Context
CreateAbility
Designing a Parkinson's Telehealth App and Proposing a Wearable for Improved Tracking Accuracy
This project was a part of the course Internet of Things for Business Innovation at Indiana University. We worked with the client - CreateAbility. CreateAbility is a company dedicated to developing innovative products for individuals with intellectual disabilities. They 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 has been proven effective in fall reduction through testing. Its cost 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? Follow along.
Overview
Challenge
Innovate on their existing product aimed at reducing falls in individuals with Parkinson's disease
Outcome
An accessible Parkinson's disease telehealth and gait tracking application, created for a wearable device and tracking enhancements.
Info
Role
Product Designer
Duration
8 Weeks
Tools Used
Figma, FigJam
Team
Varun D - Designer
Gauri - Designer
Research and Problem Definition
In the United States, around 696,000 people live in fear due to Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Our research focused on comprehensively understanding the problem at hand and the domain in which we operate. We delved into client interviews, contextual inquiries, observations and literature reviews.
Our research revealed three user categories that are affected (directly and indirectly) by CreateAbility's product. These three categories, each had unique problems. These are as follows:
Mathew F
PD Patient | 46 YO
“I want to delay the progression of PD and be able to do my tasks independently.”
Key Frustrations
Gait Challenges
Constant Dependence
Fear of Falling
Lisa F
Patient's Wife | 43 YO
“I am concerned with my husband’s disease progression. Health costs are high, but I’d do anything for him”
Key Frustrations
No at-home way to track improvements
Concerns about Falls
Cathy
Trainer & Researcher | 34 YO
“I want to help PwP stay active and be able to facilitate my research by tracking disease progression.”
Key Frustrations
Inability to track individual PD progression
Ensure PwP activity at home
Along with these, the observations and contextual inquiries also revealed a key problem-opportunity:
"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."
-Anonymous Caregiver
This conversational 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 was an opportunity as CreateAbility never addressed this problem in their product.
The New Wearable
Addressing the unawareness of 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.
Posture Detection through Pressure Sensors
These pressure sensors detect excessive forward leaning by comparing pressure distribution values with ideal values derived from initial training data and standard datasets from individuals without Parkinson’s Disease.
User Alerts - through Micro Motors
Vibration motors discreetly alert users to poor posture, allowing adjustments. The device monitors weight distribution, predicting deviations from personalized posture. If incorrect posture is detected, an audio or haptic prompt is triggered, boosting user confidence in daily activities.
The New App
Making the Companion Application - Balance Gait
Balance Gait combines the wearable device for the feet and an app with the goal of reduced falls and providing self-assessment metrics for People with Parkinson's Disease.
#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.
#Feature 2: 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.
Future Scope
How can we make it better?
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.
Expanding into Sports
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.
Learnings
What did I learn from this?
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.
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.