FINAL DIGITAL MEDIA

RESEARCH PROJECT

COURSE ID
RKL3044MP

STUDENT ID
003T4120

STUDENT NAME
LEE SUE ANN

PREPARE FOR
MS. ALICE TEOH

TOPIC
REFLECTIVE ESSAY
 Reflective Essay

The Final Year Project was a great learning experience. I gained invaluable experience in
realising a substantial digital media artefact or innovation, demonstrating appropriate project
management skills, making qualitative decisions and more. This was an interesting project. It is
my preferred project among the modules we studied this semester. This project had a clear
outline, and I understood precisely what I had to accomplish. I decided to create a project called
"Knock." The name is pretty self-explanatory, but the problem is far more intricate and intriguing.
Many struggles and concerns will be disclosed in this paper as I reflect on the progress of this
project.

Throughout the semester, I performed tasks that enhanced my skills and widened my
perspective as a digital media student in several areas. By attending this class, I was able to
improve critical thinking and analytical skills, information retrieval and independent study, the
theoretical, conceptual, and professional issues that underpin digital media practice within a
selected area of research.This means that I was able to investigate an existing uncertainty in an
area of concern, indicating the necessity for more analysis. One task that comes to mind that
assisted me in achieving this result was while I researched ideas for this project. I was having a
random conversation with my friends one morning and we were joking about how one of them
had accidently locked herself out of the house since she had left her keys inside. We all realised
that this had happened to most of us before, at least about forgetting the keys. Thus, I went
online and researched about digital locks and have decided to undertake my project on the
issue. First, I discovered that between 1980 and 2017, property crimes accounted for 85 percent
of Malaysia's index crimes. (Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia, 2019) It was observed that
security is actually a major concern in our daily lives. At this time, every human being has a
place of their own in which they keep their property with the help of locks to restrict the
penetration of their personal property or privacy, but these locks have many faults, such as easy
penetration, weak security, and the difficulty of dealing with the lock-in one way, which is only
the traditional key. The second issue is the occurrence of human mistakes, which causes key
loss very likely, as well as carrying many keys, which exposes them to loss or ease of theft.
Besides, they also tend to forget to close the lock, and in this case, the lock cannot be closed by
itself because it is mechanical and does not rely on electromechanical. (Alghamdi, Abdullah,
2020). This is where digital locks came into play as an important feature of modern security
systems. There are several types of security systems available on the market to protect our
property. PIR and RFID-based security systems, digital lock systems, bio-matrix systems, and
electronic code locks are a few examples. In terms of economic impact, this product is in great
demand in the market. The worldwide smart door lock market is thriving as a result of users'
increasing demand for improved security systems along with technological advancements in
smart door locks. (MarketWatch, 2021) However, not everyone can afford such high-priced
locks for their homes. Some lower-income families may believe it is expensive and deviates
from their budget. As a consequence, building one at an affordable price may enhance the rate
of market demand and broaden the limits of target markets for a better result. So, this research
and studies part has aided me in the achievement of analytical skills, information retrieval, and
independent study since I had to observe and be aware of issues occurring around me and
identify sources for the argument, and citations would follow as a result.

Based on the information and research I gathered, I decided to design an affordable smart door
lock that is less pricey than those on the market in order to help people in need. Smart locks
may not make your home any safer than manual locks, but they will provide you more control.
You can extend digital "keys" to friends, relatives, caretakers, or anyone else who comes to
your house on a regular basis. It eliminates the need to duplicate keys for everyone. This is also
far more secure than having many copies of your house keys lying about, safeguarding your
home from unwanted burglars. Furthermore, if a person loses their keys, it is troublesome to
duplicate or replace the entire set of keys in order to avoid house break-ins. With smart door
locks, the codes may be reset with a few simple settings. As a result, it is critical to pick the right
lock for your home, as well as one that is reasonably priced. By knowing the benefits of smart
door locks, I was able to identify the pros of it in general, which provided me with knowledge on
how to improve on the one available in the market.

