Picture-in-Picture is a feature for viewing camera and video content while multi-tasking on a device. It allows for a video feed to minimize to a smaller portion of the screen, and out of the way of other content, while still being able to interact with the audio and microphone controls of the video feed.
The Challenge
The challenge was to design a new feature for Echo Show devices that allows users to minimize a live video feed while multitasking, without losing access to essential controls. The experience needed to accommodate a range of smart home camera use cases, from doorbell cameras and security feeds to baby monitors, each with unique viewing priorities and levels of urgency.
The Approach
I designed the feature around five core design principles: avoid distracting from what's on screen, make the window movable and out of the way, inherit the controls of the source device, appear as an alert or only when prompted, and remain scalable to other video content types. I validated these principles by prototyping and testing with Echo Show users to evaluate the feature's usefulness and usability.
The design ultimately addressed three distinct scenarios — video streaming, video calling, and video monitoring — each requiring its own set of interactions and behaviors.
The Outcome
The final design delivers a Picture-in-Picture experience that lets users maximize or close the window, mute and unmute audio and microphone controls, and freely drag the window around the screen. The feature launched across all Echo Show devices, reaching over 20 million active devices.
