WOBO
A smart band to monitor heart rate of BP patients
My role
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Physical Computing and Designing Haptics, Design research, Storyboarding, Building physical prototypes.
Duration
2 weeks, 1 week for building ideations followed by a week of prototyping and coding.
Team
Shriya Pandey (IXD Student) @CCA
Under the mentorship of Madeleine Cordier
Tools and Techniques
Arduino CPX, Heart rate sensor, Vibration motors, coding with Arduino language.
Project Background
How might we design haptic interactions to assist user make better choices?
This was a course project. The goal of this project was to successfully come up with intuitive smart-wear that involves haptic experience to ease their life.
My interest in health care, motivated me to design a a minimal viable prototype for low cost budget blood pressure monitoring band.
Before calling out the design process, research findings and designs following are the key features of WOBO
Prototyping is the conversation you have with your ideas.
Tom Wujec
Key features
Medical monitoring
This device uses heart rate sensor to detect biometric data such as pulse rate and physical activities to monitor Blood pressure.
Visual Feedback for safe mode
WOBO will keep re-assuring users with visual feedback. This would be green stimulations to indicate BP is normal.
Haptic Feedback to alert
In critical situation, WOBO nudges users with haptic feedback (Vibration on wrist) along with red visual stimulations.
Process
Since this project focussed more on building stuff, therefore this design process stands out differently. It included learning, building and testing phase.
Learning
Defining sensors and physical computing principles
Sensory design research
Surveys *
Observation **
building
Storyboarding
Low Fidelity video prototype*
Coding with micro-controllers
Cardboard prototyping
Final mock up
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test
Testing the experience
Reflections
Digital Iteration
Learning phase
User Interviews:
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People often miss on noticing early feedback's as they are very engaged to pay attention on these details.
According to medical advisors, patients find most difficulty in maintaining healthy lifestyle on daily basis which leads to major setbacks later on.
According to medical advisors, patients find most difficulty in maintaining healthy lifestyle on daily basis which leads to major setbacks later on.
Observation
Hypertension patients monitor their blood pressure only when they are triggered any symptom.
insights
People with heart condition find constant monitoring activity as strenuous.
Opportunity
Designing a smart band that auto-monitors heart rate and provides feedback when required
Pivot Point
Designing a smart band that provides visual and haptic feedback to user based on the heart rate severity, so that users can quickly take action. After testing various use cases, I decided to ideate for patients of hypertension.
Ideation
Designing storyboard helped in understanding value propositions and features of the WOBO. The two key features were Alert mode and Safe mode
ALERT MODE
WOBO will turn red and start strong haptic feedback to alert users. The intensity of color and vibrations are affordance.
WOBO will alert users to take quick action and if they do not respond in 1 min. WOBO also goes in emergency mode.
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They will get medical help before the crisis could kick in.
In case, user doesn't respond in 30 sec. WOBO is connected to phone and it will auto call emergency numbers.
SAFE MODE
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WOBO will turn green. It's going to be visual feedback to assure users of their BP level.
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In case if user hasn't done any activity, WOBO will nudge the users with slight haptic feedback (Vibrations)
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Users can take action and better care of their BP.
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WOBO is connected to phone, so after nudging user it will provide them with important action.
Prototyping smart band
Since this project was mostly focussed on building physical prototype, so I used the following components for prototyping the band WOBO
Vibration Motor
Arduino CPX - Microcontroller
Heart rate sensor
FIRST STEP : TO ADD INPUT AND OUTPUT TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUT. INPUT IS PULSE RATE OF USERS AND OUTPUT IS HAPTIC VIBRATIONS TO NUDGE THEM TO TAKE ACTIONS
INTEGRATING VIBRATION MOTOR
INTEGRATING PULSE SENSOR
INTEGRATING VIBRATION MOTOR
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PULSE RATE IS GOING TO BE INPUT FOR WOBO.
ADDING HAPTIC FEEDBACK FOR CRITICAL MODE - WHEN HEART RATE IS HIGH.
CODING AT ARDUINO (Library CPX Playground)
Coding on Arduino
Alert mode - Red LED blinking
SAFE MODE - Green LED blinking
ADDING GREEN LED FEEDBACK WHEN HEART RATE IS NORMAL
ADDING "BLINKING OF RED LED'S" WHEN HEART RATE IS HIGH
Final Prototype
This is the short video explaining the functionality of the WOBO
Flow with digital Variation
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When Heart-rate is normal
Band will provide this visual feedback.
Smart notification on user's phone to enable them take action.
When Heart-rate is high
Red visual feedback along with haptic vibration
Smart notification on user's phone for SOS calling
Impact and Takeaways
1.) Problem solving: Designing the entire experience through multiple iterations and testing. Storyboarding helped me be flexible and imaginative while I jotted the problem and how it’s solved
2.) Immersive Experience: Unifying the digital and physical product was very new to me. I learnt the boundaries and dynamic design thinking for it. I learnt to mix different mediums like vibrations and light.
3.) Coding is fun : I hated coding once and through this class I could get over that fear. I could also practice the skill of designing aesthetics with functionality.
Futuristic approach
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Creating patterns with vibrations to help user get intuitive message about the severity of heart rate
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Using sustainable materials and creating high fidelity prototype
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Studying and Learning about the emotional connection with colors and how that could be used as output for making users feel relaxed and comfortable
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Learning about different types of gestures users can make use of to take action on their heart rate severity.
