The Context
In the United States, approximately 696,000 individuals live with the constant fear of their lives being turned upside down in an instant. Among them are individuals battling Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative condition characterized by life-altering symptoms. According to Pelicioni et al., falls pose a significant threat to the disability, independence, and overall quality of life of PD patients. Approximately 50% of individuals with PD experience recurrent falls, primarily attributed to postural instability and gait difficulties.
CreateAbility, a company dedicated to developing innovative products for individuals with intellectual disabilities, has presented us with a challenge: to enhance their existing product aimed at reducing falls in individuals with Parkinson's disease. This product comprises an ankle wearable sensor and a simple companion app, which have been proven effective in fall reduction through testing. Its affordability and effectiveness make it a valuable asset to users, giving it a competitive edge in the market. So, how do we innovate over an already innovative product? Easy. We go back to basics.
The Research
Our initial secondary research focused on comprehensively understanding the problem at hand and the domain in which we operate. We delved into client interviews, literature reviews, and data from associations and organizations dedicated to Parkinson’s disease. This thorough exploration allowed our team to gain insights into the causes, symptoms, and lifestyle adjustments associated with Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, it enabled us to identify key stakeholders involved in leveraging CreateAbility’s technology to support individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Here are the primary stakeholders identified:
*Note that the data in the personas is updated through primary research.*
For our primary research, after several email exchanges and LinkedIn conversations, I successfully arranged two contextual inquiries and observations at one of the workshops hosted by the Indiana Parkinson’s Foundation in collaboration with their director.
Serving as an eye-opener, the inquiries and observations allowed us to view individuals with Parkinson’s disease not merely as patients, as commonly described in research papers, but as humans with unique challenges. We could sense their enthusiasm through their soft-spoken words and observe their determination to minimize the impact of their condition through the continuous effort they exerted both at home and in the workshop. This firsthand experience provided a deeper understanding of their daily struggles and aspirations, guiding our approach to developing solutions that truly address their needs and enhance their quality of life.
During an inquiry with a caregiver, I posed a question about the participants' forward lean, to which they responded: "Postural instability is part of the problem - because he doesn’t realize that he is leaning forward, he doesn’t correct it. If I tell him, he does."
This exchange highlighted the participants' lack of awareness regarding their posture, which aligned with our secondary research indicating that falls in Parkinson's disease patients are primarily caused by postural instability and gait difficulties.
This led us to consider the possibility of intervening to address the second cause of falls as well.
Subsequently, we conducted an environmental analysis to gain deeper insights into the market space. This analysis provided us with a comprehensive understanding of current technology trends, our competitors, and other customer segments utilizing similar technologies such as those offered by CreateAbility.
Some of the trends in the industry included remote patient monitoring, the development of flexible mini sensors, and self-monitoring and tracking capabilities that facilitate feedback. These trends closely aligned with the behaviors and motivations of our personas, indicating a strong market fit for our product.
Additionally, significant investments were being made into Parkinson’s disease research, suggesting a potential revenue stream through data sharing for research purposes. This highlighted an opportunity for our product to not only address immediate needs but also contribute to advancing research in the field, further enhancing its value proposition.
Addressing the Core Problem: Unawareness about Posture
After extensive brainstorming, a key idea emerged from the ideation phase: balance-gait. The proposed product would enhance CreateAbility’s current wearable technology by incorporating an extension equipped with pressure sensors at various points on the foot.
These pressure sensors would detect when the wearer is leaning forward excessively by comparing pressure distribution values with ideal values. The ideal values would be derived from training data obtained during the initial supervised walk around, while the goal values to facilitate steady improvement in the user's posture would be derived from standard datasets trained by individuals without Parkinson's Disease.
Accompanied by vibration motors, the pressure sensors would alert users discreetly when they aren’t maintaining good posture, allowing them to make adjustments without drawing attention. As the user walks, the wearable device continuously monitors the weight distribution on their feet, predicting any deviation from their personalized, appropriate walking posture established during onboarding. If an incorrect posture is detected, an audio cue or haptic prompt is triggered through the wearable, helping to increase the user's confidence in performing daily activities.
The Companion App: BalanceGait
Feature 1: The Steady Score - Self-Tracking Metric
The Steady Score is calculated based on the duration of time the user spends walking correctly without triggering a prompt from the system. This metric allows users to track their walking improvement over time, providing reassurance to both themselves and their caregivers. Additionally, the increment indicator displayed over their average score establishes trust in the product and boosts the user’s self-confidence.
Additional Metrics and Detailed Tracking
These metrics provide valuable insights to the user’s healthcare provider and trainer, offering data collected outside of supervised environments. This information can be used to fine-tune the user’s treatment plan at a much more granular level, optimizing their care and overall well-being.
Accessible Interface for folks with PD:
Following the guidelines outlined in "User interface design guidelines for smartphone applications for people with Parkinson’s disease" by Nunes et al., the following principles were prioritized during the interface design:
Tap Targets Size: Utilize tap targets with a minimum size of 14 mm (approximately 60px) to ensure optimal accuracy and ease of use.
Information Display: Display information judiciously, considering the tendency of individuals with Parkinson's disease to experience short-term memory loss.
High Contrast Elements: Implement high-contrast color schemes to aid users with vision impairments commonly associated with Parkinson's disease.
Additionally, we arranged tap targets in a hierarchical manner, with the least important targets positioned at the bottom and the most important ones located at the center. This arrangement ensures that users can easily access critical features without the need for precise finger movements, enhancing overall usability and user experience.
Future Scope
A version for Athletes
Considering that gait-related wearables are frequently used by athletes to monitor and improve their performance, there is potential to develop a specialized version of the product tailored to their needs. By measuring feet weight distribution and tracking timings, athletes could make informed decisions about their training plans, manage injuries, or select appropriate footwear to enhance their performance.
Revenue through Plantar data
Live plantar or feet weight distribution data, discovered during our research, presents a unique opportunity. Ongoing research into Parkinson’s disease has shown the value of this data in controlled environments, and our product could provide an opportunity to collect and analyze data from uncontrolled environments. This data could be valuable for research purposes, potentially creating a revenue stream through partnerships with researchers and institutions interested in studying gait patterns and related health conditions.
Learnings
Scope out all Stakeholders
Building a successful product extends beyond just user experience design; it’s crucial to provide value to all stakeholders involved. This includes users, clients, their resources, and even competitors. Considering all stakeholders’ needs ensures a holistic approach to product development and project success.
Starting Strong
To ensure a successful product development process, it’s essential to begin with a clear scope and focus on identifying key value generators for each stakeholder. In this project, the researcher stakeholder was identified too late, leading to potential gaps in data confidence. Starting with a comprehensive understanding of all stakeholders from the outset can prevent such issues and lay a strong foundation for the project.
