Well-Being & Tech

Process Reflection

Acceptance – In this stage, we accepted the prompt for innovation. In this case, rather than being given a specific challenge to tackle, we were given latitude to identify possible problem-opportunity themes. It was interesting to find areas of individual interest, find common areas and then lead to new ideas based on the initial ones. We quickly converged on a general theme that we all found promising.

Analysis - We were able to do a deep dive and confirm our suspicions that we had identified something novel. We found it was not all together new, but rather, we could find a particular angle or application that is original and challenging. This was an important fact finding mission about the problem and available technologies that could support various applications and approaches. We ended rquipped with knowledge about the problem space, who had done what in the space, and what kinds of opportunities exist.

Definition — Now, we could define the problem we wished to address. It was important to state it clearly, succinctly, and in a way that could be easily understood. Framing it as a “how might we” question was a powerful technique. Seven more words were sufficient and made it clear what our solution should. There was still room for defining how exactly and even for whom. We revisited analysis for potential audiences and leaned toward workers who wear PPE and are exposed to high risk.

Ideation - We exercised disciple to put off coming up with solutions until this stage. Now, armed with digital sticky notes, we came up with various user needs. Then, around those, we came up with technology and methods to address said needs. We were able to group the requirements and potential features. Revisiting our morphological analysis, we identified the top 3 ways to deliver a solution.

Selection - I am good with this step as proposed as long as we understand it to be a preliminary selection. The process is iterative and lessons from the trial and testing can lead to redesign.

Implementation - I am also supportive of a parallel process of testing out the top concepts and prototyping them simultaneously, getting feedback from users and putting the ideas to the test for ultimate selection. In our case, we looked at various smart PPE options, while focusing on one. We inquired users about the various options and prompted them to suggest improvements and relay concerns. We rolled all of that back into design and found that a whole range of products would be ideal for the long term. Then, it became an issue of selecting a first product, envisioned as part of a range. We also kept getting feedback of applications for other types of users and novel features, again pointing toward future developments. We decided to exercise restraint and keep to a minimally livable product: just enough to be viable, desirable and feasible.

For evaluating the performance of the creative problem solving group projects, I would look at originality and impact of the problem, how well the solution speaks to the problem definition, the research depth, the creativity or uniqueness of the solution, sufficient technical feasibility, evidence of commercial viability, evidence of user buy-in (desirability), the aesthetic quality of the solution and visual language of communication, clarity and persuasiveness of the narrative or pitch, the team dynamic (inclusive and  enthusiastic), and degree of effort. How likely would I be to invest, donate, purchase or feel excited to be a part of such a project?

I believe that team OnSpyre has been able to focus on the intent and deliverables of each step, making a good faith effort to get a full experience of each stage of the creative problem solving journey. Selecting a project that could save life and limb and improve quality of life made it meaningful and incorporating cutting-edge tech made it exciting and challenging, which all team members craved. We were divergent and creative at the appropriate times and able to make nimble convergent decisions at others, not afraid to make the process as iterative as necessary to reach a satisfying and exciting point, within the given constraints. There was commitment from all members to R&D in-depth and finally to develop user-evidence, a narrative and visual and physical assets to make tangible and credible the technical homework. Something that worked well for our team was a compatibility in regards to trusting each other and the team’s collective chops to figure things out and a commitment to keep the ball rolling and stay ahead of the curve, even as we constantly re-litigated previous steps in a healthy iterative fashion. Nominating a PM and domain leads to moderate that effort and keep us on task was pivotal. Creating assignments while keeping the door open to collaboration and working on things outside our comfort zones for growth and enjoyment was helpful.

Team Onspyre utilized a business canvas to obtain further clarity on our solution’s audience, how we might reach, communicate and best serve our potential customers. While we fully plan to cooperate and exchange experiences and perspectives, we found it appropriate to assign lead roles overall and for each implementation task: - Technical/Engineering Lead: Nelson @well-being-tech - Design Lead: Warren @warren-usc - Project Manager: Shannon @shannondseeger

SELECTION: To select the most appropriate idea to address the problem team OnSpyre defined, we reviewed our problem definition and the ideation results. We identified clusters of ideas that reflected key parameters or requirements. We discussed the differences in how the team and customers might respond to the various forms of solutions identified. We converged on a wearable which we thought could help with adoption rate due to the “wow” or “coolness” factor. Generally, and narrowed it down to smart safety eyewear after applying the Kepner-Tregoe method individually and meeting to discuss. We broke off to refine and converged further during a second touch point meeting. At the end, going through the analysis stage morphological exercise was a helpful cross-reference and validation. We found that some items that didn’t seem to correlate well, could work together well, upon further review.

Problem: How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?

Broad Solution: We will modulate body and mind by embedding technology into the personal protective equipment already used in the industries where workers are at a high risk.

To selected the most appropriate idea to address the problem we have defined, we reviewed our problem definition and the ideation results. We identified clusters of ideas that reflected key parameters or requirements. We discussed the differences in how the team and customers might respond to the various forms of solutions identified. We converged on a wearable which we thought could help with adoption rate due to the “wow” or “coolness” factor. Generally, and narrowed it down to smart safety eyewear after applying the Kepner-Tregoe method individually and meeting to discuss. We broke off to refine and converged further during a second touch point meeting. At the end, going through the analysis stage morphological exercise was a helpful cross-reference and validation. We found that some items that didn’t seem to correlate well, could work together well, upon further review.

Problem: How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?

Broad Solution: We will modulate body and mind by embedding technology into the personal protective equipment already used in the industries where workers are at a high risk.

