The design of data/power transmission interface of telehealth products for elderly care (2011)

A design study was carried out for the development of data/power transmission interface of Robert Bosch Healthcare’s telehealth products for elderly care. The scope of the project included the redesign of data/power transmission interface of an existing activity monitoring system (MoMo) and a complete new design of a wireless telehealth platform (NXG), consisting of a handheld tablet device and a docking station. The focus was on creating robust connection for reliable data/power transmission and easy interaction mode for the targeted patients with physical and sensorial impairments. An initial empirical study performed with thirteen elderly participants and existing products with specific connection properties revealed great diversity in physical and intellectual capabilities, levels of experience and disposition towards technology, and varied levels of functional aptitude and preferences regarding different electronic products. The results were used to generate initial design ideas. Based on conceptual prototypes, user evaluation was carried out with seven elderly participants, with the primary objective of finding the link between the sensorial elements and factors that directly influence usability (physical ergonomics, use cues and feedback indicators) and the secondary objective of identifying how these sensorial elements affect perceived aesthetics and the user’s preference. The main findings: a product must provide adequate visual cues to illicit a proper mental model upon initial encounter and provide further visual, tactile or auditory feedback to reinforce, create or correct the initial mental model. Results of the concept evaluation were used to generate the following new major design features: contours of major surfaces of each product serve as primary visual and tactile guidance, while secondary geometrical constraint is provided to ensure consistent docking performance; spring-loaded connectors are chosen for their customizability, greater durability, and inconspicuousness; newly specified contact force requirements are 10-30g per connector pin for MoMo and 30-50g per pin for NXG; feedback indicators are integrated directly into the main appliances rather than their docking stations. Material selection was carried out based on sensorial, metaphysical and technical requirements. A simplified analysis and selection (exploring, assorting, analyzing and selecting) approach was taken for each level of material hierarchy until the specific sub-class of materials was reached. Specific grades of materials were not selected in this project. The final prototypes of this project, but not presented in this report, include product details to match the sensorial, intangible and short-term structural qualities of the production scale. The next step is a small-series production of prototypes with highly accurate representation of aesthetic, tactile and functional qualities. When the form and functional characteristics of the product are confirmed, the design must undergo further optimization to resolve all issues related to production and long-term use.