The supportive app can be used to make detailed presets, show bathroom status, arrange bathroom usage schedule and update new services from TOTO. But it’s not the main part of the system users need to interact with.

Iota provides users a seamless way to interact with. Simple set-ups can help the system understand user’s preferences and connect physical products and digital services. While in use, users can either use the phone to easily get their personalized experience, or quickly use default setting without phone for daily use.

A series of physical products which provides different experiences, a digital application users can interact with and services by TOTO comprise iota system, these parts work together to provide users personalized experiences in co-living rentals.

During my interview, I asked  “What bathroom means for you?” , the answers from users are focused on emotional values instead of functional values.

User needs of bathroom is changing from requesting a functional, reliable and usable bathroom to asking for convenience and pleasure.​​​​​​​

Co-living is a new, synergistic form of housing based on shared economy. The percentage of renting population is increasing rapidly since there’s big financial benefit of living in a renting style. Users consider sharing bathroom plays different roles based on whether the door is open on closed and also if it is occupied or not.

However, when anyone step into the bathroom, even the door is not locked, everyone in this living space will consider it as a private and personal space. They feel safe here and also looking for personalized experience based on their own needs.

Renovations are normally not allowed in rentals, especially in bathrooms. So users always try to adapt themselves to the new environment.

People under 18-40 years old are major population live in co-living rentals, and they normally have the mindset of pursuing changes for better living experience.

Users are always lacking a sense of belonging since they are moving quite often and need to adapt to new environment which doesn't belong to them. So there’s a need to make users feel they own the experience instead of just living in this space.

After concept development, four concepts were generated. They share similar idea but are slightly different. I decided to test concept 2 and 4 to evaluate them. Concept 2 is phone based while concept 4 tries to introduce an experience without phone.

To simulate how my concept can work as a system, I got all experience units, built physical mock-ups and digital interfaces for users to interact with to test the usability of each concepts.

After 9 user test, I got valuable feedback from different perspectives.

Since power sockets are normally around basin, the product should be possible to mount on wall and place on any surfaces.