MiCa.

Step 01

Research and Problem Identification

We began by asking how trust is constructed and value is perceived during guest-host interactions. From the guest side, users like 'Eric' dislike generic recommendations and expect hotel-quality responsiveness from hosts. From the host side, non-professional hosts like 'Carlotta' find management exhausting and costly, with no way to predict how future guests will behave. The core insight: psychological research shows that place attachment — built through chatting and shared activities — contributes to the meaning guests attribute to a space. Designing for emotional connection helps guests care for the property.

Step 02

Conceptualizing the Solution: MiCa

We developed MiCa, an IoT system that welcomes and guides guests throughout their stay. It acts as a digital co-host, supporting the guest while the actual host remains behind the scenes. MiCa provides essential information — Wi-Fi passwords, local pub recommendations, house rules — in a way that feels personal rather than automated.

Step 03

Prototyping the MiCa System

Our solution consists of two primary components. The MiCa App lets hosts 'train' their AI co-host using reinforcement learning and handles the administrative side — check-out checklists, booking management through platforms like Airbnb. The MiCa Totem is a physical IoT device in the apartment that gives guests context-aware recommendations and instructions. 

Step 04

Evaluation and Findings

We refined the prototype based on specific interaction goals. Digital face-to-face check-ins give guests the impression that the house should be respected. While AI is useful for planning, our evaluation noted concerns about its reliability in emergency situations. A systemic experience builds a genuine emotional bond by anticipating needs based on collected data.

Step 05

Future Directions

We established a roadmap for further technological integration. The next step is testing to measure how this emotional bond influences long-term guest satisfaction and engagement. We plan to include Tiny Machine Learning to enable presence-based automation, allowing the totem to enter an energy-saving 'sleep mode' when no one is around. Finally, we aim to create a MiCa-enabled network that connects with other automated home systems, such as lighting.