CoMFORT ventilation mask project - Lessons learned from the field

This paper reports and discusses some key methods and findings of the inter-disciplinary design team undertaking a three year study into improving comfort for paediatric users of Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) in the NHS. The project proposes a novel use of 3D scanning and printing technologies to offer a bespoke mask provision service. Five "lessons" are proposed and contextualised with example scenarios from the project. Key findings have shown the importance of 1. Visual communication methods 2. Involving diverse stakeholder groups 3. Getting hands on with enabling technologies 4. Designing and making test rigs 5. Going around, not stopping at obstacles We conclude that the visual and tangible methods favoured by 3D designers can help to achieve project aims in interdisciplinary projects. They can improve project outcomes by encouraging engagement with collaborators and stakeholders, as well as building up tacit knowledge of the project context, the enabling technologies and the materials. This paper also identifies opportunities for areas of related future research

Enhancing health literacy through co-design: development of culturally appropriate materials on genetic risk and customary consanguineous marriage

Aim: To develop a simple health literacy intervention aimed at supporting informed reproductive choice among members of UK communities practising customary consanguineous marriage. Background: The contribution of ‘health literacy’ to reducing health inequalities and improving primary healthcare efficiency is increasingly recognised. Enhancing genetic literacy has received particular attention recently. Consanguineous marriage is customarily practised among some UK minority ethnic communities and carries some increased risk of recessive genetic disorders among offspring compared to unions among unrelated partners. The need to enhance genetic literacy on this issue has been highlighted, but no national response has ensued. Instead, a range of undocumented local responses are emerging. Important knowledge gaps remain regarding how the development and implementation of culturally appropriate, effective and sustainable responses can be achieved. Methods: Our co-design approach involved active participation by local people. Initial insight generation employed six focus group discussions and 14 individual interviews to describe current understandings and information needs. Eleven personas (heuristic narrative portraits of community ‘segments’) resulted. Four participatory workshops provided further understanding of: preferred information channels; feasible information conveyance; and responses to existing materials. Prototype information resources were then developed and feedback gathered via two workshops. Following further refinement, final feedback from healthcare professionals and community members ensured accuracy and appropriateness. Findings: The project demonstrated the utility of co-design for addressing an issue often considered complex and sensitive. With careful planning and orchestration, active participation by diverse community members was achieved. Key learning included: the importance of establishing trusting and respectful relationships; responding to diversity within the community; and engendering a creative and enjoyable experience. The resultant materials were heavily shaped by local involvement. Evaluative work is now needed to assess impacts on knowledge and service uptake. Longer term sustainability will depend on whether innovative community-level work is accompanied by broader strategy including investment in services and professional development

Prototyping tangibles : exploring form and interaction

In order to better explore the opportunities for tangible interaction in new areas such as the home or cultural heritage sites, we used multiple rapidly-developed prototypes that take advantage of existing technology. Physical prototypes allow us to give form to ideas and to evaluate the integration of form and function, two core components of tangible interaction. We discuss potentials and pitfalls when using off-the-shelf digital devices (by embedding a device, cracking it open and building on it, or collating board and parts) through six prototypes developed in two studies. Hacking devices to materialize our ideas proved excellent for fast prototyping. Technology imposed constraints and prompted different design solutions than initially intended offering unexpected ways to engage. On the basis of this experience we outline a process and offer guidelines for the fast prototyping of tangible interactions

Exploring historical, social and natural heritage: challenges for tangible interaction design at Sheffied General Cemetery

This paper presents current research on the design, deployment and evaluation of tangible interaction concepts for an outdoor heritage space, the Sheffield General Cemetery. The Cemetery is an area of historical and natural importance managed and maintained by a community group. Following a co-design approach, we have conducted a series of activities at the Cemetery with the goal of developing novel physical/digital installations to support visitor experiences at the site. In this paper, we describe our work so far, particularly focusing on the “Companion Novel” – a fully operational prototype installation we have evaluated on and off site. We reflect on the challenges posed by such a complex site when developing novel tangible interactions for heritage interpretation

Exploring historical, social and natural heritage: challenges for tangible interaction design at Sheffield General Cemetery

This paper presents current research on the design, deployment and evaluation of tangible interaction concepts for an outdoor heritage space, the Sheffield General Cemetery. The Cemetery is an area of historical and natural importance managed and maintained by a community group. Following a co-design approach, we have conducted a series of activities at the Cemetery with the goal of developing novel physical/digital installations to support visitor experiences at the site. In this paper, we describe our work so far, particularly focusing on the “Companion Novel” – a fully operational prototype installation we have evaluated on and off site. We reflect on the challenges posed by such a complex site when developing novel tangible interactions for heritage interpretation

Water conservation and user experience

The outline of this R&D programme was to develop a family of products that fits within Unilever’s low water strategy to reduce water use at key points in the production, distribution and use

Method and device for extracting the contents of a sachet

In the field of fluid containers there is a need to facilitate access to and removal of the contents of a sachet. An extraction assembly for extracting the contents of a sachet comprises a sachet housing to receive a sachet and an extractor. The extractor includes at least one piercing member and an abutment member. The extractor is movable relative to the sachet housing between a first inactive position and a second active position. The extraction assembly also includes an actuator which is operable to move the extractor between the first and second positions. The actuator is rotatably coupled with the sachet housing, and the actuator and the extractor include mutually cooperable formations to translate rotational movement of the actuator into movement of the extractor between the first and second positions. A sachet is insertable into the sachet housing while the extractor is in the first position. Movement of the extractor towards the second position drives the or each piercing member into a sachet received in the sachet housing and traps a portion of the sachet between the abutment member and the sachet housing. This product fits within Unilever’s water conservation strategy to reduce water as well as giving the user a quality experience. Design for non domestic market the product is undergoing consumer trials in India and Africa by Unilever

Home health monitoring – EyKos HealthHub (product design concept)

This work focused on creating a product design concept for a home health monitoring system, known as EyKos HealthHub, which is intended to be a ‘crossover product’ in the emerging medical/consumer product space. Working collaboratively with Aseptika Ltd, the team carried out product concept design and interaction design for the EyKos system, and undertook further design and prototyping work to create an object for use in research. Aseptika is carrying out technical development of this project; the aim is for this product to form part of their ‘hospital-at-home’ platform. Through their Activ8rlives brand, Aseptika are developing integrated systems that can be used by laypeople and their healthcare service providers to better self-manage long-term health conditions through self-monitoring. The design research explored the use of: ‘Analogue’ controls that adopted natural mappings that draw on a user’s semantic memory. Controls exploit distinctive, intuitive and memorable actions that help to embed procedural knowledge. The scale and motion of the controls are inclusive, and can be adapted to specific users to personalize interaction. Colour, texture and voice control - used to help those with poor visual acuity to engage with the device effectively. Objects equipped with NFC tags that can be used to identify different users. This provides a simple way to engage with the system, including those people with cognitive impairment. Audio to provide a structured interaction, where users with cognitive impairment can be guided through processes. Audio is also used to engender a friendly, supportive and encouraging ‘character’. Aseptika won First Place in the 'Managing My Condition' category at the AXA PPP Health Tech & You Awards* in London, where EyKos was showcased as an exemplar of empowering patient self-management, with one of the judges commenting: "The winner is a fantastic example of the patient taking more control. It moves the care and monitoring back to patient level. This product was the most focused on managing a condition and keeping people out of hospital. It demonstrated real benefit to the patient. This clever technology changes the health landscape". EyKos was exhibited at the Health Tech & You exhibition at the Design Museum London, between 10 March and 26 April, 2015