Aida
OBJECTIVE
Aida is the product of a six-week design sprint for the first-year, Collaborative Design Engineering Studio at Harvard. Within the scope of telehealth and product design, we chose to address the problem of sudden cardiac arrest for individuals with preexisting heart conditions.
TOOLS & SKILLS
User Research, UX/UI Design, Prototyping, 3D Printing
Fusion360, Keyshot, Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma
TOOLS & SKILLS
Rebecca Brand, Caroline Fong, Jiabin Wei
September - October 2020
PROBLEM SPACE
How might we reduce the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest fatalities that result from insufficient response time?
We conducted interviews with EMTs and academics to individuals with existing heart conditions and their families. Our greatest takeaways were that time is crucial, and not enough people - including those with conditions themselves, feel prepared to act in an emergency situation.
Synthesizing our research, we zoomed into the distinct cardiac crisis - 70% of which occur in the home with family or friends present. With proper use of an AED during one of these crises, the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest can be increased threefold. Aida’s solution addresses those first couple of minutes before an ambulance can arrive.
DESIGN HYPOTHESIS
We can reduce the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest fatalities by providing individuals with pre-existing heart conditions a preventative and diagnostic medical product for their homes.
PROPOSED INTERVENTION
As a smart health device, Aida combines the capabilities of an AED with tools for routine heart monitoring and everyday use, catered to the user’s peace-of-mind in the face of possible emergencies.
Meet Aida
In REST mode, Aida’s screen displays the time and date and can be connected to a mobile application via WiFi.
In EKG mode, the user places their hands on Aida’s electrode pads and receives a countdown reminder on the screen. After analysis, the user’s electrocardiogram (EKG) results appear and can be sent to the app and to the user’s cardiologist.
In AED mode, Aida provides audio and visual cues to the user. The device is equipped with smart defibrillation paddles which analyze the victim’s heart rate and will only recommend sending a shock when it is necessary. Aida’s main innovation is its ability to automatically call 9-1-1 during a crisis.
AED MODE
EKG MODE
Design Process
TECHNICAL SPECS
We arrived at Aida through an iterative design process focused on both technical specifications and physical form. On the technical side, we sought to integrate the capabilities of an AED, an EKG, and a smart speaker, alongside the automated 9-1-1 innovation.
FORMAL CONSIDERATIONS
We were inspired by products for the home that elicit delight and comfort, while considering the sense of trust and capability associated with a powerful machine. Purple accents evoke a sense of bravery and importance that sets Aida’s design apart from other medical devices.
INTERFACE DESIGN
Our sketching, modeling, and prototyping process played with several different form factors, largely guided by the ergonomics of using the electrode sensors, easy access to the defibrillator paddles in an emergency, and an intuitive screen interface to guide these actions.
Functional Prototype
Aida’s automatic 9-1-1 call functionality is triggered when its body is released from its base. We used a proximity sensor and Arduino to connect to a cellphone via Bluetooth. The sensor sends data through an Arduino cloud system (Adafruit IO) to a web-based communication service (If This Then That), and finally makes a phone call. We 3D printed Aida’s body and base at scale in order to demonstrate this process, which also allowed us to better understand the product’s ergonomics and place in the home.
App Ideation & Ecosystem
We also prototyped a digital application for Aida’s users to track their health metrics, communicate with healthcare professionals and first responders, and find helpful resources for managing their heart conditions. These screens suggest a future, integrated ecosystem for Aida that emphasizes community safety and wellbeing.
