Improving asthmatic’s daily routines
Sound Design Course
Umeå Institute of Design
2 weeks, March 2018
Team work with
Selvi Olgac & Gabriel Uggla
Recognition
Background
For many asthmatics, the daily routines of asthma management can be a complex process entailing; monitoring the condition, logging results and inhaling the medicine in the right way.
The measuring of one’s condition and tracking in the long term, is crucial to learn their own triggers. With several products and routines, living with asthma can be a constant daily challenge.
Concept
Combining the essential steps of the treatment into one flow, Otto helps patients to measure, track and inhale medicine in the right way, by using lights and sounds as guidance.
Asthma Facts
It is under-diagnosed and under-treated.
It creates substantial burden to individuals and families and often restricts individuals’ activities for a lifetime.
80% of the patients use their inhalers wrong.
It’s estimated that only about 40 per cent of the medicine reaches lungs if patients fail to use their inhalers correctly.
How does asthma treatment look like today?
1. MEDICATION - Inhalers
Asthma medication is taken by using an inhaler. Type of the medicine could change from patient to patient depending on their needs.
2. TEST - Peak Flow Meter
To monitor your condition, an analog device called peak flow meter is used. Medicine dose is adjusted twice a year after this measurement.
3. DOCUMENT - Personal Asthma Diary
Patients with serious asthma problems have their own peak flow meter and regularly write down the results in a paper diary to track their condition.
Key Insight
“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.”
— Asthmatic
Rethinking
The Asthma
Experience
Increasing dose adjustment frequency
Today patients visit their health care provider only two times a year to adjust their medication.However their condition might differ from day to day, as well as their need for medicine.
Facilitating medicine process
80% of the patients use their asthma inhaler in the wrong way; shaking the inhaler, timing spray with inhalation, and making sure the medicine stays in your lungs is often done incorrectly.
Improving 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.
This is Otto!
Otto combines the process of monitoring, logging and medicating into one seamless experience, using lights and sounds to guide users.
How much medicine do I need today? Did I inhale correctly? Is my condition improving? Otto guides the user through the process and lets you know.
How does Otto work?
New User Flow
Shake to wake!
In the process, also mix the medicine which is often a missed step.
2. Exhale & Take the Test
Exhale through the mouthpiece to take the test. Dose is adjusted based on result.
3. Inhale Adjusted Dose
Lights count down and the sound works as a confirmation.
4. Done!
The measured data is logged in and sent to digital journal when Otto is charged.
Watch Otto in Action
What is inside?
Using two membranes directed in opposite directions we could use the same mouthpiece for both measuring exhalation values, as well as inhaling the asthma medicine.
Otto can be re-useable as the mouthpiece can be separated and cleaned, and in addition the medicine canister can be changed when opening the lower part.
Medicine activated by inhalation
By utilizing a new type of medicine delivery that is activated by inhalation (rather than pressing a button) we removed the step of having to time the spray-release with inhalation.
Research
User Interviews
To get a deeper understanding of how it feels like living with asthma we did interviews with asthmatics.
We got to learn more about the operation of different inhalers, what they find are the biggest challenges in their daily routine and how asthma affects their emotional well-being.
Expert Interviews
To understand the challenges and wishes from an expert’s point of view we visited the local health centre. We tried and discussed existing products and learned what makes them good or not.
“It would be great to be able to adjust dosage more frequently.”
- Asthma Expert
Concept Evaluation
Structuring the user flow
We made a flowchart to understand each step of the current process and to find new design opportunities.
We made variations of our own redesigned process to provide a seamless experience for the end user.
User Testing
We added lights work as silent indicators of progress, with sounds that function as confirmation and attention-grabbers; in tandem they make sure the medication is inhaled the right way.
We tested these indicators through a Wizard of Oz test.
