[Case Study] Expanding Doorbell Monitoring to Smartwatches: Enhancing Convenience and Functionality

Background

Ring, a renowned smart home security company, offers a range of products including video doorbells. To address the inconvenience and limited functionality of monitoring the doorbell solely through smartphones, we embarked on a mission to develop a smartwatch-optimized Ring Doorbell app. This case study highlights the challenges faced, innovative solutions implemented, and the positive impact of introducing the watch app.

Challenges and Solutions

The primary challenge was the need for users to carry their phones to utilize the Ring Doorbell effectively, limiting its usability. We aimed to create a seamless and convenient method for users to monitor their doorbells without relying on their phones. We focused on creating a watch app that prioritized essential features and provided a simple, user-friendly interface.

Account Login

One of the challenges encountered in developing the Ring Doorbell watch app was the difficulty of accommodating the account login process on the small screen of smartwatches. The limited real estate posed a significant hurdle, potentially compromising user experience and ease of use.

To overcome the challenge, we implemented a clever solution that enabled users to log in to their accounts via a link on their mobile screens. By leveraging the larger screen size and enhanced usability of mobile devices, we provided a simplified and seamless login process for users. This approach circumvented the limitations of the watch screen, ensuring a more efficient and user-friendly experience.

Viewing videos on the watch screen

Another challenge was playing videos on the small watch screen. To address this, we maximized the screen's real estate by displaying a thumbnail and video in a way that optimized the available space. The limited battery life of smartwatches posed a significant obstacle when playing large real-time video files. We tackled this issue by optimizing video files during import from the cloud, enabling faster downloads and facilitating real-time video viewing on the watch

Browsing Event History

One of the significant features of the app was the ability to receive notifications with a thumbnail image of the visitor and the option to view real-time video when the doorbell rang. However, we faced a challenge related to excessive battery consumption caused by frequent server polling. To overcome this challenge, we implemented two solutions.

The first solution involved retrieving a list of events from the server at specific intervals and configuring notification messages accordingly. This approach allowed us to optimize the utilization of available resources effectively.

Alternatively, the second solution would have required the construction of a new server and the utilization of the Tizen push service. However, we decided to opt for the first option as it offered a more efficient use of resources.

By choosing the first solution, we were able to address the high battery consumption issue. Instead of providing real-time notifications, we utilized frequent server polling to present the event history to users. This allowed users to view their app usage history along with detailed information.

So, what did we learn?

The Ring Doorbell watch app received positive reviews from users, underscoring its effectiveness in providing a convenient and streamlined doorbell monitoring experience. Users appreciated the ability to monitor their doorbells without the hassle of taking out their phones. They found the app's intuitive user experience made it effortless to use the app without any confusion or frustration.

This case study serves as a testament to the power of actively embracing new technology to increase customer satisfaction. By recognizing the potential of smartwatches as a platform extension, Ring effectively expanded the functionality of its existing product and provided users with a more seamless and accessible solution. The positive reception of the watch app highlights the importance of continuously exploring new platforms and technologies to meet evolving user needs.

Furthermore, this case study underscores the value of user feedback in driving further improvements. Our commitment to maintaining and updating the watch app based on user input exemplifies a customer-centric approach that fosters ongoing enhancements and ensures continued user satisfaction. The success of the Ring Doorbell watch app demonstrates the benefits of leveraging a new platform to enhance existing products, resulting in increased customer convenience and satisfaction