Selection

How might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents?

Selected solution: Smart Protective Eyewear

Must meet safety requirements for impact as well as heat and chemical resistance.

Monitoring tech:

A combination (EEG, sEMG)

Body temperature

Heart rate

Motion

Additional tech:

Companion mobile app (iOS, Android)

AR for messages/images to be displayed

Audio

AI/Machine learning (could be deployed in v2)

Location/Cam: Hazard recognition (could be deployed in v2)

Modulation:

Alerts/prompts to raise awareness

Pulsing or vibration

Audio guidance - music, guided breathing, mindfulness exercises, safety tips

Bio-modulation (i.e. light, vagus nerve)

Guidance, Proactivity:

Preferences - allows user to customize level and type of modulation

Device prompts you to self-report state of mind and emotions to help validate information inferred from data.

Data:

Dashboard that displays user’s historical data. User can choose level of engagement.

Personal data available only to the user

Anonymous data available in the aggregate for insight gathering

Criteria used:

Established goals (elements and outcomes our product must have) and weighed ideas to accomplish/exhibit these

For a first phase release, determined features that would fit into a minimum viable product, saving additional features for future releases

Determine minimum tech that monitors physiological data and add-ons that would be beneficial

Consider user concerns such as privacy and level of modulation

Pragmatic & Logistical concerns?

Complex ideas like machine learning, bio-modulations

Integrating the different sensors and bio-modulation options.

Regulations: bio-modulations, certification of safety glasses, potential OSHA input

Workers may feel they would be under more scrutiny and pressured to provide data in court of law

Compromises: Decided to begin with an MVP (version 1) product for these purposes.

Techniques: Big Questions; Criteria from Brain Storm clusters; Kepner-Tregoe Method: used individually; Validation from revisiting analysis stage (morphological analysis)

Discussion:

Solution Ideas

Embedded in personal protective equipment like:

hard hat,

steel-toed boots,

protective vests,

gloves,

goggles/eyewear: core solution; all else can be an add-on accessory

respiratory protection

Smart watch

Tattoo or flat wearable

Jewelry, pendant

Smart environment

Steering wheel, controls, tools

Modulation set (Mr. Potato Head)

Features Ideas by Goal

Monitor different states

EEG

Heart rate

Emotion sensor

Muscles sEMG (face tension?)

Breath rate

Body temperature (helps track circadian rhythm)

Modulate user awareness

Vagus nerve stimulation

Light stimulation

Neuropriming

Vibration or pulses

Music

Audio coach

Reminders

Alerts

Exercises

Historical tracking (trends over time)

Based on data, tips can be provided to subject in future work sessions

Week, day, month (etc.) in review in user dashboard

Machine learning will make use of data from subject and collective anonymous data to improve its modulation

Minimally invasive & unobstructive

User has control of modulation

UV Protection

Blue light filtration to minimize strain

Guidance, proactivity, and productivit

Coach them to develop greater emotional resilience and awareness over time

Device prompts you to self-report state of mind and emotions to help validate information inferred from data.

Incentivize use/remove de-incentives

They’re cool…

Software

Mobile iOS / Android companion app

Website

AI / Machine Learning

Wearable software

Who will use?

Nelson: Most unmet need is likely construction industry.

PPE also used:

In labs (chemical, engineering, pharmaceuticals)

Air traffic controller

Medical professionals and researchers: nurse / doctor (possible biohazards, chemical exposure)

Hazardous waste environments

Police on the job: help detect fatigue

Emergency dispatchers

Mining & drilling (oil and gas)

Manufacturing and fabrication

Workers in high-risk environments who need to maintain alertness to stay safe. An error, distraction, or lapse of judgment could cause a serious accident.

Must-haves:

In this stage of the Universal Traveller’s creative problem-solving process, team OnSpyre was informed by UX design processes introduced by Warren and root-causes and potential technological solutions identified during our research phase. We started by listing the problem definition and  primary and secondary root-causes identified for the problem. We framed the first brainstorming session through the voice of the customer by asking “as a user, I would like to...” We spent about 15 minutes writing down possible user requirements. Afterwards, we grouped them by affinity groups. At this stage, we moved to answering ways in which the user needs might be expressed or satisfied. Some of the ideas were not surprising, since we had identified several technologies and potential requirements during the analysis stage. However, there were several surprises that emerged in a relatively short amount of time. Essentially, we asked how might we modulate body and mind to avoid accidents? We identified several physical, emotional, and mental root-causes and requirements that could help with each and concerns that users might have with such systems, including privacy and nuisance. Solutions included detection of at-risk states based on neurophysiological measurements, facial expression, activity tracking using environmental, clothing, and other sensors; cues on what to do to recover from said state; ways to develop self-awareness through data trends and insights; ways to cultivate attention, health and happiness traits to improve long-term performance; and ways to reward and motivate continued use and achievements. Several technologies and examples of use cases were identified, laying the ground work for conceiving of alternatives and selecting the most promising one.

I enjoyed doing the brain-storming in stages with de-briefing sessions after each one, identifying coincident and different ideas and attempting to organize them into clusters or categories. These in turn, informed the next brain storm: from the problem definition, we moved to root-causes; from those, we moved to customer needs; from the previous two, we reached potential countermeasures and features to solve the problem in a way that is customer-centric. I found the whole experience very productive and creative, allowing for a combination of free-flowing individual input and discussion and riffing. At the same time, it was methodical or process-oriented without being stifling. There is a lot to work with to carry on to the next stage of our creative-problem solving process.