Sole to Soul
Sole to soul is an autonomous, low maintenance fall detection and response system for senior citizens
Overview
COVID -19 exposed the lack of advancement in senior citizen safety. Elderly citizens end up moving in with their children or in a retirement home due to the inability of taking care of themselves. They need a prompt and reliable service which can reach them during emergency situations such as when they fall.
Duration
10 weeks
(Sep - Aug 2020)
Role
UX/UI Lead
UX Research
Strategy
Team
Disha Vanzara,
Kyushik Nam,
Niket Bikst
Tools
Figma, InDesign,
Photoshop,iMovie, Keynote
Process
My team decided to use Double Diamond as our framework for innovation for this project. Double diamond is a design process conducted in four phases :
Discover: A deep dive into the problem we are trying to solve
Define: Synthesizing the information from the discovery phase into a problem definition
Develop: Brainstorm and define solutions to the problem
Deliver: Pick the best solution and build it
Discover
Define
Deliver
Develop
Desk Research
Network Analysis
Market Identification
Survey responses
User interviews
Defining Users
Market Analysis
Empathy Maps
Key Insights
Concept Sketching
Card Sorting
Prototyping
User Testing
Final Designs
Visual designs
Process book
Video Presentation
------ PROBLEM
How might we proactively ensure the safety of senior citizens in a neighborhood ?
Phase 1
DISCOVER
Based on secondary research we learnt that among all the issues that senior citizens face and require help for, accidental falls were most common and easy to detect and address
1
Secondary Research
We began by conducting secondary research to better understand the severity of falls of senior citizens.
11
seconds
An older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall
20%
Of falls lead to serious injuries, such as hip fractures, and brain injuries.
38%
Of people aged 65+ fall each year at least 2 times
40%
Of all injury related deaths are accounted for by falls.
2
Market Research
Given the common occurrence of accidental falls, it was important to understand the competitive landscape and identify addressable gaps in the marketplace
First we used Porter's five forces to analyze the competition within at-home medical devices that could detect and address falls
Threat of new entrants
Threat of Substitutes
Competition is high due to the large number of independent companies with similar operations.
The barriers of entry are high due to the capital intensive upfront cost as well as potential legal fees due to the nature of the industry.
Low
Low
Low
High
Porter's Five Forces
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
The large supply of medical professionals increase competition which decreases the price for their services.
Bargaining Power of Buyers
Senior citizens do not have many options. The industry's innovation is stagnant.
The intensity of rivalry in the market is LOW
2x2 AXIS ANALYSIS
Amber Alerts and Neighborhood Watch are great at getting prompt attention, but there is room for explorations in this market segment specifically to address senior citizen safety given their circumstances
At home security system
PROMPT ATTENTION
Our focus
Amber Alert
Pulse point
Neighborhood Watch
PRIVATE
COMMUNAL
Security Camera
Neighbor ring
Citizen app
DELAYED ATTENTION
3
User Research
We interviewed 8 senior citizen and learnt their pain points specifically to falling and how they feel dependent on others
“
“
I know a woman who had a heart attack and fell on the floor and couldn't reach the telephone. The lady died because nobody was around
“
"It’s difficult to operate a phone in time when something is of an emergency"
“
“
“
Neighbors can help each other quickly and easily. They can reach you before 911
“
“
As I grew older, my health started deteriorating and I was forced to move in with my son. Something that I was very reluctant to do
We affinitized our data points and developed our insights. Based on these insights we defined our service to focus on helping senior citizens who are living in major cities.
Phase 2
DEFINE
EMPATHY MAP
A senior citizen who does not get immediate health care help when needed
I want assistance without the need of calling 911 all the time
WHO
FEEL
Timing in an emergency is very crucial, especially for falls and heart attacks
HEAR
Senior Citizen
SEE
I see many people not getting a prompt response in a health emergency which can eventually lead to more complications.
SAY
DO
I want an easy system that can detect that I am in need of emergency
I always make sure my whereabouts are known, and I always make sure my loved ones know when I reach home
USER PERSONA
Retired woman living with her partner
Isabella is retired who spends most of the time at home with her husband. She lives in NYC in a full service apartment building with a concierge. Her children live in different cities across the country and her friends live in different neighborhoods in the city. Both her and her husband have limited physical movement, thus feeling dependent on others. They are nervous about emergency responses In case of a fall. They believe they may need to move into a retirement home if adjustments are not made to ensure their safety.
“
"It’s difficult to operate a phone in time when
something is of an emergency"
“
Age: 75 years old
Nationality: Hispanic American
Archetype: Risk of falling
Residence: Apartment building with full service staff and HOA
GOAL
-
I want a prompt response from nearby trusted people in case of an emergency in my home.
-
I wish to request help without moving to another room in case I am immobile.
-
I would like to build a safety network without disclosing medical history.
PAIN
-
I don't have an active member at home living with us.
-
We don't have anybody to help if both of us are in an emergency.
-
My friends and family cannot reach me quickly.
-
911 is not always necessary.
CREATIVE BRIEF
WHO
For senior citizens who wants to continue living independently
WHY
For alleviating their anxieties about getting prompt attention when living by themselves
WHAT
A service or a product which makes them happier, healthier, better, and safer
DESIGN CRITERIA
We created key insights and synthesized our data and translated them into 6 design criteria, organized by priority.
