Samay Health: Ensure ease, confidence, and accessibility in the positioning process for the Sylvee respiratory monitoring device
Samay Health is a medical device startup that aims to enhance respiratory health through innovative technology. Their key product, Sylvee is a wearable device that monitors lung conditions by analyzing sound waves during real-time respiratory activities, offering insight into conditions like COPD and asthma. Paired with the device is an early-stage interface that delivers diagnostic information and instructions to assist users in managing their respiratory health effectively.
As part of my Human Factor Product Design class, our clients from Samay Health tasked us with designing a real-time feedback system to guide users in positioning their Sylvee device and creating instructional content to educate them on proper placement - a critical need for this new technology.
My involvement in this project started as a UX researcher along with 3 other student UX researchers on the team. For the final sprint of the semester, I took the lead on the iterative interaction design. I also pivoted through many team roadblocks and challenges (spoiler: it was a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows).
Date
September - December 2024
Role
UX Designer
Skills
Interaction Design, UX Research, Human Factors, 3D Modeling
Team
1 Project Manager, 2 UX Researchers, 1 UX Designer (Me)
The Problem
The current positioning process for the Sylvee device relies on a pamphlet and the guidance of trained professionals or caretakers for the current 400+ patients located in Florida. While incorrect positioning does not cause physical harm, it creates significant cognitive burdens for both primary and secondary users when preventable errors occur. Additionally, as the company aims to expand into the virtual user market, ensuring patients can independently position the device is essential.
The Goal
HOW MIGHT WE
ensure diverse healthcare user groups can position the Sylvee device easily, confidently, and with accessibility?
The Solution
The enhanced Sylvee positioning instructions feature a new in-app, step-by-step guide with interactive elements like animations, visual cues, and improved content design. Incorporating insights from ergonomics research, the updated instructions bridge the gap between the physical device and digital interfaces, ensuring patients can position the device confidently, accurately, and with reduced cognitive burden, ultimately preventing errors.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Before we dive into the problem …
Let's understand the product
⎯⎯⎯
Product breakdown
The Sylvee device includes a speaker, light indicators, and light indicators, along with a 3-axis accelerometer sensor to detect orientation. A built-in microphone enhances the sensor's accuracy, as incorrect orientation can impact the measurements taken. Accurate placement is essential to
prevent errors in data collection, which could compromise patient care.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Current positioning instruction pamphlet
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
The research process
How did we first approach the problem space?
⎯⎯⎯
Utilizing mixed-method research
Since entering the healthcare field was a new experience for most of us, we sought to better understand our target users and the product we are working with through a variety of research methods. I took charge of interviewing healthcare professionals (one of our target users), conducting competitive analysis, and taking notes during usability testing sessions.
I collaborated closely with 3 other UX researchers on the team during the making and executing of our research resources, including interview guides, usability testing scripts, and research synthesis.
Client Meetings
Hosted biweekly meetings to understand their business and goals for the project
Secondary Research
Conducted competitive analysis and literature review
User Survey
Utilized the survey gathered from another Samay group, which was sent to COPD patient Facebook groups to assess their preferences
User Interviews
Conversed with our primary and secondary users to gather their key characteristics, goals, and motivations
Usability Testing
Tested user interactions with the physical prototype during Fly-on-the-Wall sessions
Internal Testing
Tried the physical prototype ourselves to understand the mechanism of positioning it
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
However, this long research process was not all smooth sailing…
1st challenge: Delay in receiving the physical device from the client
The unexpectedly delayed mailing of the physical device - our important resource for the project - forced us to adjust our timeline.
Solution: We shifted from initial user tests to a more extensive persona and literature review. While this meant less time for final testing, it allowed us to deepen our understanding of user needs and refine our instructional material.
2nd challenge: Unforeseen cancellations by target user test participants
Initially, we were able to get in contact with patients and doctors for our usability testing. However, patients and medical professionals are busy people, which means you can’t always book them for a user interview the same way you would book interviewees for a regular design project.
