Talaris :: NetObjects :: IDEO
I was reponsible for the user research and prototype testing on the award-winning Health Buddy product for Health Hero Network.
IDEO Product Development Project Spotlight: Health Buddy
The Health Buddy is:
- An internet appliance that connects people with health conditions to their care provider.
- Patients answer questions from their care provider. Patient reponses and new questions are exchanged nightly via dial-up modem.
- Trends in the patient's health are tracked so that preventative contact can be made when needed. This keeps patients healthy, avoids trips to the emergency room and lowers costs for insurers.
During this project (December 1997 to June 1998) I did the following:
- Conducted interviews with target patient populations and observed patient methods of monitoring thier health and contacting physicians.
- Interviewed health care case workers to understand their needs and processes.
- Conducted, videotaped and analyzed several rounds of prototype testing.
- Observed patient training on the product.
- Observed patient experiences with the product "out-of-the-box" and with the set-up instructions.
Design Recognition for the Health Buddy
- Time Magazine Online, Geared Up For Health, February 2004
"New technology may enable us to live longer and happier lives at home — and even cure our ailing health-care system" - Geriatric Times, July/August 2001, Innovations.
"Patients rated the Health Hero Platform as being understandable, reliable and easy to use." - Universal Design Exemplars, 2000, Health Buddy
The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina sponsored this juried recognition where the Health Buddy was selected for a CD-ROM portfolio of outstanding examples of Universal Design. - BusinessWeek, The Best Products of 2000, December 2000
- Business 2.0, August 2000, Digital Doctoring.
"Health Buddy is among the most user-friendly devices designed to provide daily support to patients with chronic conditions." - Medical Device Excellence Awards 2000, July 2000, Silver Award
- Featured on ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and online at ABCNEWS.com, February 1999.