PROMPT
People want to receive help or have others notified in a timely manner
CONFIDENCE
People want to receive help or have others notified in a timely manner
RELIABLE
People want a trusted network whom they can easily rely upon
ACCESSIBLE
People want an easy and seamless way of calling for help
COMMUNICATIVE
People want a secure way of broadcasting their need for help
DISCRETE
People need a hands-free way of communicating with their trusted network
WHAT IF.....
-
We create a solution that empowers the people in close proximity to those in need?
-
We develop a solution that creates trusted networks of people whom they can contact easily when in need?
-
People could announce their emergency similar to the way an Amber Alert does?
-
We develop a solution that proactively ensures the safety of senior citizens?
-
People could ask for help without the need to first find a device and then use the device?
-
People can ask for help without calling attention to the fact that they are asking for help?
To generate ideas we looked at competition analysis and organized a brainstorming session that was done with the whole class. We used the five E’s method to touch different moments in the user journey
Phase 3
DEVELOP
1
Competition Analysis
We analyzed our competitors based on our design criteria using a decision matrix to learn areas for improvement while designing our solution
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Philips Lifeline
Dispatch Health
Fall Safety Pro
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Performance
Design Criteria
Learning's from competition analysis
ELIMINATE
-
Inconvenient wearable devices
-
Call centers as part of the response
-
User overhead to manage and maintain fall monitoring device
REDUCE
-
Reduce response time
-
Individual subscription cost/Medical equipment cost
RAISE
-
Greater community involvement and collaboration
-
Constant monitoring and feedback on health status
CREATE
-
More proactive monitoring
-
Create opportunities for continuous health
-
Redesign how senior citizens live and take care of their health
2
Concept Generation
The conception started with a brainstorming session that was done with the whole class. We used the 5'Es: Entice - Enter - Engage - Exit - Extend to brainstorm and map different ideas for different moments in the user journey
High Value
-
Fall Detection with discrete devices
-
Smart slippers
-
Continuous health check ups
-
Neighbors giving feedback about their fall response
-
Community of senior citizens in a geographic area
Strategic Wins
-
Managing medical life
-
Telemedicine help along with twice a week private health checkups
-
Night shift mobile physicians
-
Designated caregivers in an area to serve multiple communities
-
A service that teach post trauma care
3
User Flow
The user journey was first defined for a fall event. The implementation and requirements for each step in this process were then brainstormed and selected.
Based on our concept of the user experience journey we developed an infographic along with low fidelity wireframes to test the working model of our service and the app with users.
4
Concept Prototype
To tackle falls - we wanted to notify building staff or nearby people that a senior citizen had fallen in their private home and needed assistance. In a city where people can't reach from one place to another easily, it would be difficult to reach especially during emergencies.
To avoid falls - we wanted to build upon the correlation of high levels of mobility and lower risk levels of collapses and falls. Our service would not only monitor falls but also incentivize senior citizens to increase physical activity to deliver the ultimate goal, peace of mind.
5
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Low fidelity wireframes were developed for different steps in the user journey in order to conduct a usability test
User Feedback
-
Add a training module for building/housing staff
-
Add the option to add emergency contacts
-
Add skip buttons to skip non essential steps in the onboarding process
-
Have to be able to test the whole system during the onboarding
-
Remove activities and just have physical activity data insights
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Testing and demonstrating the working of the smart insole during the shoe process is very important
Brand kit
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Phase 4
DELIVER
------ SOLUTION
Our solution ensures the safety of senior citizens living in full service apartments in major cities with reactive and proactive solutions.
It delivers these safety measures with an app and a wearable product. The wearable product requires little to no management and is a discrete smart footwear insole that senior citizens would use inside their home slippers
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Smart footwear insole mockup
Footwear Insole
This smart footwear insole has a 3-axis accelerometer embedded inside the heel. This technology has been programmed to track movement and detect falls of senior citizens.
In case of any emergency the fall will be detected by the insole and a notification will be sent to the building staff immediately.
Partner App
Onboarding
You enter your zip code and select the relevant HOA that you are part of. Consent is then provided to the building staff to enter your home in case of an emergency or when a fall is detected.
You also have the option to add your close circle to the emergency contact list who would receive real time notifications and status in the case of an emergency
Sync your Sole
The smart footwear insole is sync'd to your phone and the partner app will be connected to your HOA's sole to soul system.
In case a fall is detected the HOA staff will be the first to be notified and will reach to assist the resident as soon as possible.
Physical Activity Monitor
The smart footwear insole also tracks physical activity levels. It focuses on distance and movement speed, two easily measured indicators to evaluate the overall movement and fitness of senior citizens.
Our solution will also provide weekly analysis reports that can be easily shared with loved ones and medical professionals.
Fall Detection
In the unfortunate event a senior citizen collapses or falls, the smart insole will be able to detect the fall incident.
The partner mobile app will be notified and a Help Alert screen will open up. If the senior citizen does not indicate that he or she is okay or if he or she is unable to reach or use the app, an alert will be sent to the apartment building staff.
Fall Response
The building staff will receive an alert of a resident's fall incident on their partner app. The app will also provide directions to the residents apartment. The staff member will be able to respond quicker than any emergency service provider because of location proximity.
Upon evaluating the situation, if emergency services need to be called, the building staff will call and assist the senior citizen until emergency professionals have arrived.