Solution: We consulted with our client from Samay Health and learned that variations in users' body types and mobility also caused improper device horizontal alignment. From there, we adjusted our plan to conduct tests with general users of various body types and genders, ensuring accessibility.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Synthesizing our research
What did we discover?
⎯⎯⎯
Key Insights
Clear process breakdown: Users need clearer step-by-step instructions to minimize incorrect device placement and reduce frustration.
Psychological assurance: Clear, conversational language instead of complex medical terminology improves usability and reduces confusion for users.
Importance of feedback mechanisms: Redesigned animations and diagrams make it easier for users to achieve placement success and confidence in positioning.
The average SUS score from usability testing is ~54, indicating average usability, and a lot of room for improvement.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Journey Map
To further empathize with how users were feeling, I led the team in mapping out the original journey of a typical user attempting to position the device by themselves. We learned that this process can feel incredibly confusing as most users lack confidence and assurance in whether or not they are following the steps correctly.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
The Goal
Enable diverse user groups - caregivers, doctors, in-person patients, and virtual patients - to position the Sylvee device with ease and confidence through an in-app guidance system.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Why In-App?
The positioning process is a crucial first step in data collection, and since Samay already utilizes an in-app data collection system, integrating the guidance into the app makes sense.
Survey results from COPD patients show an average phone app experience rating of 7.6, indicating they are generally comfortable using phone apps.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Ideation …
Finding a solution
⎯⎯⎯
Rapid sketching with Crazy 8's
I initiated a Crazy 8's activity among the team. Some members were initially hesitant due to their concern about a lack of design experience, but I reassured them that rough sketches were enough to communicate ideas. With this encouragement, everyone got involved and contributed their ideas effectively.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Mapping the first task flow
I also initiated the creation of the task flow. Our first version closely followed the instruction order provided in the pamphlet, with improvements made to reduce medical jargon and simplify the wording.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Which feedback mechanism should we utilize?
In the original project brief and during our discussions, a variety of positioning feedback systems was brought up. However, due to the constraints of a small team and the technical feasibility, we must prioritize.
Insights from the user survey revealed that 46% of respondents preferred diagrams, images, and video instructions, highlighting a key area to focus on. Thus, we chose visual feedback mechanism.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Unexpected pivot!
Our testing raised concerns regarding the viability of our proposed flow …
After testing sketches with users and consultation with the professor, significant concerns arose regarding our initial task flow's feasibility. These included the order of steps and the reliance on imaginary lines, which made it cognitively and physically challenging for users to perform.
In short, we are missing one essential principle in our goal: Accessibility. Thus, backtracking to our testing and research insights, we redefined our main product goals as the following:
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Back to our design discussions …
we completely revamped the task flow through multiple iterations, resulting in a simplified version with clearer, more concise steps. Guided by ergonomic insights, such as the natural alignment of the middle finger with the correct positioning area, we reordered and streamlined the instructions. Additionally, we added a step for attaching adhesive pads, based on usability testing that revealed users often damaged them due to missing guidance in the original pamphlet.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Sample design explorations
I led the interaction design, while the other members refined the content design and took additional photos of the device for visual cues. I involved the team on the low-fidelity wireframes and took the lead on the high-fidelity prototypes.
Given that Samay Health had an existing design system, I directly explored wireframes with different layouts in high-fidelity. Thanks to their design system guidelines, I was able to work with their libraries and components to create designs that were consistent with their brand.
4 major design explorations I went over:
Step-by-step communication
Breakdown of each task
Alert display
Help button
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
I brought in 3D animations to the design!
User research revealed a need for follow-along simulations, which led me to incorporate 3D animation into the instructional process. Additionally, competitive analysis showed that few apps utilized simulations in their guided sessions, making this feature a unique differentiator for the Samay app.
Fun fact: I created the 3D models and animations in Blender, drawing inspiration from the existing Sylvee mascot in Samay's branding ☺ It was so fun to refresh my Blender skills!
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Usability testing
Despite the initial delays in receiving the device and the time constraint, I still managed to test with a small sample of users, which led me to iterate on a few changes. My primary goal was to evaluate the information hierarchy and assess the effectiveness of visual feedback and supporting texts in aiding user device positioning.
