Key Research Insight
As the aging population experiences rapid growth, there is a pronounced market demand for solutions that enable older adults to age in place comfortably. One prevalent concern among this demographic is the fear of falling, a factor significantly impacting their quality of life (National Library of Medicine, 2022). Recent years have witnessed a noteworthy rise in fall-related deaths, underscoring the urgency to address this critical issue. Notably, the living room as the most common area for falls (National Institutes of Health, 2014).
Secondary Research
1/3
41%
Preliminary Research (Field Observation)
To gain insights into the behaviour patterns of the elderly in their living rooms, Our team conducted three rounds of field observation in the following three locations:
Key Insights
Preliminary Research (Survey)
After observations, our team surveyed 69 participants to devise a living room accident prevention solution. Significantly, 75% of respondents were aged 45 or older, offering valuable insights into our target demographic's perspectives.
Key Insights
Design Question
user empathy
Key User Tasks
The user tasks have helped us to empathize with our potential users.
Then, we distilled them into the key objectives we aim to achieve in our design.
ideation
Storyboards & Sketches
Next, we crafted storyboards to enhance our comprehension of how users would engage with our designs. This not only improves our understanding of usage scenarios but also ensures alignment among all team members.
Sketch #1: Anti-Slip Footwear Product Sketch
Sketch #2: Mobile App Connected to the Footwear
design process
User task flow
Next, this simple user task flow for mobile end has helped us to construct the functionalities we decide to focus at the current stage.
Hardware + Software Prototype
In our prototype, we've divided it into two essential components:
1) A low-fidelity prototype for the anti-slip slipper, incorporating a speaker for safety alarms.
2) A mobile app designed to gather data from the footwear, collect information, and send notifications to the user's device.
Usability Testing Result
After prototype development, six usability tests were conducted, identifying four key issues. These insights led to two significant design improvements.
Usability Testing Process
Design improvement
Our insights guided critical design changes. First, users prioritize knowing remaining time over battery levels. Second, the "Protection Level" term caused confusion. And thirdly, users prefer accessing family and emergency contacts through the "Profile" tab. These insights influenced key iterations in our mobile app design.
Prototype
Reflection
Understanding target-specific user needs is crucial, especially for aging individuals who may have visual impairments, making it essential to prioritize accessibility in the user interface design. While a wearable footwear device may often rely on caregivers for support, enhancing the comfort of the shoes should be a priority, as it significantly improves the walking experience for older adults. Moving forward, it is necessary to select an appropriate motion sensor and ensure its seamless integration without compromising the comfort of the shoes. This approach will add value and further benefit the users.