'A wearable health monitor for newborns in low resource countries'
Across the globe in 2018, 2.5 million babies died within their first month of life. Collectively Africa and Southern Asia made up approximately 87.7% of these deaths. ~ UNICEF
Our solution
Little I reaches a market that current solutions cannot. This innovation empowers parents in low resource countries to monitor their newborn
babies, by providing them with a cheap, accessible device and ultimately giving them new confidence that their newborn will survive despite their lack
of medical knowledge.
The planned service starts with NGOs buying and transporting the device to the community and teaching the workers how to use it. In parallel, the mother/carer would hear about the device from within the community and then later be given one by a health care professional after giving birth.
Simple user interface
A device with extremely effective monitoring technology is rendered useless if the user cannot understand how to use it. As recommended by subject experts, the device uses a traffic light system, icons as well as distinctive audible alerts to create a simple, easy to use universal user interface. Combining these features ensures that the user can use the device confidently and be made aware of signs of deteriorating health quickly.
The design
This device is purposely designed to appear familiar, non-intrusive and trustworthy while still communicating an appropriate sense of urgency when necessary, removing any obvious association with an illness that might be the case with a device that is more medical in appearance. This minimises the anxieties that a carer could have when putting a never-before-seen device on their newborn’s foot.
Human-centred design process
The creation of well-researched user personas, journey maps and a detailed product requirement specification ensured that each concept idea could be reviewed against the needs of the user, keeping us from going offt track.
The brand name 'Little I' focuses attention on the newborn, who’s early journey will be guided and protected by the use of this product. The visual details and soft typographical treatments emphasise child-friendly traits and links to the form language of the device.
Hardware requirements
Two of the fundamental aims of this device were that it should be both affordable and non-intrusive. At the same time, it should be simple to understand and reliable. Since the target audience might not have access to electricity, the device would need to last the full neonatal period (28 days) without requiring a recharge or battery change. The design choices and components were made with these criteria in mind.
A particular challenge is capturing a fair representation of the users without straying into assumptions about the community, since it is difficult to gather direct input from our target demographic. Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For more than 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies.