Here are some of the insights:
Insight 1: Clarity on UX Writing
Users did not realize they needed to attach two adhesive pads (one to the microphone and one to the speaker). The initial animation only depicted one side of the device, leading to this confusion. To address this, I clarified the instructions by specifying the number of adhesive covers.
Insight 2: Mirroring Effect
The animation demonstrated the hand action in a mirrored fashion, leading users to naturally mimic the right-hand movements when the correct action required the left hand. Recognizing the potential significance of this observation, I identified it as an area for future research.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Final design
Enhanced Sylvee Positioning Process
⎯⎯⎯
Final Demo
Ease of Use
Improving Accessibility
Building Confidence
The final deliverables received positive responses from the clients, professor, and classmates!
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Outcomes
How will we measure success?
⎯⎯⎯
To measure success, we plan to conduct more usability testing sessions to evaluate the SUS score post-implementation. Additional metrics include:
Task completion rate
Error frequency
Time taken to position the device
User confidence ratings
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Key Takeaways
What did I learn?
⎯⎯⎯
Physical-Digital Integration
This project exposed me to the complexities of physical-digital integration, emphasizing the challenges of creating seamless user experiences across diverse platforms. I was pushed to think beyond traditional digital interfaces and consider interactions from multiple perspectives, which deeply broadened my understanding of interaction design.
Stakeholder Management and Communication
The importance of clear and continuous communication was underscored by our work with Samay, a dynamic startup. Even when faced with delays and limited engagement, I learned that adaptability and professionalism were crucial to overcoming challenges.
Navigating Ambiguity
The unclear project boundaries challenged me to apply creative problem-solving techniques. This experience also expanded my ability to navigate ambiguity and think critically. I learned to prioritize holistic decision-making by considering various angles and ensuring that all our work is grounded in a deep understanding of user needs.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Thank you for making it this far down!
Samay Health: Ensure ease, confidence, and accessibility in the positioning process for the Sylvee respiratory monitoring device
Samay Health is a medical device startup that aims to enhance respiratory health through innovative technology. Their key product, Sylvee is a wearable device that monitors lung conditions by analyzing sound waves during real-time respiratory activities, offering insight into conditions like COPD and asthma. Paired with the device is an early-stage interface that delivers diagnostic information and instructions to assist users in managing their respiratory health effectively.
As part of my Human Factor Product Design class, our clients from Samay Health tasked us with designing a real-time feedback system to guide users in positioning their Sylvee device and creating instructional content to educate them on proper placement - a critical need for this new technology.
My involvement in this project started as a UX researcher along with 3 other student UX researchers on the team. For the final sprint of the semester, I took the lead on the iterative interaction design. I also pivoted through many team roadblocks and challenges (spoiler: it was a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows).
Date
September - December 2024
Role
UX Designer
Skills
Interaction Design, UX Research, Human Factors, 3D Modeling
Team
1 Project Manager, 2 UX Researchers, 1 UX Designer (Me)
The Problem
The current positioning process for the Sylvee device relies on a pamphlet and the guidance of trained professionals or caretakers for the current 400+ patients located in Florida. While incorrect positioning does not cause physical harm, it creates significant cognitive burdens for both primary and secondary users when preventable errors occur. Additionally, as the company aims to expand into the virtual user market, ensuring patients can independently position the device is essential.
The Goal
HOW MIGHT WE
ensure diverse healthcare user groups can position the Sylvee device easily, confidently, and with accessibility?
ensure diverse healthcare user groups can position the Sylvee device easily, confidently, and with accessibility?
ensure diverse healthcare user groups can position the Sylvee device easily, confidently, and with accessibility?
The Solution
The enhanced Sylvee positioning instructions feature a new in-app, step-by-step guide with interactive elements like animations, visual cues, and improved content design. Incorporating insights from ergonomics research, the updated instructions bridge the gap between the physical device and digital interfaces, ensuring patients can position the device confidently, accurately, and with reduced cognitive burden, ultimately preventing errors.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Before we dive into the problem …
Let's understand the product
⎯⎯⎯
Product breakdown
The Sylvee device includes a speaker, light indicators, and a 3-axis accelerometer sensor to detect orientation. A built-in microphone enhances the sensor's accuracy, as incorrect orientation can impact the measurements taken. Accurate placement is essential to prevent errors in data collection, which could compromise patient care.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Current positioning instruction pamphlet
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
The research process
How did we first approach the problem space?