Another way I was able to develop my critical thinking and analytical skills was by doing market
research. Doing market research was another method I was able to improve my critical thinking
and analytical abilities. Market research entails gathering data to understand more about target
demographics and consumers so that a company can market itself more effectively and,
eventually, succeed in the market. A company can develop products that directly appeal to
consumers if it has valuable knowledge about its target market. (Lucid, 2021) With the research
done, I created three user personas to assist me in designing my product to meet the demands
of the consumers. The goal is to summarise and deliver research about the target audience in a
concise and digestible way. The three personas have different lifestyles and behaviors, but they
are all dealing with the same problem: they want to unlock their house door conveniently. Hence
for my project, I developed a door lock with two core features, speech recognition and unique
knock pattern detection. This project uses Arduino, which receives and interprets the code
command to lock or unlock the door. The lock will only be opened if the saved code matches the
right one. Codes are better than keys. When you're standing in front of your door, digging
through your bag for keys, you'll enjoy the keyless technology, which allows you to unlock the
door with a simple code and no key required. There's no need to waste time searching for keys
in your bags while also struggling to keep the items in your hands from falling off. Furthermore,
it also aids people who often forget and misplace their keys. Some kids or teenagers who rush
out in the morning may forget to carry their keys with them, leaving them stranded outdoors
while waiting for their parents to return home from work. They could, however, simply open and
enter the house using personalised codes that are effortlessly shared among family members
when using a smart door lock. This product is designed specifically for families, couples, and
singles searching for affordable yet practical smart door locks that allow a keyless solution to
access business premises, homes, and schools without having to carry a set of keys all the
time. They can get rid of keys and enjoy the security and convenience of managing their home
with a smart door lock. Additionally, by implementing a speech recognition technology, users
may personalise their own unique keywords that are easy for them to remember. Took into
account all possible scenarios, if users are feeling ill or have a sore throat that causes the
speech recognition to fail, they can unlock the door using our second feature, personalised
knocking sequence. By doing research on user personas and user scenarios, I was able to
make better decisions on the features of my product and I was able to understand the user's
requirements, obstacles, and other factors in context of how they would use this product.

The third outcome this project helped me in achieving was the development of effective project
strategies by working through multiple sketches, 3D modelling, websites, brand positioning and
recognising the role of reflecting, modifying, and editing in the process, such as learning to give
and act on productive feedback, both by and with classmates and in one-on-one lecturer
meetings, and critically reflecting on how the project could further develop and improve. So,
concerning the user experience, I chose a curvaceous appearance over an edgy one after
several attempts on the design. This is intended to keep users safe and avoid discomfort,
especially if they are carrying a lot of bags and other items. They might struggle to grip it if the
knob is too pointed. Curvy shapes appear more comfortable and friendlier looking, especially if
there are kids or the elderly in the house. To make the product more innovative, I pay attention
to details on the door knob to make the product more unique than a standard door lock. In terms
of usage and experience, the door knob has curves that fit nicely into the user's palm while
gripping it. Aside from the door lock, I created a website for my product to increase brand
credibility and professionalism. Website has the potential to affect how users recognize our
product and brand services. In general, having a visually appealing website with informative
content gives the impression that we are operating a legitimate and trustworthy brand.
(Orangesoft, 2018) For example, the benefits, features, technology, and user manual of the
product in detail. It will be easier to persuade visitors into potential clients once they are
convinced that the product can be trusted. Another consideration is that some users could find it
troublesome to refer to the user manual on the website each time they wish to do keyword
saving. To make it easier for them, I have created a printable A4 size user manual that users
can download from our website and keep in their drawer for future use. One more advantage of
creating a website is that it allows potential and existing clients to easily contact you and learn
more about the products and services offered. At the same time, I gain control over the type and
extent of product information displayed, as well as how clients engage with me, whether through
a contact form, email, subscription, or phone. Another outcome was reached simply by planning
and brainstorming on project positioning. We are not just another door lock brand on the market.
To stand out from the rest, some research has been conducted and it has been proven that
customization is an excellent business strategy. It is essential for providing a personalised user
experience to each user group and can boost user loyalty and satisfaction. (FreshDesk, 2019)
Every user base has different demands. Keeping in mind that every user is unique, it is crucial
to design a product that appeals to as many individuals as possible. As the old saying goes, if
you strive to please everyone, you will please no one. Hence, instead of being generally suitable
for the client, Knock allows customers to customise their door lock to be specially perfect for
every user. Through review reflection from classmates and lecturers, I was able to reflect on the
valuable advice given. Mostly because it allows me to stand back and analyze everything. It
enables me to evaluate what I did well and what I should avoid in the future. This way, the same
faults will hopefully not be repeated in future projects.
The final outcome I was able to achieve with this class was to improve my data observation and
analysis skills through usability testing. It is the stage in the design process that allows me to
evaluate my product with real users and produce human-centric products. This process allows
me to thoroughly investigate and analyse the behaviour of my target audience when engaging
with the product. Users are asked to execute tasks by trying out the products, generally while
being observed and the entire process is recorded, in order to identify where they encounter
problems and confusion. Furthermore, it allows me to determine whether any professional
expertise is required to assist them in using the product. Users were then given questionnaires
to complete in order to answer some relevant questions. Feedbacks were given on expanding
more features in future development and making minor modifications in design. My initial plan
was to do ten usability tests. However, due to the current pandemic, I was only able to conduct
the test on three people, all of whom are members of my family, for health and safety reasons.

