Improving daily asthma management
Time
10 days, 2018
Team
Selvi Olgac
Birnur Sahin
Medicate
Asthma medication is taken by using an inhaler. Type of the medicine could change from patient to patient depending on their needs.
Monitor
To monitor your condition, an analog device called peak flow meter is used. It measures a person’s lung capacity at the time of measurement.
Document
Patients with serious asthma have their own peak flow meter and regularly write down the results in a paper diary. Medicine dose is adjusted twice a year based on these measurements.
It is difficult to know for how long you must inhale and for how long you need to hold your breath. You don’t know if you’re doing it right.
— Interviewed asthmatic
Facilitate inhalation process
70-90% are using their asthma inhaler the wrong way; shaking the inhaler, timing spray with inhalation, and making sure the medicine stays in your lungs are all crucial, but often done incorrectly.
Increase dose adjustment frequency
Currently the user must visit a doctor to adjust their medication. Over- or under-medication is common due to the infrequent adjustments, fixed medicine dosage and the uncertainty if you inhaled correctly.
Improve product feedback
How much medicine do I need today? Did I inhale correctly? Is my condition improving? These are important user requests that are currently not met.
Introducing
NO BUTTONS. NO SCREEN. NO APP. Just breathe.
Otto guides the user through the asthma management process by using light and sound. It combines monitoring, logging and medication into one seamless experience.
Redesigned user flow
SHAKE TO WAKE
Shake Otto to wake it up, in the process mixing the asthma medication.
EXHALE
Exhale through the mouthpiece to take a peak flow measurement. Dose is automatically adjusted based on the result.
INHALE
Inhale the dose. Lights count down for you and a sound lets you know when you’re done.
LOG & CHARGE
Measurement data is logged in the back-end and sent to your digital journal when Otto is charged.
Medical grade materials
Otto’s materials are hygienic, reliable and safe. The matte white plastic body is durable and easy to clean, while the mouthpiece in translucent silicone conveys cleanliness. The glossy hard plastic cap protects the mouthpiece.
NO BUTTONS. NO SCREEN. NO APP. JUST BREATHE.
THE PROCESS behind
1. USER INTERVIEWS
Through user interviews we learned about different inhalers, what asthmatics believe are the biggest challenges in their daily routine and how asthma affects their emotional and physical well-being.
2. EXPERT INTERVIEW
To understand the challenges and wishes from an expert’s point of view, we visited a health care center. Together with a nurse we tested and discussed existing products and learned more about what makes them work or not.
3. JOURNEY MAPPING
To get a holistic picture of the user flow, a journey map was structured with the aim to understand each step in the medication process. The intention was to figure out a seamless transition between each step for the user.
4. IMMERSION
We did a simple test to see for ourselves how it might feel like breathing with asthma.
5. IDEATION
The ideation process focused on redefining the product-user interaction.
6. SKETCHING
The sketch process focused on making the product portable, hygienic and iconic.
7. CAD
We built a mockup tech package with PCB, membranes, etc to base our outer shell on.
8. SOUND DESIGN
We produced our own sounds with a Moog synthesizer to match the intended interactions and expression of the product. Our aim was to create sounds that felt precise and uplifting, yet subtle. All sounds were designed to create a coherent sound family that would reinforce the identity of the product.
9. LIGHT DESIGN
Different versions of light feedback were animated to test semantics and how the lights would work together with the sounds.
11. PROTOTYPE MAKING
The physical design was 3D printed to verify ergonomics, aesthetics and usability. It was also used in a short movie explaining the concept.
12. USER TESTING
Through a Wizard of Oz test we tested and refined our light and sound design.
IXD AWARDS IN MILAN
