HealthWatch
Intersection of Technology and Design
Problem
How can we help society prevent the spread of COVID-19 while simultaneously raising awareness of safe practices. We also need to consider privacy in regards to medical information (HIPAA).
Context
This originally started as a group project in an Interaction Design Studio. I worked with three other group members to make the original prototype and screens.
On my own I further developed the screens of the wearable to fit watch iOS standards, as well as redesigned the phone app screens.
Solution
We created a prototype of a wearable that helps users:
monitor their current health
be aware when they are in high risk areas
stay socially distanced
The Wearable
Wearable Functionality
We decided that it was important that the first point of contact through which information was delivered was a wearable. To measure biometrics and keep users alert about their current health, the wearable component was necessary. Also, it allowed for more immediate notifications and updates as its something that the user would keep on their person at almost all times.
We looked at what capabilities a wearable could have using real sensors that could assist with preventing the spread of COVID. We ultimately decided there were three essential functionalities we could offer via the HealthWatch.
Functionalities
Symptoms: The wearable tracks your vitals: your heartbeat and temperature as an elevated temperature and heartbeat can be indicative of COVID-19 (as well as other illnesses).
Social Distancing: When you are within 6 ft of someone else (also using the wearable) both users are alerted with a beeping noise to keep a safe distance.
Location Tracking: HealthWatch would keep track of locations where users were and whether other people who had visited those locations had either shown symptoms or were diagnosed with COVID. It can also alert users when they enter a high risk area so they know to take more precautions.
The sensors and technology behind these functionalities are important to determining the feasibility of the wearable. Based on these technologies this would probably have to be an independently made wearable as it most likely would not be implementable in an Apple watch.
Technologies
Symptoms: To detect pulse a Reflection-Type Pulse Sensor (a special optical sensor) would be used. For temperature reading a thermo sensor could be used, to take the necessary readings.
Social Distancing: Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology allows for short range radio transmission and distance measuring.
Location Tracking: GPS sensors would be used to track the location of users.
Wearable Screens
Our original screens for the wearable were very basic. These were made for showing the basic functionality of the app. On my own I redesigned these screens to match with the Apple Watch interface standards, and to be more informative.
Design Process:
Made rough sketches of what information the screens should feature.
Created the first iteration of screens with basic iconography and color.
On my own researched common design standards for wearables and the Apple Watch- as it is the most main stream wearable.
I then redesigned the screens based on these standards, taking into consideration screen real estate and readability.
Takeaways: This was my first time designing screens for a wearable. One of the biggest restraints is the size limitation and having to communicate important information through a much smaller screen.
Wearable Prototype
We decided that it was important that the first point of contact through which information was delivered was a wearable. To measure biometrics and keep users alert about their current health, the wearable component was necessary. Also, it allowed for more immediate notifications and updates as its something that the user would keep on their person at almost all times.
Design Process:
Researched the design of multiple wearables.
Sketched out what the wearable would look like.
In Illustrator I made a path based on our design - taking into account borders around the screen and holes for straps.
We did and initial cut with the acrylic, and then readjusted to allow more tolerance for the straps.
The straps were created from silver reflective tape and velcro and were made to detach and reattach.
Takeaways: I was really happy to have been able to apply my skills in physical prototyping and laser cutting to make this model.
The App
App Design
The app serves as a mean to support the wearable and provide more in depth information. It not only relays the same information as the wearable but also gives more in depth action about actions to take as well as a location history.
As with the wearable I redesigned the screens of the app to be more consistent and navigable- while keeping all of the original functionalities.
Additional Functionalities
Notifications: It expands on the notifications on the wearable to give more information. It also links users to detailed information when they enter a high risk area.
High Risk Area: When users are alerted to a high risk area, they can view a heat map, an address of the epicenter, and are provided with precautions to take to ensure their health as well as the health of those around them.
Recent Locations: The app also give detailed information about locations the user has visited and how many confirmed cased and symptomatic individuals have been there the day of or in 14 days prior to the users visit.
Next Steps: Provides the user with detailed information on what to expect, what measures to take to keep from spreading it, and where to get tested near them.
Design Process:
Made low fidelity pencil and paper sketches of some of the potential ways to display the information.
From those designed the mid-fidelity screens in Figma.
Received feedback from peers on the mid-fidelity and and iterated creating high fidelity screens.
On my own redesigned screens for consistency and better navigation.
Takeaways: This was an interesting experience for me. In HCI and UX we are normally told “mobile first,” but for this project our approach was definitely “wearable first.” In this case, the upsizing was determined more by functionality than by design. If I were to do another iteration- I would consider making a dark mode version of the UI to have more visual congruity with wearable.
