NexusNet AI: The Intelligent Home Internet Experience - @ Google AiStudio - Live Demo

Project Overview

NexusNet AI is a smart, user-friendly application designed to transform the often-frustrating home internet experience. Built with React and powered by Google Gemini, the platform provides real-time network monitoring, intuitive device management, and AI-powered support, putting users in complete control of their home network.

My Role: UX Designer, Product Manager, Front-End Developer (as a solo project)

1. The Problem: The Mystery of the Lagging Connection

For most people, home Wi-Fi is a "black box." When the internet is slow or a device won't connect, the cause is a mystery. Users are left to fumble with a router, restart devices, or call technical support, leading to frustration and wasted time. The core problem was to demystify the home network, providing users with a clear, actionable dashboard to understand, manage, and optimize their own connections without needing a technical expert.

2. The Solution: A Proactive, Self-Healing Network

The solution was to build a single, intelligent application that acts as the command center for the home network. The key features and workflow include:

• Real-Time Network Monitoring: A live dashboard provides a clear overview of network health, including internet speed, data usage, and the status of all connected devices.

• AI-Powered Insights: The Gemini AI integration allows users to ask natural language questions about their network. For example, "Why is my video call freezing?" The AI analyzes network data and provides a simple, direct answer and a solution, such as "Your router is overloaded. Try pausing the download on your laptop to free up bandwidth."

• Intuitive Device Management: Users can see a list of all connected devices, identify them by name (e.g., "Jane's iPhone," "Living Room TV"), prioritize their bandwidth, or temporarily pause their access with a single tap.

• Troubleshooting & Optimization: NexusNet AI proactively identifies common network issues and suggests solutions. For instance, it can detect if a device is on a weak Wi-Fi signal and suggest moving it closer to a mesh node or a router.

This proactive approach turns a technical chore into a simple, automated process, putting the user in control of their own network performance.

3. My Design Process: Simplifying Complexity

My design process was driven by a single objective: make a complex system feel simple and transparent. The goal was to build an app that felt less like a technical tool and more like a helpful, intelligent assistant.

• UX Research: I conducted usability testing and user interviews with non-technical individuals to understand their pain points. A major finding was the overwhelming frustration with technical jargon. I learned that terms like "ping," "latency," and "throughput" were confusing. The design had to translate these concepts into simple, human-readable language and visual cues.

• Information Architecture: I structured the application around a clear hierarchy. The main dashboard provides a quick, color-coded status of the network. Tapping on a device reveals its specific details and management options, while the AI chatbot is always accessible for natural language queries.

• Prototyping & Visual Design: I prototyped a clean, modern UI with a focus on bold typography and intuitive iconography. The use of clear, data-driven visualizations (e.g., a simple speed gauge, a bar chart for data usage) and a welcoming, conversational tone for the AI assistant makes the app approachable. The design was built with React for its component-based architecture, which allowed for a clean, modular, and scalable codebase.

4. The Final Product: Your Network, Your Control

The final product is a powerful, yet elegant, solution to a universal problem. By leveraging the power of AI to simplify complex data, NexusNet AI transforms the home network from a source of frustration into a source of peace of mind. It demonstrates how user-centered design and cutting-edge technology can combine to create a product that is not just useful, but a delight to use.

Key Learnings & Outcomes:

• AI as an Interpreter: AI's role in this product is not to replace the user, but to act as a bridge, translating complex technical information into simple, actionable insights.

• Empathy in Design: By designing for the non-technical user, I learned the importance of eliminating jargon and focusing on the user's ultimate goal: a fast, reliable internet connection.

• The Power of Proactive Help: The app’s ability to predict and suggest fixes proactively is a game-changer, turning a reactive troubleshooting process into a seamless, automated one.