Cardiac Rehab Android Watch
Background
How can we improve care delivery and lower costs through the smart use of technology? How can we improve the design of wearables devices so that Kaiser Permanente patients find our wearable solutions easy-to-use, intuitive and delightful?
The MCoE Design Team partnered with the Samsung design team to improve the user experience of the cardiac rehab watch, phone, and clinician web portal for the cardiac rehab solution.
Inspiration
What helped inspire our design direction for this ultra-advanced cardiac rehab solution? A carrot peeler.
More specifically, we took our inspiration from the OXO carrot peeler — a user-centered design for fine motor skill impairment.
This description comes from OXO’s website:
“More than 25 years ago, Sam Farber noticed his wife Betsey was having trouble comfortably holding her peeler due to arthritis in her hands. This got Sam thinking: why do ordinary kitchen tools hurt your hands? Why can’t there be wonderfully comfortable tools that are easy to use?
Sam saw an opportunity to create more thoughtful and comfortable cooking tools that would benefit all users. That day, Sam promised Betsey that he would create a better peeler for her.”
Focus on the User
Why are smart watches so hard to read? Why is the text so small? Does being “hip” mean that users with visual impairment and fine motor skill impairment can’t comfortably use the watch?
Preliminary Designs
These were the preliminary designs before the MCoE Design Team’s collaboration. We’re increasing the size of the images for ease of viewing. The watch face is much smaller!
Start
Heart Rate
Duration
Heart Rate
Steps
Summary
Collaboration v2 Designs
We partnered closely with Samsung and several onsite co-design sessions together. We shared our experiences with designing for users with fine motor skill and visual impairment. At first there was some resistance, naturally, but soon our teams were pushing each other to simplify the watch interface and make it easier to read.
In some cases we could simply increase the size and contrast ratio of certain elements. Other screens required redesigned flows. Please note the first screen is the Samsung original on the left.
Heart Rate (Original)
Heart Rate v2
Start
Collaboration v3 Designs
In v3, we were able refine the designs even more. The MCoE Design Team recommended increasing sizes even more as shown in the example on the right.
Start v3
Heart Rate v3a
Heart Rate v3b
Design Iterations Comparison
Below are examples highlighting the evolution and design iterations. All rows feature same screen with multiple versions of the design. Which one do you like best?
Watch Face
Original
Partnership
KP Optimal
Duration Screen
Original
Partnership
KP Optimal
Steps Screen
Original
Partnership
KP Optimal
What do users think?
We focused on the users throughout all stages of the development process. For the watch, KP members (who have given us permission to use their photos) evaluated the watch initially inside in a clinical setting then, more importantly, outside where they would exercise.
The group of KP members below had already completed the cardiac rehab program. They graciously agreed to work with the extended team to provide their critical feedback for using the watch and phone.
As we saw, great design begins with the users and throughout all stages continuously listens to and integrates their feedback.
Conclusion
Accessible IS comfortable. We are aiming for wonderfully comfortable, not just barely readable. Compare the old carrot peeler to the OXO carrot peeler.
The MCoE Design Team believes that good accessibility is good usability. User research with users both inside and in their natural exercise environments confirmed that the easier to read, the easier to use. Also, with sun glare on the watch face in outdoor environments, larger elements with greater contrast ratios helped the users easily read and interact with the watch.
This is an integrated solution with watch, phone and clinician dashboard. Preliminary results from the 2016 pilot confirmed that cardiac rehab patients given the watch adhered significantly better to the cardiac rehab regimen. That’s great news for KP cardiac rehab patients and their clinicians. We’re in the process now of rolling out the pilot to additional KP locations.
Want to learn more? Check out these case studies below:
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Accessibility for Visual Impairment Statistics about impaired mobile device users. In-depth analysis about visual impairments. |
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Accessibility Scanner Using Google Accessibility Scanner to ensure that KP mobile products meet minimal Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards. |
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Touch Target Accessibility Ensure your touch target sizes are large enough for ease of use. |