our research results to the client within the stipulated ten minutes. We also need to produce the initial sketches for the client to review. The client's feedback after viewing was very positive. Our presentation went smoothly, but we need to modify the robot because the elderly might prefer a robot of the child type. We need to consider the design further.
After class, we discussed it again and designed the robot. I was responsible for drawing it. The robot has a black and white color scheme, looks very much like a child, and can wear different types of clothes, making it more human-like.
Week 10
After class, we showed the robot to Ms. Wong. Her evaluation was positive, but we need to add some more specific functions.
PREVIOUS FEATURES:
Focus on companion
Looks like a kid for the elderly to feel more helpful/create independence household (sweeping/vacuum)
Listen to music
Video-call
NEW FEATURES:
Household (picking up stuff, etc)
Connected to phone for reminders/connecting
Robot companion (independence)
Record for reminders
Use voice-commands
Remote control = phone
Week 11
This week, we made another improvement to the robot. We felt that the short arms and legs would affect our daily work, so we added a telescopic mechanism.
Week 12
This week, we need to start creating 3D models and animations. These models and animations are designed to better enable users to understand how the robot works and how it serves the elderly. The hidden functions of the robot will be demonstrated in the animations.
The following is the feedback given by the caregiver to Yaoyao:
I believe it is a well-designed robot companion for the elderly, which successfully strikes a balance between emotional warmth and practical assistance. Its friendly appearance, intuitive interaction method, and meticulously designed functions not only meet the physical limitations of the elderly but also satisfy their emotional needs. By integrating mobile support, daily reminders, household assistance, and companionship functions, Yaoyao is not only a practical helper but also a caring companion in the daily lives of the elderly.
Week 13
Week 14
INSTRUCTIONS
Figma link:
Presentation Power point link:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAG3hA0H8jw/PPlADYYmCFBH4kjlRxAEZQ/edit
Final link to the robot introduction animation：
https://youtu.be/jaPEMn55liA
Fianl Presentation Power point link:
Personal Google Drive：
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/105YNBo2DkK2dOfSuM5h_zvPEys3sZvX0
Minor Project, Final Presentation - Group 21, Social AI Robot，作者 Brenda WFEEDBACK
Week 1
We had no classes in the first week.
Week 2
In the second week, we assigned groups, and each group needed to consist of different branches.
Week 3
In the third week, we began our research, searching for many documents that we might use later and reading them. I think Brenda is an excellent team leader. Under her guidance, everything was in perfect order.
Week 4
This week, we held a meeting to list many possible interview questions, and showed them to Ms. Wong in class. Ms. Wong kept some of the questions. We will modify the questions and start the interviews next week.
Week 5
This week, we first conducted interviews with the elderly. The elderly were very cooperative with us. We were all grateful to them, and I recorded all the interview contents in a document, translating them into both Chinese and English. This will facilitate the editing of the interview videos in the future.
Week 6
This week we began the interview process. We need to interview three elderly people and three young people with nursing experience. Ms. Wong told me that we needed to code the people and only retain their voices, and blur the images. We also needed to blur any parts that mentioned the personal information of the interviewee. This would ensure that the information wouldn't be leaked. I thought this was very correct. The entire interview process went smoothly. I interviewed a medical doctor who also had extensive experience in caregiving. I also edited three videos and translated three videos.
Week 7
This week, we first conducted interviews with the elderly. The elderly were very cooperative with us. We were all grateful to them, and I recorded all the interview contents in a document, translating them into both Chinese and English. This will facilitate the editing of the interview videos in the future.
Week 8
This week, we drew sketches of robots in class. Ms. Wong asked everyone to draw the robot they had in mind, so that it would be easier for us to make it. I think a robot should be like a human being. This way, it will be more convenient for work and management. Ms. Wong also agreed with my idea.
Week 9
This week, our presentation went smoothly. However, we need to improve the appearance of the robot. After class last week, we held a meeting and changed the robot's appearance to that of a rabbit. But perhaps the child-like appearance would make the elderly feel more at ease and be more receptive to it. So this week, I will redraw the appearance of the robot.
Week 10
This week, I drew a new robot and showed it to Ms. Wong. Ms. Wong thought the drawing was quite good, but if the robot had a child's face, it would make the elderly feel more friendly and comfortable. It would be best if the robot could wear clothes, and a robot in clothes would be easier for the elderly to accept.
Week 11
During the first week of classes, we presented our new achievements and made improvements after class. We improved the hands and feet of the robot, adding extension parts to both the hands and feet. This design makes the hands more convenient for helping the elderly with household chores.
Week 12
This week, I consulted my medical doctor friend who is also a caregiver. He thought the functions of the Roary robot were very suitable. It is a very versatile robot, and the elderly people really liked the new design of the robot. We decided to create a remote control app for Roary and a more comprehensive introduction video next week. We will also do 3D modeling and package the Yaoyao robot.
Week 13
There are no classes this week during the Christmas holiday.
Week 14
REFLECTION
This is the last week of this semester and it's also the last time I attend Ms. Wong's class. During this semester, I have learned many new things, such as how to conduct research, how to interview, how to give a speech, and how to create animations.
I really like Ms. Wong's teaching method. Her teaching style makes me feel very relaxed and at ease. The combination of online and face-to-face classes gives me a great experience. In Ms. Wong's class, I don't feel too much pressure. She is always encouraging me and makes me feel very warm on my journey of learning design.
What impressed me most was that that week we were required to draw eight original pictures in class for 8 minutes, and they had to be related to our robot. I had never had such a class before, which made me feel very curious.
Under the guidance of Ms. Wong, I systematically studied and practiced various aspects such as interview research, animation production, and speech expression. This course enabled me to truly understand for the first time that a design project is not only about "getting it done", but more importantly, about "thinking clearly about why it is done this way".
The theme of our project is "AI Social Robot for the Elderly". In the early stage of the project, through interviews and practice, I gradually realized that "user-centered" is not just a slogan. The interviews related to the elderly group enabled me to understand that what they truly need is not just a functionally complex intelligent device, but a sense of companionship, security, and being understood. This stage taught me how to pose appropriate questions, listen to real needs, and convert abstract emotions into specific design directions.
At the design level, we chose a black and white color scheme and a more child-like styling. After continuous discussions and tests, I gradually understood that a child-like appearance could evoke a sense of intimacy and emotional connection, making the robot more like a "companion" rather than a "cold machine". This process taught me to find reasonable logic for design decisions instead of relying solely on personal preferences.
In the animation production part, I was the first to present the "design concept" and the introduction of the robot in an animated form. The animation not only demonstrated the functions of the robot, but also helped me think about the behavioral paths and emotional changes of users in actual usage. This made me realize that animation is a very effective design thinking tool, rather than just a means of visual presentation.
Overall, the Minor Project not only enhanced my design skills but also changed my understanding of the design process. I began to place greater emphasis on preliminary research, user insights, and the meaning behind the design. This course made me realize that design is not just about solving problems; it is about creating warm experiences based on understanding others. Once again, I would like to thank Ms. Wong. I sincerely thank you.
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