Uncertainty you can see.
Sound can tell you roughly where something is, never exactly. The design had to be honest about that, without turning it into numbers.
Decision 01
The size of the sphere is the distance.
From across the room, the sphere is about the size of a beach ball: “it’s somewhere in here.” It tightens smoothly as you walk in, down to a few inches. There’s no distance readout because the shape already says it.
- Chose
- A sphere that shrinks as you approach
- Over
- A distance number in feet
Decision 02
Distance along the floor, not from your eyes.
Closeness is measured across the floor, ignoring how high your head is. Crouching to look under a chair shouldn’t make the AirTag seem to move. It should feel the same as Find My on iPhone.
- Chose
- Horizontal distance
- Over
- Straight-line distance from your head
Decision 03
“Found” changes color, shape and sound.
Within about three feet the dots turn green and the looping locator sound stops. The sphere collapses, then a small ring bursts out around the AirTag with a single confirmation tone. You know you’ve found it even if you only catch one of the three.
- Chose
- Green + collapse + one tone
- Over
- A “Found!” label