Above: the launched Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) app.
Cobalt Robotics is a security service powered by robots and human Robot Specialists working together. It’s a new way of using robots and a dramatically new way of doing security.
How Cobalt’s security service works
The ask
When the robot begins a patrol (step 1), Cobalt’s team of remote Specialists monitors it via a video feed and control panel.
Customers quickly let us know they needed something similar.
The work
Based on research the Head of Product and I conducted—sometimes together and sometimes individually—I designed the app for four key priorities: 1. urgent situations, 2. fast decision-making, 3. easy spacial orientation (i.e. where am I and what am I looking at?), and 4. function first (while maintaining our clean aesthetic).
In addition to interviews with security managers on-site and at our offices, I also dove deeply into industry norms by undergoing security guard certification and visiting working security operations centers.
Personas: C-suite Executive, SOC Manager, Security Guard/SOC operator
We learned about the kinds of information they were used to seeing, management’s backgrounds (often in military and law enforcement), and what features we could offer users highly trained in security, but not in robotics.
Wireframes were begun on paper. Shown here are some next-stage (but still early) concepts.
Beyond the essential functions, we also began to get a sense of the aesthetics that would reflect Cobalt’s white glove service, communicate credibility, and earn the trust of an industry that has no patience for flashy startups.
The results are an intuitive tool that delivers increasingly meaningful features as our customer base expands.
Customers can now remotely monitor incidents as they are happening at any time during the robot’s patrol hours. If an unusual or critical incident requires immediate action, customers can view video surveillance in real time to make better high-impact decisions.
Also, providing the ability to remotely experience Cobalt’s patrols is a powerful way to demonstrate the value of the service.
No actual customer locations are shown in these examples.
Proposed event modals.
My role
- Research into workflow, backgrounds, worries and aspirations of the GSOC’s intended users.
- Design of wireframes, and proposed app layouts, features and user flows.
- Worked with engineering to clarify and determine technical requirements and security restrictions.
- Created prototypes to review, finalize and test for usability and flow.
- Designed and delivered final app layouts and visual assets.
- Created illustrations of the robot, as well as nonstandard icons.
- Documented any elements that furthered the evolution of Cobalt’s brand.
I underwent basic guard card certification at a training facility as part of my research. Scored top marks!