⎯⎯⎯
Utilizing mixed-method research
Since entering the healthcare field was a new experience for most of us, we sought to better understand our target users and the product we are working with through a variety of research methods. I took charge of interviewing healthcare professionals (one of our secondary users), conducting competitive analysis, and taking notes during usability testing sessions.
I collaborated closely with 3 other UX researchers on the team during the making and executing of our research resources, including interview guides, usability testing scripts, and research synthesis.
Client Meetings
Hosted biweekly meetings to understand their business and goals for the project
Secondary Research
Conducted competitive analysis and literature review
User Survey
Utilized the survey gathered from another Samay group, which was sent to COPD patient Facebook groups to assess their preferences
User Interviews
Conversed with our primary and secondary users to gather their key characteristics, goals, and motivations
Usability Testing
Tested user interactions with the physical prototype during Fly-on-the-Wall sessions
Internal Testing
Tried the physical prototype ourselves to understand the mechanism of positioning it
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
However, this long research process was not all smooth sailing…
1st challenge: Delay in receiving the physical device
The unexpectedly delayed mailing of the physical device - our important resource for the project - forced us to adjust our timeline.
Solution: We shifted from initial user tests to a more extensive persona and literature review. While this meant less time for final testing, it allowed us to deepen our understanding of user needs and refine our instructional material.
2nd challenge: Unforeseen cancellations by target user test participants
Initially, we were able to get in contact with patients and doctors for our usability testing. However, patients and medical professionals are busy people, which means you can’t always book them for a user interview the same way you would book interviewees for a regular design project.
Solution: We consulted with our client from Samay Health and learned that variations in users' body types and mobility also caused improper device horizontal alignment. From there, we adjusted our plan to conduct tests with general users of various body types and genders, ensuring accessibility.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Synthesizing our research
What did we discover?
⎯⎯⎯
Key Insights
Clear process breakdown: Users need clearer step-by-step instructions to minimize incorrect device placement and reduce frustration.
Psychological assurance: Clear, conversational language instead of complex medical terminology improves usability and reduces confusion for users.
Importance of feedback mechanisms: Redesigned animations and diagrams make it easier for users to achieve placement success and confidence in positioning.
The average SUS score from usability testing is ~54, indicating average usability, and a lot of room for improvement.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Journey Map
To further empathize with how users were feeling, I led the team in mapping out the original journey of a typical user attempting to position the device by themselves. We learned that this process can feel incredibly confusing as most users lack confidence and assurance in whether or not they are following the steps correctly.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
The Goal
Enable in-person and virtual patients with respiratory conditions to position the Sylvee device with ease and confidence through an in-app guidance system.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Why In-App?
The positioning process is a crucial first step in data collection, and since Samay already utilizes an in-app data collection system, integrating the guidance into the app makes sense.
Survey results from COPD patients show an average phone app experience rating of 7.6, indicating they are generally comfortable using phone apps.
The positioning process is a crucial first step in data collection, and since Samay already utilizes an in-app data collection system, integrating the guidance into the app makes sense.
Survey results from COPD patients show an average phone app experience rating of 7.6, indicating they are generally comfortable using phone apps.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Ideation …
Finding a solution
⎯⎯⎯
Rapid sketching with Crazy 8's
I initiated a Crazy 8's activity among the team. Some members were initially hesitant due to their concern about a lack of design experience, but I reassured them that rough sketches were enough to communicate ideas. With this encouragement, everyone got involved and contributed their ideas effectively.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Mapping the first task flow
I also initiated the creation of the task flow. Our first version closely followed the instruction order provided in the pamphlet, with improvements made to reduce medical jargon and simplify the wording.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Which feedback mechanism should we utilize?
In the original project brief and during our discussions, a variety of positioning feedback systems was brought up. However, due to the constraints of a small team and the technical feasibility, we must prioritize.