In conclusion, I encountered a few obstacles that I had to overcome occasionally throughout the
module. Developing a project is not something to do, but rather a process that must be
maintained in order to be successful. Many of the various tasks helped me enhance my
observation, critical thinking, time management, and qualitative decision-making skills. While
some did not improve significantly, others did so tremendously. The work isn't flawless yet, but it
shows that I'm willing to put in the time and effort to make room for growth. As I work on
upcoming projects, I aim to not only maintain but further develop these skills. Project research
and development is not something you leave behind when you graduate, therefore it is critical
that I carry these skills with me not only for the next few years, but for the rest of my life. If I
succeed in doing so, I will always be ready for whatever projects that my field of interest might
throw at me.
Appendices

I've included my user testing evidence; you may access it by clicking here.

Here are some images from the development of my project, as well as a detailed journal
progression of my work.

Image 1 : Sketching Progress

Image 2 : 3D Modelling Progress

Image 3 : Soldering Progress

Image 4 : Coding Progress

 Image 5 : Door Lock Progress

Image 6 : User Manual Progress

 Image 7 : Website Progress

Image 8 : Website Progress

Image 9 : Packaging Progress

References
Alghamdi, Abdullah. (2020). Security Lock systems: From Problem Statement to System Design
Name of the Author. 10.13140/RG.2.2.19174.04163.

Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia. 2019. Crime Trends and Patterns in Malaysia - Kyoto Review
of Southeast Asia. [online] Available at: <https://kyotoreview.org/trendsetters/crime-trends-and-
patterns-in-malaysia/> [Accessed 17 November 2021].

Lucid, 2021. Why Market Research Is Important. Available at: <https://luc.id/blog/why-market-

research-is-important/> [Accessed 17 November 2021].

MarketWatch. 2021. Smart Door Lock Market Size, Share, Revenue Growth, Development And
Demand Forecast. [online] Available at: <https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/smart-
door-lock-market-size-share-revenue-growth-development-and-demand-forecast-2021-11-22?
tesla=y> [Accessed 17 November 2021].

Orangesoft.com.my. 2018. Benefits of Having a Corporate Website for Your Business. [online]
Available at: <https://www.orangesoft.com.my/blog/benefits-having-corporate-website-your-
business> [Accessed 19 November 2021].

FreshDesk, 2019. Why Product Customization is Important for Customer Satisfaction. Available
at: <https://freshdesk.com/general/product-customization-for-customer-satisfaction-blog/>
[Accessed 19 November 2021].