Insights from the user survey revealed that 46% of respondents preferred diagrams, images, and video instructions, highlighting a key area to focus on. Thus, we chose visual feedback mechanism.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Unexpected pivot!
Our testing raised concerns regarding the viability of our proposed flow …
After testing sketches with users and consultation with the professor, significant concerns arose regarding our initial task flow's feasibility. These included the order of steps and the reliance on imaginary lines, which made it cognitively and physically challenging for users to perform.
In short, we are missing one essential principle in our goal: Accessibility. Thus, backtracking to our testing and research insights, we redefined our main product goals as the following:
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Back to our design discussions …
we completely revamped the task flow through multiple iterations, resulting in a simplified version with clearer, more concise steps. Guided by ergonomic insights, such as the natural alignment of the middle finger with the correct positioning area, we reordered and streamlined the instructions. Additionally, we added a step for attaching adhesive pads, based on usability testing that revealed users often damaged them due to missing guidance in the original pamphlet.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Sample design explorations
I led the interaction design, while the other members refined the content design and took additional photos of the device for visual cues. I involved the team on the low-fidelity wireframes and took the lead on the high-fidelity prototypes.
Given that Samay Health had an existing design system, I directly explored wireframes with different layouts in high-fidelity. Thanks to their design system guidelines, I was able to work with their libraries and components to create designs that were consistent with their brand.
4 major design explorations I went over:
Step-by-step communication
Breakdown of each task
Alert display
Help button
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
I brought in 3D animations to the design!
User research revealed a need for follow-along simulations, which led me to incorporate 3D animation into the instructional process. Additionally, competitive analysis showed that few apps utilized simulations in their guided sessions, making this feature a unique differentiator for the Samay app.
Fun fact: I created the 3D models and animations in Blender, drawing inspiration from the existing Sylvee mascot in Samay's branding ☺ It was so fun to refresh my Blender skills!
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————
Usability testing
Despite the initial delays in receiving the device and the time constraint, I still managed to test with a small sample of users, which led me to iterate on a few changes. My primary goal was to evaluate the information hierarchy and assess the effectiveness of visual feedback and supporting texts in aiding user device positioning.
Here are some of the insights:
Insight 1: Clarity on UX Writing
Users did not realize they needed to attach two adhesive pads (one to the microphone and one to the speaker). The initial animation only depicted one side of the device, leading to this confusion. To address this, I clarified the instructions by specifying the number of adhesive covers.
Insight 2: Mirroring Effect
The animation demonstrated the hand action in a mirrored fashion, leading users to naturally mimic the right-hand movements when the correct action required the left hand. Recognizing the potential significance of this observation, I identified it as an area for future research.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Final design
Enhanced Sylvee Positioning Process
⎯⎯⎯
Final Demo
Ease of Use
Improving Accessibility
Building Confidence
The final deliverables received positive responses from the clients, professor, and classmates!
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Outcomes
How will we measure success?
⎯⎯⎯
To measure success, we plan to conduct more usability testing sessions to evaluate the SUS score post-implementation. Additional metrics include:
Task completion rate
Error frequency
Time taken to position the device
User confidence ratings
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Key Takeaways
What did I learn?
⎯⎯⎯
Physical-Digital Integration
This project exposed me to the complexities of physical-digital integration, emphasizing the challenges of creating seamless user experiences across diverse platforms. I was pushed to think beyond traditional digital interfaces and consider interactions from multiple perspectives, which deeply broadened my understanding of interaction design.
Stakeholder Management and Communication
The importance of clear and continuous communication was underscored by our work with Samay, a dynamic startup. Even when faced with delays and limited engagement, I learned that adaptability and professionalism were crucial to overcoming challenges.
Navigating Ambiguity
The unclear project boundaries challenged me to apply creative problem-solving techniques. This experience also expanded my ability to navigate ambiguity and think critically. I learned to prioritize holistic decision-making by considering various angles and ensuring that all our work is grounded in a deep understanding of user needs.
⎯ ⋆˚✿˖ °𐙚 ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⎯
Thank you for making it this far down!